PROGRAMME SPECIFICATION
PROGRAMME SPECIFICATION
Programme title:
MA in Library & Information Studies
Final award (BSc, MA etc):
MA
(where stopping off points exist they should be
detailed here and defined later in the document)
UCAS code:
N/A
(where applicable)
Cohort(s) to which this programme
specification is applicable:
From session 2014-15 onwards
(e.g. from 2008 intake onwards)
Awarding institution/body:
University College London
Teaching institution:
University College London
Faculty:
Office for International Affairs
Parent Department:
UCL Qatar
(the department responsible for the administration of
the programme)
Departmental Web page address:
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/qatar
(if applicable)
Method of study:
Full-time/Part-time/Other
Criteria for admission to the
programme:
1 year Full-time
2 years Part-time
In addition to standard UCL entrance requirements:
For admission to this MA, candidates must have a Bachelor's degree
with at least Second Class Honours (UK system), a GPA of 3.0 on
the 4.0 scale (US system) or another international qualification of an
equivalent standard.
Candidates are normally expected to have gained at least one year of
relevant work experience within a library or information services
position. A graduate traineeship or internship is preferred, but other
kinds of work, for example as a library or information assistant, may
also be considered. Casual work in a library, such as shelving, is not
usually regarded as appropriate.
Candidates whose first language is not English are normally required
to sit an English language examination. The acceptable qualifications
for admission to this programme include IELTS (6.5 overall including
a minimum of at least 6.0 in each of the four subtests).
Length of the programme:
(please note any periods spent away from UCL, such
as study abroad or placements in industry)
Level on Framework for Higher
Education Qualifications (FHEQ)
(see Guidance notes)
One calendar year full-time
Two calendar years part-time
Including a two-week placement at a library or information service
Masters Level (Level 7)
Relevant subject benchmark statement
(SBS)
Subject Benchmark Statement: Librarianship, Information,
Knowledge, Records and Archives Management
(see Guidance notes)
http://www.qaa.ac.uk/en/Publications/Documents/SBS-librarianship15.pdf
Brief outline of the structure of the
programme
and
its
assessment
methods:
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/qatar/study/degree-programmes/library-andinformation-studies
(see guidance notes)
Board of Examiners:
Name of Board of Examiners:
UCL Qatar Postgraduate Board of Examiners (UCLQG)
Professional body accreditation
(if applicable):
Chartered Institute of Library &
Information professionals (CILIP)
Date of next scheduled
accreditation visit: Spring
2020
EDUCATIONAL AIMS OF THE PROGRAMME:
UCL Qatar’s MA Library and Information Studies is based on the programme offered at UCL’s Department of
Information Studies in London – the UK’s premier facility for the teaching of library and information studies but it has
been modified for Qatar and the regional context.. The MA in Library and Information Studies at UCL Qatar is
broad-based: the intention is not to produce graduates who can work in only one kind of library or information
service. Instead this degree will impart skills intended to apply in a wide range of different positions within or beyond
libraries and the heritage sector. As UCL’s mission is to be London’s global university, our mission at UCL Qatar is
to put that globalism into practice in our teaching and research within a regional context.
The compulsory modules will provide practitioners with theoretical and practical knowledge of the basic skills
required by professionals. The two-week placement requirement of the course provides a practical introduction to
the profession for novices and a new learning environment for the experienced. Students provide a critical analysis
of their placement experience and complete the course by writing reflective essays that integrate what they have
learned in the programme. The dissertation gives students an opportunity to demonstrate their analytical, research,
and communication skills.
The programme aims to develop the student’s interest in and knowledge and understanding of:
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Focus on Qatar and the regional context in which students will operate as professionals, through case
studies and work placement opportunities.
Key theoretical and practical skills required to work as a leading library or information professional and
particular focus on library and information management, collection building, cataloguing and classification.
Professional practice in the field of library and information studies
Current issues and trends in library and information work, and of the role of the professional librarian
The processes by which information is produced, disseminated, controlled and recorded
The theoretical basis of the discipline of library and information studies
Practical skills for the identification, location, management and organization of information and information
stores
Establishing a responsive, critical and innovative attitude to both theory and practice
The ethical, legal, and cultural landscape of the profession
The management of staff and resources, both in theory and in practice
Advanced critical and analytical work within the discipline
PROGRAMME OUTCOMES:
The programme provides opportunities for students to develop and demonstrate knowledge and understanding,
qualities, skills and other attributes in the following areas:
A: Knowledge and understanding
Knowledge and understanding of:
Teaching/learning methods and strategies:
1. The way in which information is
created, disseminated and recorded;
means of bibliographic control and
the exchange of information locally
and internationally.
2. How information stores and
collections are built and managed;
how materials are selected,
deselected, processed and
maintained; the administrative and
technical processes involved in the
management of information stores;
user needs and perceptions; means
of user education and the promotion
of resources.
3. The intellectual organization of
knowledge; the storage and retrieval
of information, the creation of
bibliographic records, and the theory
and practice of subject access to
information.
4. Leadership skills necessary to
administrative responsibility;
awareness of modern techniques of
management for areas such as
finance, human resources and quality
control.
5. Customer service and marketing as a
component of delivering appropriate
service to clients.
6. Information technology theory and
skills as appropriate to various areas
of the programme.
7. Legal, political and social aspects of
information work, and the role of the
professional information worker.
8. Literacies and Learning skills and
how to pass these skills on to users
to foster their independence.
9. Critical analysis of problems and
practices and the skills necessary to
propose remedies.
10. Specific aspects of information work
as taught in optional modules; the
management of specific kinds of
materials such as rare books,
manuscripts, resources for children
and young people, or digital
materials.
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Throughout the programme a range of teaching and
learning methods are employed as appropriate to
the course content.
While there is a primary intention to equip students
with the theoretical basis of the discipline, to which
end formal lecturing supported by the independent
use of secondary sources is the main form of
content delivery, the course is also characterized by
the need to learn specific professional skills.
Consequently much use is made of practical
classes, seminars, teamwork in small groups and
computer lab sessions.
1-3 are taught in the professional core modules of
Cataloguing and classification 1, Collection
management and Information sources and retrieval;
user education referenced in 2 and 7 are taught in
the elective on Information Literacy; 4 and 5 are
taught in generic core modules of Management and
Principles of computing and information technology;
6 is distributed throughout the core element of the
programme; 7-10 are taught through various
optional modules.
Individual tutorial guidance is provided for the case
study and the dissertation, and elsewhere where it is
considered necessary for the student’s progress.
Individual tutors from outside the programme are
also made available for consultation on personal
matters that may affect study.
Throughout the programme the research of
individual members of staff informs their teaching.
Practical placements (for both full-time students and
part-time students) provide an additional opportunity
for ‘hands-on’ experience for those new to the
profession and chance for ‘old hands’ to observe
new and differing practices.
Students are encouraged to join CILIP and other
professional organisations such as the Special
Libraries Association in the Gulf Region, to
participate in external activities, and to read the
professional press.
A number of practising professionals (including UCL
London and local library staff) are involved as
visiting speakers, bringing their special expertise to
teaching.
Assessment:
A variety of assessment types are used including a
written examination, essays, portfolios, prepared
practical work, individual and group project work, report
writing, policy writing, presentations, peer assessment
and the dissertation. Successful completion of the last
element distinguishes the MA from the Diploma.
B: Skills and other attributes
Intellectual (thinking) skills: able to:
Teaching/learning methods and strategies:
1. Adopt a critical and analytical
approach to the theory and practice
of library and information work.
2. Exercise independence of mind in the
assessment of theoretical and
practical problems.
The programme requires an advanced level of
intellectual achievement and attempts to build on the
student’s undergraduate work in terms of academic skills
of analysis and criticism, reading and research, and
academic writing. Emphasis is on independent
investigation as means of acquiring these skills, and
personal reading and research will support formal
lecturing, seminars and class discussion.
Assessment:
A variety of assessment types are used including a
written examination, essays, portfolios, prepared
practical work, individual and group project work, report
writing, policy writing, presentations, peer assessment
and the dissertation.
C: Skills and other attributes
Practical skills (able to):
Teaching/learning methods and strategies:
1. Identify, locate and retrieve
information from appropriate sources
according to need.
2. Create bibliographic records
according to accepted standards of
document and content description.
3. Deal with special materials and
techniques.
4. Use a range of information
technology applications.
5. Communicate effectively in writing in
a variety of formats including essays,
reports and other documents, and
orally in presentations, seminars and
group discussions.
6. Practise research techniques.
Subject specific skills are delivered through identified
parts of the programme as follows:
 1 through the core module Information sources and
retrieval.
 2 through the core module Cataloguing and
classification 1.
 3 through the various optional modules.
 4 through the core module Principles of computing
and information technology, and in other modules as
appropriate.
 Good standards of written and oral communication
are encouraged through the prepared work
undertaken in all modules, and through small group
work.
 Research and independent work form part of several
modules as well as the dissertation; well developed
skills of bibliographic research are an integral part of
the programme.
Assessment:
A variety of assessment types are used including a
written examination, essays, portfolios, prepared
practical work, individual and group project work, report
writing, policy writing, presentations, peer assessment
and the dissertation.
D: Skills and other attributes
Transferable skills (able to):
Teaching/learning methods and strategies:
1. Write effectively in a variety of
formats.
2. Communicate and present ideas
orally.
3. Research and investigative skills and
the use of secondary sources.
4. Use information technology.
5. Manage time effectively.
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1 through writing of essays, reports and other
documents for coursework, and the dissertation.
2 through presentations, seminars, class
discussions and small group work.
3 through all modules requiring written coursework;
good research skills are an essential element of the
whole programme.
4 through practical sessions in the core module
Principles of computing and information technology,
and other parts of the programme.
5 through extended activities such as the portfolio
work in the core module Information sources, and
the dissertation.
Assessment:
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1 is assessed wherever written work forms part of
the module, whether this is in the form of essays,
reports, portfolio work or the written examination.
2 is formally assessed in the core module
Management, but forms an unassessed component
of other modules.
3 is assessed in modules which require prepared
written work, particularly Information sources and
retrieval where the investigation of secondary
sources is the purpose of the module.
4 is assessed in the module Principles of computing
and information technology, and in several other
modules where IT is relevant.
5 is not formally assessed.
The following reference points were used in designing the programme:
 the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications
(http://www.qaa.ac.uk/en/Publications/Documents/Framework-Higher-Education-Qualifications-08.pdf);
 the relevant Subject Benchmark Statements (under consultation for 2014)
(http://www.qaa.ac.uk/assuring-standards-and-quality/the-quality-code/subject-benchmark-statements
(http://www.qaa.ac.uk/en/Publications/Documents/SBS-librarianship-15.pdf);
 the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals Professional Knowledge and Skills Base
(http://www.cilip.org.uk/cilip/jobs-and-careers/professional-knowledge-and-skills-base)
 the American Library Association Standards for Accreditation and Core Competences
(http://www.ala.org/accreditedprograms/sites/ala.org.accreditedprograms/files/content/standards/Standards_201
5_adopted_02-02-15.pdf and http://www.ala.org/educationcareers/careers/corecomp/corecompetences)
 the programme specifications for UCL degree programmes in relevant subjects (where applicable);
 UCL teaching and learning policies;
 staff research.
Please note: This specification provides a concise summary of the main features of the programme and the
learning outcomes that a typical student might reasonably be expected to achieve and demonstrate if he/she takes
full advantage of the learning opportunities that are provided. More detailed information on the learning outcomes,
content and teaching, learning and assessment methods of each course unit/module in the departmental course
handbook. The accuracy of the information contained in this document is reviewed annually by UCL and may be
checked by the Quality Assurance Agency.
Programme Organiser(s)
Frederick Nesta
Name(s):
Date of Production:
March 2015
Date of Review:
March 2015
Date approved by Head of
Department:
31 March 2015
Date approved by Chair of
Departmental Teaching
Committee:
Date approved by Faculty
Teaching Committee
31 March 2015