There is an increasing need for professionals who have the ability to plan, manage and implement practices that ensure the long-term integrity and use of resources that are created in digital form. This includes information professionals who are charged with digital collections, as well as those working within data-intensive jobs that have curation requirements (e.g. scientists, analysts, public officials).
To complete the certificate, students must take five classes (15 credits) in addition to those required for the degree, three of which must count only toward the certificate and two of which can be counted toward both the MSIS/MSLS and the certificate.
Graduate students outside of SILS (e.g., School of Government, School of Journalism, etc.) who are in good standing in their programs can earn the certificate, but they will need to complete all five of the specified courses.
Applying:
If you have questions about the Graduate Certificate in Digital Curation please contact Dr. Cal Lee or Dr. Helen Tibbo. To apply for the Graduate Certificate in Digital Curation please submit the online application. You will receive a final copy of your application once it has been reviewed notifying you of our decision.
Certificate Required Courses (15 Credits):
- INLS 465 Understanding Information Technology for Managing Digital Collections*
- INLS 525: Electronic Records Management OR INLS 740: Digital Libraries: Principles & Applications
- INLS 556: Introduction to Archives & Record Management
- If pursuing the MSLS, INLS 582: Systems Analysis; if pursuing the MSIS, either INLS 513: Resource Selection and Evaluation OR INLS 755: Archival Appraisal
- INLS 752: Digital Preservation and Access*
* It is strongly recommended that students take this course early in their course of study.
Additional Requirements: Master’s Paper and Field Experience
The student is expected to complete a significant project in the area of digital curation. This can be satisfied by (1) successfully completing a master’s project/paper in the area of digital curation; or (2) successfully completing a professional field experience working on a digital curation-related capacity in a practice setting. The work to satisfy these requirements must be approved by the director of the SILS Digital Curation Certificate program, Dr. Helen Tibbo. Past settings for professional field experiences at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill include the Odum Institute for Research in Social Science; ibiblio.org; Information Technology Services; and the University Library, including the University Archives and the Carolina Digital Library and Archives. Many other opportunities exist through the Triangle, including Duke University, North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources, North Carolina State University, and regional information technology companies.
SILS Elective Courses:
In completing the 48 graduate credit hours required for a SILS Master’s degree, the student will take several elective courses. Listed below are courses recommended as elective options for students earning the Graduate Certificate in Digital Curation. Note that this list is not exhaustive of all relevant options, and course offerings (especially special topics courses) vary between semesters.
Students are also encouraged to consider taking one or more courses in fulfillment of master's degree elective credits at another school or department at UNC or, through the inter-institutional program, at a participating partner university. Inter-institutional program institutions are Duke University, North Carolina Central University, North Carolina State University, UNC-Charlotte, and UNC-Greensboro.
