The University of British Columbia

School of Library, Archival & Information Studies

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Degrees/Certificates Offered

Programs Offered

Program Philosophy

The Master of Archival Studies degree offers an opportunity for students to acquire professional competencies in the records and archives management profession. The curriculum accords with the guidelines for archival education published by the Association of Canadian Archivists and the Society of American Archivists. Our objectives are: 1) to educate students in the scholarly and professional dimensions of their field and to produce graduates able to advance professional practice and contribute significantly to the growth of the theoretical and methodological body of knowledge of their professions; 2) to contribute through research and publication to the development of the records disciplines; 3) to foster interdisciplinary links with auxiliary and allied disciplines and multidisciplinary relationships with the fields that create the records our graduates will maintain and preserve; and 4) to cultivate a relationship of mutual support with the academic and professional community locally, nationally, and internationally.

Facilities

The School of Library, Archival and Information Studies is located at the top floor of the new Irving K. Barber Learning Centre. Two computer labs, a large graduate students office, and an extensive study and meeting area with wireless connection and a breathtaking view on the ocean and the mountains are reserved exclusively for the school students. The classrooms and meeting rooms are inside the school also.

Practicum/Internships/Assistantships Offered?

In the Master of Archival Studies it is possible to take one or more of three forms of practica. 1) A practicum, called "Internship," can be taken after successful completion of the 24 credits of studies of the first Winter Session in the program. This course consists of practical experience and the observation of the professional work of others. It takes place in a recognized archival repository under the supervision of a senior archivist. It offers experience of basic archival functions. The faculty will arrange a placement in a repository for about three months in the period May-July. Placements in a wide range of archival and record repositories and settings are possible provided arrangements can be made for a knowledgeable professional to supervise a regimen which meets the practicum objectives. 2) Another practicum, called "Professional Experience," can be taken after successful completion of 24 credits of studies in the MAS program. This course consists of a definable project, most often proposed by an archives, institution or organization, and approved by the Chair of the Archival Studies program as being appropriate for 3 credits. The Faculty Coordinator maintains a binder of such proposals from which students may choose a suitable project. If, however, there is no proposal for a project in an area of special interest to the student, the Faculty Coordinator will attempt to arrange a project with a practicing professional. Students must be prepared to devote a total of approximately 120 hours on the project. Once the project has been approved and is underway, students are expected to prepare an initial set of objectives for the project, with assigned timelines, and to report on their progress on a regular basis. 3) Finally, there is a form of practicum called co-op. Students who have completed 21 credits of course work are eligible for the School's co-operative education work experience program which is facilitated by the Faculty of Arts Co-operative Education office. Co-operative Education is a learning program whereby through pre-employment workshops, career coaching with co-op staff, and workplace experiences students have the opportunity to combine real world experience with their classroom training and develop employment skills specific to the SLAIS professions. Students compete for co-op jobs, which are posted on a password protected co-op web site; thus, participation in the program does not guarantee a co-op placement. Students may elect to take a term of work lasting either four months or eight months, or may do two different four month work terms. Students are paid for their work according to industry standards which will vary according to the type of library, archival or information organization. Students do not receive academic credit for their work, but participation in the Co-op work program is noted on transcripts.

Research

All MAS courses involve research and the writing of its results. However, there are two elective courses dedicated to research, called "Directed Research Project" and "Directed Study." A 12 credits thesis is optional. In addition, all students are invited to participate as Graduate Research Assistants in the research projects in which archival studies professors are involved as principal investigators. One example of a large research project that hires most MAS students is the InterPARES Project, a multidisciplinary and international collaborative research endeavor aiming at the development of theoretical and methodological knowledge for the creation, maintenance and long-term preservation of reliable, accurate and authentic digital records generated in dynamic, interactive and experiential systems (see www.interpares.org). Another example is the Digital Records Forensics project which is carried out in collaboration with the UBC Faculty of Law and the Vancouver Police Department.

Faculty Information

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Courses Offered