Planning and Assessment for Information Professionals Graduate Certificate
Planning and assessment are essential to the success of all types of agencies, and information-focused organizations are no exception. This graduate certificate teaches information students and professionals at all levels a vital skill that centers user needs and can bring significant value to organizations.
Program overview
Students who earn a Planning and Assessment for Information Professionals Graduate Certificate will learn proven methods and best practices for gathering evidence, assessing performance, and creating and implementing plans to positively impact their organization, patrons, stakeholders, and employees.
This 12-hour graduate certificate is designed for information sciences graduate students and information professionals interested in developing knowledge and skills in the foundations, history, methods, and approaches to planning and assessment in information agencies. The certificate is appropriate for those interested in all settings.
Why study Planning and Assessment for Information Professionals?
Flexible course options
Students will enhance their understanding and performance in any specialization or area of work. The graduate certificate programs’ courses have been identified to fill gaps in students’ knowledge and skill set to support improved service in their specific organizational setting.
Learn best practices
This certificate covers each step of the planning and assessment process, including methods for designing assessment, collecting data, and using evidence for meaningful planning.
Bring value to information agencies
Executing high-quality planning and assessment can improve user experience, identify areas of opportunity, and foster outcomes that could facilitate additional funding for some organizations.
What can you do with a graduate certificate in Planning and Assessment for Information Professionals?
Professionals and students who are pursuing specific pathways in their graduate program can use this certificate to help them pursue a variety of positions in information organizations, such as:
- Assessment Librarian: Designs and executes efforts to evaluate library resources, services, and programs to support user needs and support institutional goals.
- Project Manager: Leads projects from planning to completion by coordinating teams, managing timelines, and ensuring goals are met efficiently.
- Operations Analyst: Analyzes processes and performance data to identify inefficiencies and recommend solutions that improve organizational operations.
- Data Operations Manager: Focuses on the logistics of data intake, processing, and pipeline planning to ensure operational teams have accurate information.
Featured Courses
The Planning and Assessment for Information Professionals Graduate Certificate requires that
students complete INSC 558: Planning and Assessment, and INSC 504: Research Methods. In
addition to these, students may select two additional courses in, respectively:
- the information agency setting of their choice
- and an additional specialized course in data management, usability and user experience, or data analytics, allowing them to customize the certificate program to meet their specific needs and interests.
Certificate curriculum and requirements
INSC 504: Research Methods
Research methods in a variety of information environments; primary and secondary research; research project design; research results interpretation; analysis of published research; techniques supporting research process.
INSC 558: Planning and Assessment
History of and issues related to planning and assessment in libraries and other information organizations, including approaches, methods, and tools.
