POSTGRADUATE PROGRAM

A. Master’s Degree Program

Two courses are offered in Master’s Degree Program: Library and Information Science Course and the Information Resource Management Course.

The objectives of the Library and Information Science Course are the advancement of library and information science research as well as the training of highly specialized information-related professionals. All the classes offered are essentially advanced courses of the undergraduate program, composed of three main groups: those on information systems, information media, and information retrieval and processing.

The Information Resource Management Course aims at the recurrent education of librarians and other information professionals. The classes focus on the current information and communication technology, administration and management of an information center such as a library, as well as developing the abilities of communication and problem-solving through discussions with incumbent professionals and the faculty.

The required period of attendance for both courses is two years. Students are conferred a Master’s degree (Master of Arts in Library and Information Science) when they finish course work with attainment of at least 32 credits and submit Master’s theses.

B. Ph.D. Degree Program

The advancement of library and information science research and the training of researchers are the objectives of the Ph.D. Degree Program. The required period of attendance is three years. Under the advice of the supervisor, a student prepares for a dissertation, together with course work with attainment of at least 4 credits each year.

If the dissertation is submitted and duly accepted, she/he is conferred a Ph.D. Degree (Ph.D. in Library and Information Science).

MASTER’S DEGREE PROGRAM (Library and Information Science Course)

Special Lecture of Information Science 1

Considerations and discussions on Japanese libraries in historical and cultural contexts. Topics borrowed from library and information science history, book history, media history, and educational history.

Special Lecture on Information Science 2

Reading book chapters and journal papers to evaluate the characteristics of Japanese libraries in the context of international education, culture, and professionalism.

Special Lecture of Information Science 3・4

Seminar: Special Lecture of Information Science 1・2

Guidance in specific themes for the preparation of research papers, while taking into account each students’ master’s thesis project.

Special Lecture of Information Media 1・2

Role of information media in communication, and the flow of information and usage patterns. Physical aspects and characteristics of information media and information technology.

Special Lecture of Information Media 3・4

Understanding practices of distributing and accessing knowledge as well as everyday practices of using information for informing design.

Seminar: Special Lecture of Information Media 1・2

Guidance in specific themes related to information media, scholarly communication, and practices of distributing and accessing knowledge for the preparation of students’ master’s thesis projects.

Special Lecture of Information Storage and Retrieval 1・2

Basic approaches, theories, and techniques for the sophistication of information retrieval.

Special Lecture of Information Storage and Retrieval 3・4

Theories and practices of organising information and information resources: metadata design, creation and management, classification, controlled vocabularies and ontologies, and Linked Data on the Web.

Seminar: Special Lecture of Information Storage and Retrieval 1・2

Guidance in conducting research on specific themes related to organising information, information resources, and information retrieval in consideration of each students’ master’s thesis project.

Special Lecture of Information System 1・2

Special Lecture of Information System 3・4

Seminar: Special Lecture of Information Systems 1・2

Research Methods 1

Exercises in academic writing, content construction and articulation required for an academic article, a paper read at an academic conference, and a master’s thesis.

Research Methods 2

Basics of social research and statistical analysis of survey data including tests and regressions.

Information Analysis 1・2

Reading and summarising the latest significant English articles on various topics regarding library and information science.

MASTER’S DEGREE PROGRAM (Information Resource Management Course)

Information Resource Management: Advanced 1

Policy trends in various types of libraries including cultural and intellectual property regulations (i.e. copyright law), and lifelong learning policies.

Information Resource Management: Advanced 2

Case studies on the management and administration of libraries with regards to operations and management including business administration.

Information Resource Management: Advanced 3

History and techniques of assessing library administration, operation, and services including library collection evaluations.

Information Resource Management: Advanced 4

Examination of research on the digitisation and preservation of books as the base of analytical bibliography and new research.

Information Resource Management: Advanced 5・6

Regarding librarianship as a knowledge profession and considering its qualifications and training, employment and in-service training, problems of different types of libraries, MLA relationships, and world trends.

Information Resource Management: Advanced 7

Discussions on various aspects of advanced web-based user services and services utilising digital resources, their potential for researchers and library users, and issues of designing and implementing such services as well as their evaluation.

Information Resource Management: Advanced 8

Discussions on practical aspects of reference services through case study analyses, focusing on the evaluation of information sources, the development of reference collection, and user services.

Information Resource Management: Advanced 9・10

Theories and practices of organising information and information resources in libraries and other related institutions: metadata design and management, metadata creation and services with systems, major standards in conceptual models and metadata schemas, classification, controlled vocabularies, and ontologies.

Information Resource Management: Advanced 11・12

Function of information media in scholarly communication: ecosystems of scholarly communication from the viewpoint of academic libraries, publishers, and other stakeholders.

Information Resource Management: Advanced 13・14

Exercises in academic writing, content construction and articulation required for an academic article, a paper read at an academic conference, and a master’s thesis.

Information Resource Management: Advanced 15・16

Basics of social research and statistical analysis of survey data including tests and regressions.

Information Resource Management: Advanced 17・18

Information processing and network technology used for library operations.

Information Resources Management: Seminar 1・2

Guiding student preparation for master’s thesis with a focus on specific themes relating to information resource management.

Information Resources Management: Seminar 3・4

Reading and summarising recent significant articles written in both foreign languages (mostly in English) and Japanese on library and information science.

Ph.D. DEGREE PROGRAM

Special Research on Information Science 1-2, 5-6

Guiding individual students in conducting research on specific themes in information science.

Special Research on Information Science 3-4, 7-8

Reading and summarising the latest significant English articles on various topics regarding library and information science.

Special Study of Information Media 1-6

Investigating the characteristics of literature and other information media, and guiding individual students in conducting research on specific themes in information media and communication.

Special Research on Information Retrieval 1-6

Guiding individual students in conducting research on specific themes in information storage and retrieval.

Special Study of Information System 1-6

Guiding individual students in conducting research on specific problems in the field of libraries, information systems, and networks.