Masters Degrees (Records)

The programme provides you with an understanding of contemporary information and records management issues. It pays special attention to the management of digital records and electronic resources, and how to manage these alongside analogue resources.

Why this programme

◾The programme is designed for those with a vocational interest in records management, archives and digital curation. It will prepare you to work in these fields, and give you a thorough grounding for continuing with research.
◾You will complete a two-week work placement in an archive, records management or digital repository.
◾As a graduate you will be eligible to be accredited by both the Archives & Records Association and CILIP (Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals), providing valuable professional recognition in both the archive and library fields.

Programme structure

You will develop skills in the core competencies of archives, records, and information management, creating and managing digital records, digital curation and preservation issues, archival theory, user needs, and description,
cataloguing, and navigation.

The programme consists of six courses spread over two semesters. You will take courses in:
◾Archives and records information management
◾Records and evidence
◾Description, cataloguing and navigation
◾Management, curation and preservation of digital materials.

Optional courses include:
◾2D digitisation
◾Law for cultural heritage institutions
◾Archives and records theory
◾Records and the transition to the digital
◾Palaeography
◾Phenomenology.

To graduate with the MSc you will also need to complete a course in research methods and professional studies, and produce a dissertation.

Career prospects

As a graduate, you will be well placed for a career as an archivist, records manager or digital curator within a variety of public and private organisations.

Positions held by recent graduates include Assistant Archivist and Records Manager.

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Are you looking for a distance learning course that gives you the flexibility to combine your existing job, or other commitments, with a Masters-level qualification in the field of records management? This course combines core modules in information science with specialised modules in Recordkeeping Theories and Concepts as well as Recordkeeping Processes, Systems and Tools.

This course is designed equally for those who are already information professionals and those who are looking to break into the sector for the first time. To suit those who have existing work commitments, the course is taught via a flexible distance learning mode and it has a slightly extended duration of 16 months. If you would prefer to study full-time on campus, please see MSc Information Science.

All of Northumbria’s information science postgraduate courses are accredited by the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals, and this Records Management pathway also benefits from Archives and Records Association accreditation. These accreditations make our courses stand out and enhance their credibility and currency among employers, and are also crucial for progressing to Chartership status once qualified.

Learn From The Best

Our teaching staff include cutting-edge researchers whose specialisms overlap with the content of this course, helping ensure that teaching is right up-to-date. Specialisms include big data, data mining, decision-making, digital literacy, information behaviour, information retrieval systems, recommender systems, and the link between information science and cognitive psychology.

Our eminent academics have written books that regularly appear on reading lists for information science courses at universities all over the world. They also work as external examiners and reviewers of courses at other UK and non-UK universities. You will be taught by the winner of the 2014 Emmett Leahy Award, which recognises an individual whose contributions and accomplishments have had a major impact on the records and information management profession.

Our course is delivered through the Northumbria iSchool, which is one of only six iSchools in the UK. A hallmark of an iSchool is an understanding that expertise in all forms of information is required for progress in science, business, education and culture. This expertise must cover the uses and users of information, the nature of information itself, as well as information technologies and their applications.

Information Science at Northumbria was established over 70 years ago and has developed in close collaboration with the profession. That dynamic working relationship has allowed us to not only reflect professional requirements, but also to be instrumental in understanding and shaping those requirements.

Teaching And Assessment

Our teaching is linked to what you want to learn and also to what you need to learn in order to achieve greater success in information science. Our long established relationship with employers ensures that you receive the most relevant and up-to-date knowledge to bring innovation, relevance, ethical sensitivity and currency to all you do. There is an emphasis on learning by doing; coursework will include projects, portfolios of work, reports and presentations as well as essays. All this helps you to make sense of the subject, getting a clear understanding of important concepts and theories.

While some assessments contribute to your final grade, there are other assessments that are provided purely to guide your progress and reinforce your learning. You can expect both your tutors and your peers to provide useful comments and feedback throughout the course.

Module Overview
Year One
KC7020 - Information Organisation and Access (Core, 20 Credits)
KC7022 - Information Systems and Technologies (Core, 20 Credits)
KC7023 - Research Methods and Professional Practice (Core, 20 Credits)
KC7039 - Recordkeeping Principles: Theory and Concepts (Core, 20 Credits)

Year Two
KC7024 - User Behaviour and Interaction Design (Core, 20 Credits)
KC7026 - Masters Dissertation (Core, 60 Credits)
KC7038 - Recordkeeping Practice: Processes, systems and tools (Core, 20 Credits)

Learning Environment

As a distance learner you will have full access to our eLearning Portal, ‘Blackboard Learn’, which includes lecture materials, web conferencing, study notes, discussion boards, virtual classrooms and communities. Blackboard Learn brings together all aspects of course management as well as assessment and feedback. Simpler technology is also effective and there’s still the option to reach tutors through a quick telephone call!

You will have 24/7 term-time access to Northumbria’s library, which has over half a million print books as well as half a million electronic books available online. Our library was ranked #2 in the Times Higher Education Student Experience Survey for 2015 and, since 2010, it has been accredited by the UK Government for Customer Service Excellence.

The University has advanced search software and database tools, including NORA Power Search that allows you to use a single search box to get fast results from across a wide and reliable range of academic resources. The use of such software and tools is an important aspect of our information science courses.

Research-Rich Learning

In fast-moving fields like information science it’s particularly important for teaching to take account of the latest research. Northumbria is helping to push out the frontier of knowledge in a range of areas including:
-Digital consumers, behaviours and literacy
-Digital socio-technical design
-Digital libraries, archives and records

As a student, you will be heavily engaged in analysing recent insights from the field of information science. You will undertake a major individual study that will require you to evaluate relevant literature as well as to develop your ideas within the context of existing research. Your study will be tailored to your particular interests but the underlying theme will be the relationships between information, people and technology. Many of our students publish their own research and present at professional and academic conferences, before or soon after graduating.

Give Your Career An Edge

This course is accredited by the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals as well as the Archives and Records Association. This reflects the relevance of the curriculum, which is informed by contact with the employers and close professional links. The accreditation vital if you want to move on to Chartership status once qualified.

The topics and activities in the course have a strong emphasis on employability. For example you will develop practical skills in building strategies for managing an organisation’s records to meet legal, regulatory, organisational and/or societal needs. You will also gain expertise in a range of processes, controls, systems, tools, risk mitigations and best practices. Your knowledge and practical skills will help you take a lead on research-informed approaches that will give your employers a valuable advantage.

Your Future

Records management is crucial for translating today’s massive proliferation of data into actionable insights and usable knowledge. Without proper management, there can be no rigour about checking for compliance, measuring improvements against a baseline, and making informed decisions about when information has reached the end of its lifecycle. All these areas rely on information professionals who have a strong grasp of the principles and practices of 21st century records management.

On graduation, you will be well placed to work for employers who need information professionals with broad expertise in their subject. With your Masters qualification, you will be equipped to make a difference, advance your practice and make well-balanced judgements. You could apply for a wide range of roles in the public, private and third sector, or you could progress in a career that you have already started. Your Masters qualification can also form the basis for further postgraduate studies at a higher level.

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The Master of Archives and Records Management (MARM) is accredited by the Archives and Records Association as the recognised qualification for archivists and records managers in the UK and Ireland.

You’ll gain the knowledge you need to pursue an archives and records career in research, business, government, academia – indeed anywhere that qualified professionals are needed.

We’ll teach you to work in a way that provides the accountability and transparency demanded for effective public administration or which meets the needs of archive users in the wider cultural and heritage environments.

There’s a strong practical element and you’ll be attached to the Liverpool University Centre for Archive Studies (LUCAS) which coordinates our research and outreach activities.

The international pathway is available for overseas students who want to meet the practice requirements of their home countries and who need a masters award to do so.

Teaching takes place in interactive lectures or small-group seminars and workshops as we believe this leads to the best collaboration between students and staff.

Why Archives and Records Management?

Breadth of expertise

Academic staff working on the MARM programme have extensive professional experience with strong international links as well as academic expertise. Their research interests range from medieval record keeping to contemporary public policy.

ARM is located in the department of History and the School of Histories, Languages and Cultures. Recent conferences and workshops on recordkeeping topics have included 'The Local Record Office, past, present and future', 'Archives and Deaf Communities', 'Time in the Archives', and an international conference on ‘Records, archives and technology: interdependence over time'.

Taught programmes that prepare you for future research

MARM also provides the opportunity to gain the skills and knowledge you need if you are considering progress to a research degree (Archives and Records Management PhD).

Support and skills training for PhD students

We welcome enquiries from all postgraduate students interested in studying here and will give you all the academic, practical and pastoral support we can.

Students at Liverpool have a voice and are represented on the School Postgraduate Committee. There’s also a dedicated staff - student liaison committee to oversee our MA and PhD programmes.

Career prospects

The Masters in Archives and Records Management has a highly successful record with 90% of students in recent cohorts obtaining professional posts within six months of graduation.

50% of the 2013/14 cohort already had a professional post by September 2014. They have taken a range of positions (Records Manager, Cataloguer, Collections Development Officer and Heritage Activities Manager), and their destinations include The National Archives, Hertfordshire Archives, The National Gallery, Downing College Cambridge, and Channel 4. In previous years, students have also gained posts abroad, including at the European Central Bank in Frankfurt and the UN Food & Agriculture Organisation in Rome.

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All CAIS programmes are accredited by the UK Archives and Records Association and The Records and Information Management (RIM) Professionals Australasia.

Overview

These Masters programmes provide a thorough education in the principles, theory and practice of records management and digital preservation. They are delivered via flexible distance learning and entirely online using the University's Virtual Learning Environment. A range of core and optional modules, all written and tutored by acknowledged subject experts, ensure that students complete the programme with:

An in-depth knowledge of record keeping theory and practice and the ability to apply this knowledge in the public sector or in commercial or specialist environments,

A comprehensive training in the creation and management of current and semi-current records an understanding of the legal and ethical issues relating to records management and digital preservation,

An understanding of how digital records should be managed and retrieved,

A knowledge of the issues surrounding the preservation of records and in particular the proper use of metadata and other techniques to help ensure long-term survival of information and records.

Programme Content

The programme consists of a range of core archive and records management modules and optional modules including preservation and disaster management, metadata standards and information taxonomies, business archives, ethics and international perspectives, international concepts in information access, management for information professionals. The module list can be viewed on the course website.

Methods of Assessment

Essays/reports; contribution to module (through online tasks and discussion board debate); dissertation of 15,000 words.

Read less

All CAIS programmes are accredited by the UK Archives and Records Association and The Records and Information Management (RIM) Professionals Australasia.

Overview

These Masters programmes provide a thorough education in the principles, theory and practice of records management and digital preservation. They are delivered via flexible distance learning and entirely online using the University's Virtual Learning Environment. A range of core and optional modules, all written and tutored by acknowledged subject experts, ensure that students complete the programme with:

An in-depth knowledge of record keeping theory and practice and the ability to apply this knowledge in the public sector or in commercial or specialist environments,

A comprehensive training in the creation and management of current and semi-current records an understanding of the legal and ethical issues relating to records management and digital preservation,

An understanding of how digital records should be managed and retrieved,

A knowledge of the issues surrounding the preservation of records and in particular the proper use of metadata and other techniques to help ensure long-term survival of information and records.

Programme Content

The programme consists of a range of core archive and records management modules and optional modules including preservation and disaster management, metadata standards and information taxonomies, business archives, ethics and international perspectives, international concepts in information access, management for information professionals. The module list can be viewed on the course website.

Methods of Assessment

Essays/reports; contribution to module (through online tasks and discussion board debate); dissertation of 15,000 words.

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The Archives and Records Management MA provides the skills and knowledge that are needed by new entrants to the profession in the United Kingdom and abroad. Students learn to manage and preserve records created in the present and those inherited from the past for use in the present and future.

Degree information

The programme focuses on the management of records and archives in a variety of digital and hard copy formats. Students learn to manage, organise, interpret and provide access to a wide range of records and archives, focussing on both the management of records for ongoing purposes, and their selection, preservation and accessibility for future uses including historical research.

MA students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits. The programme consists of five core modules (90 credits), two optional modules (30 credits) and a research dissertation (60 credits). A Postgraduate Diploma, five core modules (90 credits), two optional modules (30 credits), full-time nine months or flexible study up to five years, is offered. A Postgraduate Certificate, four optional modules (60 credits), full-time 15 weeks or flexible study over a period of up to two years, is offered.

Core modules:
-Concepts and Contexts (30 credits, taught across two terms)
-Creation and Capture
-Curation and Stewardship
-The Record-keeping Professional
-Access and Use of Archives and Records

Optional modules include:
-Advanced Preservation
-Digital Resources in the Humanities
-Introduction to Digital Curation
-Information Governance
-Manuscript Studies
-Oral History: from Creation to Curation
-Reading and Interpretation of Archives from 1500
-Standards for Digital Recordkeeping
-Extended Practicum

Dissertation/report
All MA students undertake an independent research project which culminates in a dissertation of 10,000–12,000 words.

Teaching and learning
The programme is delivered through a combination of lectures, seminars, computer laboratory sessions and class-based practical exercises, with a strong emphasis on group and peer learning and the acquisition of practical skills underpinned by archival theory and knowledge. Assessment is through a mixture of essays, reports, presentations and practical assignments.

Placement
The work placement gives students taking the MA/Dip iexperience of how the techniques they have learned may be applied in practice. Placements last for two weeks, and are undertaken as part of the INSTG060 Curation and Capture core module just after the beginning of the third term (May). We arrange placements individually for each student and do our best to match the placement with their interests and experience.

Careers

Past graduates have taken up professional roles at prestigious organisations and institutions including national societies, university libraries and the House of Commons.

Top career destinations for this degree:
-Assistant Record Manager, House of Lords
-Archives Manager, Historic Royal Palaces
-Project Archivist, Cambridgeshire County Council
-Archivist, National Motor Museum.
-Archivist, United Kingdom Hydrographic Office (UKHO)

Employability
This programme prepares students to work in a wide variety of traditional and non-traditional archives and information management roles in both the private and public sectors, in the UK and internationally.

Students benefit from the department's excellent links with employers in the information professions which provide them with 'real life' experience through guest lectures, visits and a placement. Students also receive specific careers advice, including how to construct CVs. In the longer term the programme equips students with the skills and knowledge to have long and successful careers in their chosen field and become leaders in their profession.

Why study this degree at UCL?

UCL boasts one of the longest-established archive education programmes in the UK. It is taught by leading experts in the field, drawing on their innovative research as well as extensive practical experience of archives and records work.

Students benefit from UCL's location close to many records management services, and the broadest grouping of historical archives in any city in the English-speaking world.

The programme hosts an impressive range of visiting speakers, organises frequent field visits to a wide variety of working environments and a two-week placement, all of which provide unique occasions to network and create professional links with key players in the sector.

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All CAIS programmes are accredited by the UK Archives and Records Association and The Records and Information Management (RIM) Professionals Australasia.

Overview

This is a flexible distance learning programme, delivered online over the Internet. The programme is suitable for information professionals employed in a wide range of fields including records management, legislative compliance, electronic media and records. Some modules, for example, Management for Information Professionals, will benefit a wider range of practitioners, including librarians, museum curators and other information specialists.

Aims

To provide a flexible distance learning pathway to a professional postgraduate qualification in Records Management and Information Rights.

To examine current theory and practice, equip students with the skills to keep their knowledge up to date and explore the synergies between subject areas.

Programme Content

Core modules examine the fundamental skills needed to work in Records Management and compliance with Information Rights legislation. Optional modules are designed to focus on specific elements of Records Management or Information Rights in greater detail, allowing

Students to tailor their qualifications. Module authors from the UK and overseas, are expert practitioners in their field which ensures that content is both current and relevant.

Students are encouraged to discuss what they have read and how it relates to their own experiences and most modules combine a mixture of theory and practice. Throughout the modules regular online tasks provide a structure by which students can measure their progress.

Methods of Assessment

Essays/reports; contribution to module (through online tasks and discussion board debate); dissertation of 15,000 words.

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Mission Statement: The MAS program prepares professionals to exercise creativity, integrity and leadership in designing, implementing and promoting programs and systems for the creation, organization, management, preservation and effective use of records and archives.

Program content focuses on:
- Nature of records and archives
- The life-cycle of records from creation to preservation
- Records systems and archival systems
- Selection of records and their acquisition in archives
- Intellectual control of records and archives and provision of access
- Records, archives and the law
- Ethical and professional responsibilities
- History of record-keeping and archives

Graduates may find work in such positions as:
Archivist; digital archivist; archives curator; archives advisor; manuscripts processing archivist; electronic records archivist; audiovisual archivist; data/digital curator; e-discovery advisor; privacy and information officer; records and information manager; records administrator/specialist; records analyst; records policy and program officer; records/preservation system designer; research officer; security specialist; and others.

Quick Facts

- Degree: Master of Archival Studies
- Specialization: Archival Studies
- Subject: Specialty
- Mode of delivery: On campus
- Program components: Coursework + Options
- Faculty: Faculty of Arts
- School: School of Library, Archival and Information Studies

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The Master of Archives and Records Management International Pathway (MARMI) is accredited by the Archives and Records Association. It is available for overseas students who want to meet the practice requirements of their home countries and who need a masters award to do so.

You’ll gain the knowledge you need to pursue an archives and records career in research, business, government, academia – indeed anywhere that qualified professionals are needed.

We’ll teach you to work in a way that provides the accountability and transparency demanded for effective public administration or which meets the needs of archive users in the wider cultural and heritage environments.

There’s a strong practical element and you’ll be attached to the Liverpool University Centre for Archive Studies (LUCAS) which coordinates our research and outreach activities.

Teaching takes place in interactive lectures or small-group seminars and workshops as we believe this leads to the best collaboration between students and staff.

Why Archives and Records Management?

Breadth of expertise

Academic staff working on the MARM programme have extensive professional experience with strong international links as well as academic expertise. Their research interests range from medieval record keeping to contemporary public policy.

ARM is located in the department of History and the School of Histories, Languages and Cultures. Recent conferences and workshops on recordkeeping topics have included 'The Local Record Office, past, present and future', 'Archives and Deaf Communities', 'Time in the Archives', and an international conference on ‘Records, archives and technology: interdependence over time'.

Taught programmes that prepare you for future research

MARM also provides the opportunity to gain the skills and knowledge you need if you are considering progress to a research degree (Archives and Records Management PhD).

Support and skills training for PhD students

We welcome enquiries from all postgraduate students interested in studying here and will give you all the academic, practical and pastoral support we can.

Students at Liverpool have a voice and are represented on the School Postgraduate Committee. There’s also a dedicated staff - student liaison committee to oversee our MA and PhD programmes.

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Why this course?

This course is for anyone with an existing interest and some experience in genealogy and related subjects. It's been developed by academics and genealogy professionals to provide a thorough grounding in the theory and practice of genealogical research, family history, records, archives and heraldry. You may wish to study the field in more detail or use it in your career. It’s of particular interest for:
- archivists
- lawyers & paralegals
- geographers
- land agents
- heritage sector staff
- historians
- librarians
- museum staff
- records agents

It's also suitable for those who are interested in:
- developing, evaluating or refreshing their expertise in genealogy, records, archives, documents, palaeography and heraldry
- advancing their academic and professional achievement in these subjects
- gaining a deeper, more critical understanding of the field, its literature and professional practice
- providing more expert knowledge and advisory capacity to employers and members of the public, such as in Family History Centres

See the website https://www.strath.ac.uk/courses/postgraduatetaught/genealogicalpalaeographicheraldicstudies/

How is the course delivered?

The course is delivered online and so it'll require computer access from home. You should be familiar with the use of computers in genealogy and the course is standardised on Microsoft Windows. You'll also need to subscribe or pay for certain online databases and services.

Course overview

You’ll focus on the sources available to genealogists and family historians. You’ll also gain the knowledge, skills and techniques to operate as a professional genealogist in a variety of settings.

The Postgraduate Certificate course deals mainly with Scottish, English/Welsh and Irish records. The Postgraduate Diploma adds American, Canadian, Australian, New Zealand, British Empire, Jewish, European and other sources.

We work together with:
- the National Records of Scotland
- the National Archives at Kew
- various professional and commercial bodies including the Association of Scottish Genealogists and Researchers in Archives (ASGRA), DC Thomson Family History, Deceased Online and FamilyTreeDNA

When you complete the Certificate and Diploma degrees, you'll have a suitable portfolio to submit to various certification boards and other bodies for professional accreditation.

Course structure

There are three degree levels within this course.
Most of our students begin with the PG Certificate before moving to the PG Diploma and then onto the MSc.
There's also a one-year MSc option. This combines all three levels into one academic year.
There are a few external equivalents to the PG Certificate which would allow direct entry onto the PG Diploma. If you're interested in learning more about these contact our Course Administrator.

You’ll study

You’ll need to commit time each week to cover:
- reading
- participation in online discussion forums
- research
- completion of course work

Postgraduate Certificate

We offer two options with the PG Cert:

- One year
If you'd like to study over a year, and can commit 20 hours a week to the course, this is the option for you. It'll run from October until June with assessments throughout the course.

- Two year (modular)
If you'd like to study over two years, you can do this by studying the six classes individually over this time period. This option gives you the opportunity to begin studying in October, January or April - whichever suits you best. The classes must be taken in order, and are all compulsory to complete the PG Cert. This option will require roughly 14 hours a week of study.

- Topics
You'll study topics including:
- genealogical professional practice
- search strategies & using repositories
- social history, demography & geographic sources
- church & civil records (England/Wales & Scotland)
- census records & their substitutes (England/Wales & Scotland)
- genetic genealogy
- migration & records
- Irish records
- military & occupational records (England/Wales & Scotland)
- land & inheritance records (England/Wales & Scotland)
- palaeography
- Latin for genealogists
- heraldry

Once you successfully complete the certificate, you can progress to the Diploma.

Postgraduate Diploma

The PG Dip allows you to develop a greater understanding of social and historical contexts and provides an in depth study of the professional and academic aspects of genealogical work. We suggest you allow around 20-25 hours a week for studying this degree.

- Topics
You'll study topics including:
- methods of professional enquiry (includes submission of a 5,000-word research project)
- Irish records in depth
- US & Canadian sources
- British empire sources
- heraldry & mediaeval genealogy
- European & Jewish sources
- Australian & New Zealand sources
- palaeographic & document-focused studies

After successfully completing the Diploma you can progress to the MSc, if the tutor team agrees.

MSc

The Masters is the third year in the part-time course.
The MSc requires the student to plan, implement and evaluate a piece of research and development work, which involves carrying out a research project of genealogical relevance, which will be assessed on a report of 12,000-16,000 words.
The part-time MSc runs from October with the dissertation submitted the following June. There's tutor guidance on academic writing, study and research skills.

- One-year MSc option
If you have an undergraduate degree along with experience in genealogical research, this could be an option for you.
You'll have to commit around 40 hours a week and there will be compulsory online tutorials for you to attend every week.
This option will begin in the middle of September and will run through to late July. The course content is the same as the three degree levels of the course. You can find these in the course content tab.

Teaching staff

Academic input is provided by:
- the Centre for Lifelong Learning
- the University’s Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences
- appropriate external specialists

Professional recognition

ASGRA (Association of Scottish Genealogists and Researchers in Archives) will admit PG Certificate graduates as Probationer Members and PG Diploma graduates as Full Members (additional evidence of client work is also required).
The Association of Genealogists and Researchers in Archives (AGRA) recognises the PG Certificate as satisfying the requirement for Associate Members to hold a qualification in genealogy.

Computer & software access

You need to have regular access to a computer at home as we’ll issue you with various log-ins and passwords you can’t use on public computers.

Your computer must have a recent version of Microsoft Windows and Microsoft Office or Open Office. It should also be capable of running Java and be enabled for pop-ups.

We’ll communicate with you by e-mail and via the University's Virtual Learning Environment. Please make sure you can use the following programs:
- Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint or a compatible program, eg OpenOffice
- an e-mail program compatible with Microsoft software. We recommend Outlook
- a graphics program compatible with Microsoft software. We recommend Irfanview
- WinZip or the ability to un-zip files and folders
- Adobe Acrobat Reader

Family Tree Maker software is sent to you before the start of the course. You can also choose to use comparable software from other vendors. A six-month subscription to the worldwide version of Ancestry is normally included with the copy of Family Tree Maker but this is not guaranteed.

Entry requirements

Some assignments and assessments require the use of genealogy software. If you've not previously used such software you should learn the basics before the course begins.

- PgCert
Normally, a degree or similar, but non-standard educational or professional qualifications may also be considered. There's a requirement to have some relevant genealogical or related experience.
The Centre for Lifelong Learning offers a number of eight-week courses available both online and on-campus. These are intended to provide the basic skills and knowledge required to facilitate progression to the Postgraduate Certificate. Successful completion of one or more of these courses may serve as evidence of the necessary study skills and/or relevant genealogical experience.

- PgDip
Entry will normally follow successful completion of the PgCert.
Students who've gained equivalent academic qualifications at PgCert level may be accepted directly onto the PgDip. Those seeking admission with advanced standing may include prior learning in recognised courses and/or genealogical-based experience as entry criteria. Further information is available on request.

- MSc
Direct entry to the part-time MSc isn't available. Students must first complete the PgDip at an appropriate level before being allowed to continue on to the MSc.
For the one-year MSc, candidates should normally hold an undergraduate degree, though other forms of qualification and experience may be taken into account. First degrees may also be augmented by previous postgraduate qualifications, such as an MSc.
Some experience in genealogical (or other relevant) research is required and we may ask to see examples of reports and/or charts you have created.
Students who already hold the PgCert or PgDip in Genealogical, Palaeographic and Heraldic Studies from Strathclyde, or certain other relevant qualifications from specified institutions, will be able to transfer credits, up to a defined limit. However, no fee discounts will be available. These students may wish to undertake the part-time versions of the MSc programme.

Find information on Scholarships here http://www.strath.ac.uk/search/scholarships/index.jsp

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This is a flexible distance learning programme, delivered online over the Internet.
The programme is suitable for information professionals employed in a wide range of fields including records management, legislative compliance, electronic media and records. Some modules, for example, Management for Information Professionals, will benefit a wider range of practitioners, including librarians, museum curators and other information specialists.

All CAIS programmes are accredited by the UK Archives and Records Association and The Records and Information Management (RIM) Professionals Australasia.

Aims

To provide professional training on a modular and distance learning basis for archivists and records managers.
To provide single modules on a range of topics for continuing professional development.

Methods of Assessment

Essays/reports; contribution to module (through online tasks and discussion board debate); dissertation of 18,000 words.

All course materials are delivered via the virtual learning environment, a secure part of the University website. Each module has been written by experts and consists of text with embedded links to online resources such as websites, audio-visual files and PDFs.
Students work through each module at the same time as other students, guided by a tutor, and can expect support and regular communication from CAIS staff. Modules are designed to be interactive and students are required to submit tasks to their tutors every ten days or two weeks. The tasks act as a timetable, indicating how quickly students should be working through the course material. Tutors give constructive feedback on the tasks and provide guidance on finding and using sources and in developing research and analytical skills.

Students may also be required to complete tasks with other students who are taking the module. There are usually between five and 14 students on each module all of whom have different backgrounds and experiences. A discussion forum provides an opportunity to share these experiences and to discuss issues and questions.

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This is a flexible distance learning programme, delivered online over the Internet.

The programme is suitable for information professionals employed in a wide range of fields including records management, legislative compliance, electronic media and records. Some modules, for example, Management for Information Professionals, will benefit a wider range of practitioners, including librarians, museum curators and other information specialists.

All CAIS programmes are accredited by the UK Archives and Records Association and The Records and Information Management (RIM) Professionals Australasia.

Aims

To provide professional training on a modular and distance learning basis for archivists and records managers.
To provide single modules on a range of topics for continuing professional development.

Methods of Assessment

Essays/reports; contribution to module (through online tasks and discussion board debate); dissertation of 18,000 words.
All course materials are delivered via the virtual learning environment, a secure part of the University website. Each module has been written by experts and consists of text with embedded links to online resources such as websites, audio-visual files and PDFs.

Students work through each module at the same time as other students, guided by a tutor, and can expect support and regular communication from CAIS staff. Modules are designed to be interactive and students are required to submit tasks to their tutors every ten days or two weeks. The tasks act as a timetable, indicating how quickly students should be working through the course material. Tutors give constructive feedback on the tasks and provide guidance on finding and using sources and in developing research and analytical skills.

Students may also be required to complete tasks with other students who are taking the module. There are usually between five and 14 students on each module all of whom have different backgrounds and experiences. A discussion forum provides an opportunity to share these experiences and to discuss issues and questions.

Length of Degree

The degree is normally completed in 30 - 60 Months but fast track options are available. The Programme combines two core and a choice of optional modules.

Modules last for 15 weeks (20 credits) or seven weeks (10 credits). There are three entry points a year in January, May and September. Start dates for 2013-14 are:

16th September 2013
13th January 2014
12th May 2014

After 60 credits students may exit with a Certificate in Family and Local History
After 120 credits they may exit with a Diploma. Students taking the full Masters will then complete an 18,000 word dissertation.

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The Postgraduate Certificate in Family and Local History is an online distance learning course aimed at developing the skills needed to study family and local history. The course helps you to identify and use archives and other resources which are an important and sometimes neglected aspect of researching family history. Archives will help you discover more about the world that your ancestors lived in.

Aims of the Programme

This programme teaches the skills and methodologies necessary to investigate the history of families and neighbourhoods within the wider context of social history.

The courses are online, easy to use and fully supported. You can do them wherever you live and can log onto the site at whatever time you wish to study. You will work your way through the courses with other students and will be able to discuss the topics on a discussion forum. Your tutor will provide support and guidance throughout.

If you want to go further with your family and local history research and to learn in a supportive, enjoyable and interactive environment, these courses are for you.

"Being able to take a program like this when one lives thousands of miles away from the school and fellow classmates is an incredible feeling. I have really enjoyed my time at Dundee."

This programme provides students with:
Skills in finding and interpreting archive sources for family and local history.
An understanding of how to read old handwriting and to recognise common forms of documents.
Knowledge of family history and archive websites and published sources that will help you with your research - for yourself or for others.
A thorough understanding of record types, the reasons for their creation, their location and the information they contain.
An expertise in finding, analysing and interpreting archival records for family and local history research.
An awareness of the historical context in which the records were created and used.
A knowledge of archival theory as it applies to research.
An understanding of the legal and ethical issues relating to research using archival records.

The course is available by distance learning to students off-campus, throughout the world.

Students study a series of core and optional modules which have full academic accreditation from the University of Dundee. The programme is delivered by distance learning via the University of Dundee's Virtual Learning Environment which ensures a supportive and interactive learning environment, with frequent contact between students and tutors.

Centre for Archive and Information Studies

The Centre for Archive and Information Studies (CAIS) is part of the University's Archive, Records Management and Museum Services (ARMMS) which is responsible for the care and development of the University's historical collections, the management of systems to control business records and compliance with information legislation across the University.

CAIS offers postgraduate and undergraduate distance learning programmes for information professionals and family and local historians, delivered in an interactive online environment and allowing flexible part time study.

CAIS also conducts a number of associated activities such as hosting a range of presentations, seminars and conferences, the attraction of external funding and occasional taught training courses in collaboration with experts in the field throughout the UK and beyond.

Course Content and Structure

Mlitt degree:

To qualify for the MLitt in Family and Local History, students must complete a total of 180 credits.
Compulsory modules total 40 credits:
Skills and sources for Family and Local History in Scotland or England - 20 credits
Scots or English Palaeography and Diplomatic - 20 credits
Students can then choose to study a selection of optional modules, to equal 80 credits.

The list of options can be found on the CAIS website. 20 credit modules last for 15 weeks, 10 credit modules last for 9 weeks. Finally, a dissertation of 18,000 words is completed (60 credits).

PG Certificate:
To qualify for the Certificate in Family and Local History, students must complete a total of 60 credits. Students must complete one of the following core modules, but they can elect to study both if they so desire:
Skills and Sources for Family and Local History in Scotland (20 credits)
Skills and Sources for Family and Local History in England (20 credits)
Students can then choose to study a selection of optional modules to complete their total of 60 credits.

Assessment

Essays/reports; contribution to module (through online tasks and discussion board debate), dissertation of 18,000 words for MLitt students.

Student Support

The programme is delivered by distance learning via the University of Dundee's web-based Virtual Learning Environment which ensures a supportive and interactive learning environment, with frequent contact between students and tutors. The VLE gives access to study materials, links to on-line journals, discussion boards and research guides. Module tutors provide regular feedback and support to the students.

Optional study days are available for some of the modules and optional student visits will be arranged.

Professional Accreditation

All CAIS programmes are accredited by the UK Archives and Records Association and The Records and Information Management (RIM) Professionals Australasia.

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About the course

By studying the MA in Archive Administration at postgraduate level, you will learn professional principles and techniques and acquire the core skills which will enable you to play a part in the preservation, management and exploitation of an invaluable informational and historical resource.

This course is designed to prepare you for work in any archive or records management environment. It provides the professional training which is required for entry into these professional areas and is accredited at Diploma and Masters level by the Archives and Records Association.

The university has a proud tradition of research excellence, as demonstrated in the most recent Research Excellence Framework (2014) assessment. It placed the university in the top 50 institutions for research power and intensity. It submitted 77% of eligible staff and 95% of the university's research was of an internationally recognised standard.

This Degree will suit you:

• If you wish to receive first-rate training in Archive Administration
• If you wish to gain the knowledge and skills needed to enter professional work in Archive Administration
• If you wish to nurture an interest in palaeography and diplomatic
• If you wish to enter the emerging marketing of Archive Administration and Digital Information Management.

Course structure and content

The course is divided into two parts: Part I (120 credits) is the taught course, successful completion of which reaches Diploma-level. Part II (60 credits) involves writing a dissertation, to be submitted for the Master’s-level qualification.

The course is available full-time or part-time (part-time students must be generally able to attend classes for half of each week in term time, over two years). Exit points exist at Diploma (9 months) and Master's level (12 months).

Teaching methods include lectures, seminars and practical workshops. Lectures and seminars are intended to provide a clear framework for further reading, questioning and thought. We aim to provide a supportive learning environment: help and guidance are always available.

A significant proportion of your learning takes place in study visits and fieldwork, where you will need to observe and relate what you have learnt to the practice in a number of record keeping environments. Practical experience gained before embarking on the course provides a very important foundation for the training experience of the course itself.

Core modules:

Archive Management: Archive Services
Archives Collection Development and Description
Records and Information Governance
Study of Records: Creators and Users
Dissertation

Optional modules:

Digital Information: Management for Access and Preservation
Latin for Postgraduate Study
Medieval and Post -Medieval Palaeography and Diplomatic
Post Medieval Palaeography and Diplomatic
Rare Books and Special Collections

Contact time

6 - 10 hours a week in the first two semesters. During semester three you will arrange your level of contact time with your assigned supervisor.

Assessment

The taught part of the course (Part 1) is delivered and assessed through lectures, student seminars, practical exercises, case studies, course work and formal examinations. Successful completion allows the award of a Diploma. The subsequent successful submission of your research dissertation (Part 2) leads to the award of an MA.
Employability

Every course at Aberystwyth University is designed to enhance your vocational and general employability. This Masters will place you in the jobs market as a highly-trained archive administrator with knowledge and skills in archive management and record and information governance. By balancing the theory and practice you will be provided the professional training which is required for entering the professional archive and records management environment. This course will also equip you with a wide range of general work skills such as research, analysis, writing, presentation and management, ensuring your employability is improved across all areas.

Study skills

You will develop skills in quickly and accurately assimilating and interpreting data – which you will find invaluable in archive administration and future use. You will develop productive strategies for planning and problem-solving that can be applied beyond your chosen area of study, making you a versatile academic as well as a productive professional. You will also enhance your research skills which you will draw on in both your dissertation and future career.

Study in a practical context

The University of Aberystwyth boasts library resources which are amongst the best in Europe. The Department’s specialist Thomas Parry Library is one of the leading libraries for Information Studies. As a student, you will have access to this exceptional resource where you can apply your learning in activities which will convert the purely academic theory into the proven know-how of experience.

In addition to this, you will also have access to the University's Hugh Owen Library which houses more than 700,000 volumes and subscribes to more than 3,500 current periodicals. Also, the National Library for Wales next to the campus is one of the UK's five copyright libraries housing more than 6,000,000 volumes.

Self-Motivation and discipline

Studying at a Postgraduate level requires high levels of discipline and self-motivation. You will have access to the expertise and helpful guidance of departmental staff but you will be ultimately responsible for devising and completing a sustained programme of scholarly research in pursuit of your masters’ degree. This process of independent study at an extremely high level will strengthen your skills as an independent and self-sufficient worker, a trait prized by most employers.

Transferable skills

This Masters programme is designed to equip you with a range of transferable skills that you can apply to a variety of employment contexts. Upon graduation, you will have proven your abilities in structuring and communicating ideas efficiently, writing for and speaking to a range of audiences, evaluating and organizing information, working effectively with others and working within time frames and to specific deadlines. Whether you pursue a career in an archive administration pathway or not, the prestige of your Masters will open doors into workplaces in every industry.

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Are you looking for a Masters-level qualification that will open doors to jobs and promotions in the field of information science? This course combines core modules in information science with options that range across the sub-disciplines of data analytics, library management and records management.

The core modules cover topics such as human information behaviour, interactive information retrieval, user-centred design and persuasive technologies. You will solve problems from a number of perspectives: as a developer of rigorous technical solutions, as a manager who wants to achieve a profitable and sustainable advantage, and as an ethical and socially aware information professional who understands the role of information within the wider social context.

For your optional modules, you have the flexibility to pick and choose from different sub-disciplines of information science. If you are sure that you want to focus on just one sub-discipline, we offer a suite of more focused courses: MSc Information Science (Data Analytics), MSc Information Science (Library Management), and MSc Information Science (Records Management).

This course can also be completed through distance learning - for more information, please view this web-page: https://www.northumbria.ac.uk/study-at-northumbria/courses/information-science-msc-dl-dtdinz6/

Accreditation

All of Northumbria’s information science postgraduate courses are accredited by the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals, with our Records Management pathway also accredited by the Archives and Records Association. These accreditations make our courses stand out and enhance their credibility and currency among employers, and are also crucial for progressing to Chartership status once qualified.

CILIP assessors particularly commended the way in which the programme had been developed to take account of the changing requirements of employers and feedback from students. The resulting course was particularly strong in the digital elements of information work, and in developing students’ transferable skills.

Learn From The Best

Our teaching staff include cutting-edge researchers whose specialisms overlap with the content of this course, helping ensure that teaching is right up-to-date. Specialisms include big data, data mining, decision-making, digital literacy, information behaviour, information retrieval systems, recommender systems, and the link between information science and cognitive psychology.

Our eminent academics have written books that regularly appear on reading lists for information science courses at universities all over the world. They also work as external examiners and reviewers of courses at other UK and non-UK universities.

Our course is delivered through the Northumbria iSchool, which is one of only six iSchools in the UK. A hallmark of an iSchool is an understanding that expertise in all forms of information is required for progress in science, business, education and culture. This expertise must cover the uses and users of information, the nature of information itself, as well as information technologies and their applications.

Our course is delivered through the Northumbria iSchool, which is one of only six iSchools in the UK. A hallmark of an iSchool is an understanding that expertise in all forms of information is required for progress in science, business, education and culture. This expertise must cover the uses and users of information, the nature of information itself, as well as information technologies and their applications.

Teaching And Assessment

Our teaching is linked to what you want to learn and also to what you need to learn in order to achieve greater success in information science. Our long established relationship with employers ensures that you receive the most relevant and up-to-date knowledge to bring innovation, relevance, ethical sensitivity and currency to all you do. There is an emphasis on learning by doing; coursework will include projects, portfolios of work, reports and presentations as well as essays. All this helps you to make sense of the subject, getting a clear understanding of important concepts and theories.

While some assessments contribute to your final grade, there are other assessments that are provided purely to guide your progress and reinforce your learning. You can expect both your tutors and your peers to provide useful comments and feedback throughout the course.

Module Overview
KC7013 - Database Modelling (Optional, 20 Credits)
KC7020 - Information Organisation and Access (Core, 20 Credits)
KC7021 - Statistics and Business Intelligence (Optional, 20 Credits)
KC7022 - Information Systems and Technologies (Core, 20 Credits)
KC7023 - Research Methods and Professional Practice (Core, 20 Credits)
KC7024 - User Behaviour and Interaction Design (Core, 20 Credits)
KC7025 - The library professional: management, leadership and outreach (Optional, 20 Credits)
KC7026 - Masters Dissertation (Core, 60 Credits)
KC7027 - Information and digital literacy (Optional, 20 Credits)
KC7038 - Recordkeeping Practice: Processes, systems and tools (Optional, 20 Credits)
KC7039 - Recordkeeping Principles: Theory and Concepts (Optional, 20 Credits)

Learning Environment

Northumbria uses a range of technologies to enhance your learning, with tools including web-based self-guided exercises, online tests with feedback, videos and tutorials. These tools support and extend the material that is delivered during lectures, and are available anywhere anytime. Group work and peer interaction feature prominently in our learning and teaching, this reflects the practices you’re likely to encounter within the working environment.

You will have 24/7 term-time access to Northumbria’s library, which has over half a million print books as well as half a million electronic books available online. Our library was ranked #2 in the Times Higher Education Student Experience Survey for 2015 and, since 2010, it has been accredited by the UK Government for Customer Service Excellence.

The University has advanced search software and database tools, including NORA Power Search that allows you to use a single search box to get fast results from across a wide and reliable range of academic resources. The use of such software and tools is an important aspect of our information science courses.

Research-Rich Learning

In fast-moving fields like information science it’s particularly important for teaching to take account of the latest research. Northumbria is helping to push out the frontier of knowledge in a range of areas including:
-Digital consumers, behaviours and literacy
-Digital socio-technical design
-Digital libraries, archives and records

As a student, you will be heavily engaged in analysing recent insights from the field of information science. You will undertake a major individual study that will require you to evaluate relevant literature as well as to develop your ideas within the context of existing research. Your study will be tailored to your particular interests but the underlying theme will be the relationships between information, people and technology. Many of our students publish their own research and present at professional and academic conferences, before or soon after graduating.

Give Your Career An Edge

This course is accredited by the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals. This reflects the relevance of the curriculum, which is informed by contact with employers and close professional links. The following features of the programme were particularly commended by CILIP assessors:
-The way in which the programme had been developed to take account of the changing requirements of employers and feedback from students. The resulting course was particularly strong in the digital elements of information work, and in developing students’ transferable skills;
-The strong relationships with local employers and the active contribution which the department makes to the regional professional network;
-The areas of good practice reflected in the programme, such as the high level of support provided to distance learners, including dedicated library provision, and the use of innovative approaches to assessment.

The topics and activities in the course have a strong emphasis on employability. For example you will develop skills in how to analyse, monitor and evaluate user behaviour. You will also learn how to evaluate and use a range of appropriate technologies for solving problems and supporting decision-making in organisations. Your knowledge and practical skills will help you take a lead on research-informed approaches that give organisations and professionals a valuable advantage.

Your Future

Information science has an exciting future as massive increases in processing power transform the accessibility and utility of data. With an MSc Information Science, you can play a full and rewarding role in that future.

Employers are looking for information professionals who can develop new insights through mastery of their subject and critical scholarship. With your Masters qualification, you will be equipped to make a difference, advance your practice and make well-balanced judgements. You could work for a wide range of employers in the public, private and third sector, who need information scientists or you could consider freelance roles as a consultant. Your Masters qualification can also form the basis for further postgraduate studies at a higher level.

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