Information Science

Your Future in Information Science

Do you enjoy conducting research? Are you computer-savvy and organized? Do you like working one-on-one with people? You should pursue a Bachelor of Science degree in Information Science at the University of North Texas.

Earning a bachelor’s degree is the first step to a future career as a(n):

• Government documents librarian – preserving and disseminating government documents associated with a historical action
• Information specialist – helping people find information and use it effectively
• Law librarian – helping legal aides and lawyers find information
• Medical librarian – providing information to health professionals about new medical treatments or standard procedures
• Public or academic librarian – working with teachers and students to find materials for their classes

What we offer

Our bachelor’s degree program is the portal to a master’s degree, which is necessary for most librarian positions. While pursuing your degree, you will hone the skills required to:

• Aid information seekers
• Add value to information products
• Apply the latest tools for information organization and access

A key component of the program is its flexibility. Course work is offered in a variety of formats – onsite, online and blended – so you can better balance classes with full-time or part-time employment. You can also choose from a wide range of minors, which often become an area of specialization for graduate study. A minor in a technological field makes you more marketable to a variety of information agencies upon graduation.

Special lectures hosted by the College of Information feature renowned scholars who provide different perspectives and insights into information science. You can meet other information science students and attend workshops through our Library and Information Sciences Student Association or the local chapter of the American Society for Information Science and Technology.

The college is constantly evolving to meet the fast-changing needs and the technological advances associated with information-retrieval services and instructional technologies. Its 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 graduate 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

It is also a member 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 you to be trained in research by world renowned scholars.

The department’s membership in the Web-based Information Science Education (WISE) Consortium provides students a wide array of special topics courses, broadening their educational experience.

What to expect

You will need to achieve sophomore status with a cumulative GPA of 2.5 before becoming an Information Science major. The necessary course work includes:

• 24 credit hours of courses required by the College of Information
• 9 credit hours of required information science courses
• 15 credit hours of additional courses approved by the department
• 18 to 21 credit hours in an approved field outside of the department to make up a minor

The information sciences courses will provide an overview of information professions, information organization, and information access and retrieval. Practicum and field experience are available.

Our Career Center and professional academic advisors are among the many valuable resources that are available to you at UNT. The Career Center can provide advice about internships, future employment opportunities and getting hands-on experience in your major. Academic advisors will help you plan your class schedule each semester.

How to Enroll at UNT

High School students

We encourage you to fulfill the graduation requirements for the Recommended Program or the Distinguished Achievement Program in high school.

In your junior year, take the SAT or the ACT and have your scores sent to UNT.

In your senior year, apply for admission at www.applytexas.org by March 1 and request that your high school transcript be sent to the UNT admissions office.

Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate courses can count toward college credit at UNT. For details, visit www.unt.edu/credit.

Transfer students

If you're attending a Texas community college, you should consult our Transfer Articulation web page, the UNT Undergraduate Catalog and an academic counselor/advisor to review your degree plan. Proper planning allows you to receive the maximum amount of transfer credits

Our Transfer Center will help you make a successful transition to college life at UNT by connecting you to a peer mentor and other campus resources. Each year, we welcome more transfer students than any other institution in the state. The center is in the University Union, Room 320. More information is at transition.unt.edu.