Mahalo to everyone for helping us brainstorm possibilities for the next evolution of the LIS curriculum over the last two years! This version, while not final, reflects the feedback you shared with us in surveys and discussion sessions, our reviews of other accredited programs, changing professional needs and accreditation standards, our new role as part of the School of Communication and Information in the College of Social Sciences, and most importantly, our place in Hawaiʻi. The proposed curriculum:
- Centers Hawaiian librarianship and community and professional engagement as essential to the LIS experience.
- Includes specific competences within each Student Learning Outcome (SLO), in response to employer feedback.
- Requires four core courses instead of six. Each core course is aligned with multiple SLOs and competences, instead of the current one course – one primary SLO model.
- Requires eight elective courses instead of six. This provides more flexibility for students to craft individualized courses of study in consultation with their faculty advisor.
- Integrates most current pathways and specializations within the General pathway, except Archives and School Library Media, until such time as we have sufficient faculty to reliably offer courses to support additional pathways. For example, students interested in preparing for practice in Public or Academic libraries work with their advisors to select courses that best support their career goals, outside of a formal pathway structure.
- Creates more flexible culminating experience options. The ePortfolio will change to reflect and assess the new SLOs and curriculum, but could include internships, practicums, and other projects. Currently the ePortfolio is completed in a required course in the last semester, but we welcome your feedback on other possible culminating experience models. Thesis requirements would remain unchanged.
- Does not change credit requirements for the degree; they would remain at 39.
We feel these proposed revisions better reflect our program values, the voices of our stakeholders, and what we’re able to deliver as a program given our resources. We welcome your feedback on the working draft below, which includes a link to the feedback form. We ask that you respond by Wednesday April 22, in time for a community Zoom discussion Friday April 24, 1-2pm, where we will discuss the compiled feedback and take questions. From there, we’ll integrate feedback into the final curriculum revision proposal that we plan to submit in Fall 2026, for implementation with the entering cohort of Fall 2027.
Proposed SLOs / Competences and Core Course Matrix: 4 courses (12 credits) required for all students
Coursework: 8 courses (24 credits) chosen in consultation with faculty advisor, to craft an individualized course of study
- All courses will engage with multiple SLOs, and explore in more depth the competences introduced in the core
- Pathway options: General, Archives, School Library Media.
Non-coursework student experience
- First Semester Seminar (SLO2 Community and Professional Engagement, SLO7 Reflective Practice): Informal cohort meetings introduce new students to the program and profession. Peer mentoring, presentations by LIS faculty, professionals and continuing students, field trips.
- Community engagement (SLO2 Community and Professional Engagement): Participation in student and professional organizations, volunteer opportunities, program events and other community and place-based experiences can result in learning artifacts outside of traditional coursework that are applicable to ePortfolio requirements, in consultation with faculty advisors.
Culminating experience
- Plan A Thesis: 6 credits LIS 700 + 1 course (3 credits) in research methods included in above.
- Plan B ePortfolio: 1 course (3 credits) LIS 691 Masters Seminar, in addition to above. Working plan:
- Students select four coursework artifacts (one may be from a non-coursework experience), and compose a reflective essay for each, discussing how the artifact demonstrates their understanding, mastery and future practice of at least two SLOs and corresponding competences.
- In total, the four artifacts and reflections should address all SLOs and competences (some may be addressed twice), in whatever combination each student thinks best. Each of the four reflective essays must demonstrate mastery of all the SLOs the student chooses to include.
- For retakes, reviewers must identify which SLO response(s) needed improvement for program assessment purposes.
We welcome your feedback! Please complete the by Wednesday April 22, so we can integrate it into a community discussion Friday April 24 at 1pm. Zoom connect info will be circulated via our email lists. Mahalo!