Graduate Certificate
Archival Studies
Learn about archival practices as they affect the composition and meaning of cultural artifacts and the historical records.
About the Certificate
Archival studies programs have become common in the United States in recent decades. In an era of historic change in recordkeeping practices and an increasingly competitive job market, students pursuing careers in archives and records management today need formal credentials based on a rigorous education in the theory and practice of the profession.
The Graduate Certificate in Archival Studies provides a specialization in an area of growing interest within the Library and Information Science field as well as an opportunity to learn more about archival practices as they affect the composition and meaning of cultural artifacts and the historical records. In addition, this certificate program offers advanced continuing education opportunities to practitioners working in libraries and archives, especially on the challenges posed by the emergence of digital recordkeeping.
The program is designed to give you foundational core knowledge of the archives profession. The curriculum is structured around the guidelines for graduate programs set by the Society of American Archivists, ensuring that students have a comprehensive understanding of professional archival standards that may not otherwise be acquired without an archives concentration in their graduate level education.
Learning Outcomes
The archives certificate will acquaint you with the core knowledge of the profession, focusing on the nature of records and the basic archival functions of records appraisal, acquisition, arrangement, description, preservation, reference, access, outreach and archives administration. You will also gain essential contextual knowledge of the sociocultural factors shaping archival records as they are created and managed over time in different communities of practice and localities.
Requirements
For current students completing a M.A. LIS degree, the certificate requires a minimum of 12 units in total, including 9 units from required courses (LIS 540, LIS 640 and LIS 671) and 3 units from an elective course. If you already have a master's degree from another American Library Association Accredited school, LIS 504 is waived.
For students who are only completing a Graduate Certificate in Archival Studies and do not hold a M.A. LIS degree from an American Library Association Accredited school, the certificate requires a minimum of 15 units, including 12 units from required courses (LIS 504, LIS 540, LIS 640 and LIS 671) and 3 units from an elective course.
Required Courses
- 12 units
| LIS 504: Foundations of Library and Information Services |
| LIS 540: Introduction to Archives |
| LIS 640: Advanced Issues in Archival Enterprise |
| LIS 671: Digital Curation and Digital Preservation |
Elective Courses
- 3 units (select 1 course)
| LIS 530: Cataloging and Metadata Management |
| LIS 541: Preservation |
| LIS 557: Documenting Diverse Cultures and Communities |
| LIS 570: Database Development and Management |
| LIS 584: Introduction to Copyright |
| LIS 641: Community-focused Archives and Museums (3 credits) |
| LIS 672: Introduction to Applied Technology |
| LIS 673: Management for Information Professionals |
| LIS 675: Advanced Digital Collections |
| LIS 693: Internship |
| LIS 699: Independent Study |
Transfer Units
You can transfer up to 6 units from other accredited institutions with the approval of the Archival Studies committee.
We also accept the following courses from the Arizona State University Public History Program:
- 502: Public History Methodology
- 598: U.S. Cultural Institutions and Public Practice
Up to 12 units can be shared between the certificate and Master's degree. Up to six units can be shared between certificates.