College of Information

Master’s and Doctoral Programs

The College of Information at the University of North Texas is constantly evolving to meet the fast-changing needs and the technological advances in information-retrieval services and instructional technologies. The knowledge and skills gained while pursuing your graduate degree will help you thrive in education, research, medical, law or corporate settings.

Our college’s accolades include:

• The nation’s first online school library preparation program
• American Library Association accreditation for our Library and Information Science master’s degree program
• One of the nation’s best Medical Informatics programs, according to U.S. News and World Report (No. 3 nationally and No. 1 in Texas)
• One of the nation’s best master’s programs in Library and Information Sciences, according to U.S. News and World Report (No. 17 nationally)
• A leading program in Services for Children and Youth, according to U.S. News and World Report (No. 13 nationally)
• The nation’s largest interdisciplinary Ph.D. program in Information Science

We are also members of the iSchools organization, a collection of information schools dedicated to advancing the information field and that share a fundamental interest in the relationship among information, people and technology. This partnership opens many opportunities for our students to be trained in research from world-renowned scholars.

Flexible class schedules – with course work offered on-site, online and in blended course formats – allow you to better balance classes with full-time or part-time employment.

Our college consists of the Department of Learning Technologies and the Department of Library and Information Sciences. Each department features faculty members who are recognized as experts in their fields and are involved in innovative research areas such as:

• Digital knowledge
• Distributed learning
• Information behavior
• Instructional systems and technology
• Performance improvement

Department of Learning Technologies

This department’s programs provide you with the knowledge and experience needed to use and improve learning technologies through research, product development and application of current tools to solve educational problems. The programs are also nationally and internationally known for helping future educators and technology professionals understand technology tools and their applications.

Our graduates play key roles in education and business settings serving as:

• Faculty members at universities and colleges
• Instructional designers
• School principals
• Technical consultants
• Technology coordinators
• Researchers
• Web designers and developers

Degrees offered

Applied Technology and Performance Improvement

The Master of Education degree is for professionals in the career and technical education field.

The Master of Science degree is for professionals seeking careers in training and development.

The Doctor of Education degree prepares you for a high-level leadership role in an organizational setting.

The Doctor of Philosophy degree readies you for a career as a scholar and researcher.

Computer Education and Cognitive Systems

The Master of Science degree enables you to specialize in teaching and learning with technology or instructional design and systems technology. Concentrations are available in:

• Distance and distributed learning
• Emerging technologies
• Instructional systems design
• Technology and autism
• Technology and brain-based learning
• Technology integration

Educational Computing

The Doctor of Philosophy degree focuses on defining, understanding and expanding the synergy of technology and learning/instructional systems theory.

Certifications

Teacher certificate

If you have a previous bachelor’s or master’s degree, you can take 12 hours of online graduate courses that help you qualify for the career and technical education state teaching certification in marketing, trade and industrial education, health science technology education, and career investigation/career connections. The credit hours can be used toward an undergraduate or graduate degree.

Training certificate

You may receive a basic corporate training and/or advanced corporate training certificate online from the ATPI program. This certificate may provide occupational advancement.

Department of Library and Information Sciences

This department provides resources, research and service for education and leadership to the library and information community. It also prepares information professionals to serve the state, region and global community.

Degrees offered

Library Science or Information Science

In the Master of Science program, you may pursue the general program of study or a specialization in:

• Digital image management
• Distributed learning librarianship
• Health informatics specialist
• Information organization
• Information systems
• Law librarian and legal informatics specialist
• School librarianship
• Youth librarianship

Information Science

The Doctor of Philosophy degree prepares you to contribute to the advancement and evaluation of the information society as an administrator, researcher or educator. It provides approaches to solving information problems from the Mayborn School of Journalism, College of Visual Arts and Design, and departments of:

• Behavior analysis
• Communication studies
• Computer science and engineering
• Criminal justice
• Information technology and decision sciences
• Learning technologies

Certificates

In Texas, if you have at least two years of classroom teaching experience, you can pursue school librarian certification by successfully completing the 21-semester- hour program, a master’s degree and a state certification examination. The certification courses are available completely online.

Graduate academic certificates, which typically require 12 semester hours of course work, provide conceptual understanding and technical proficiency in the specific field of study. Certificates are available in:

• Advanced management in libraries and information agencies
• Digital content management
• Storytelling
• Youth services in libraries and information settings

A post-master’s (sixth-year) program leading to a certificate of advanced study enables you to seek further specialization in digital image management, rural librarianship or health informatics.

A certificate in Interactive and Virtual Digital Communication is available from the Mayborn Graduate Institute of Journalism, the Department of Library and Information Sciences, and the Department of Learning Technologies. This 18-semester-hour academic certificate provides students with the written, visual and technical competencies required to successfully communicate in modern environments.