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 be equipped with proven methods and best practices to create, implement, and later assess strategic plans that can positively impact their organization, patrons, stakeholders, and employees.
The 12-hour graduate certificate in Planning and Assessment for Information Professionals 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 in which they work and can select courses to fill gaps in their knowledge and skill set, and/or to better serve their specific organizational setting.
Learn best practices
This certificate covers each step of the planning and assessment process, such as data gathering methods, storing data, building meaningful and actionable plans, and executing plan assessments.
Bring value to information agencies
Executing high-quality planning and assessment cycles 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:
- Project Manager: Leads projects from planning to completion by coordinating teams, managing timelines, and ensuring goals are met efficiently.
- Assessment Librarian: Evaluates library services, programs, and resources by collecting and analyzing data to improve user experience and support institutional goals.
- Library Director: Leads strategic planning and assessment initiatives to evaluate library services, guide decision-making, and ensure the library meets goals and community needs.
- 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
In addition to the two required courses below, students enrolled in the Planning and Assessment for Information Professionals Graduate Certificate 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.
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