Master of Information Studies (with specialisations)

As a graduate of this course, your range of career opportunities is broad, and includes libraries; research, government and corporate information centres; and the cultural heritage sector. Work in public libraries and other information agencies to provide effective services for children and youth. Help plan, organise and lead information management in large and small organisations. Deliver support in business, government, and other settings and use the latest technologies to create, share and use information. Deliver programs supporting literacy development or work to support research in academic and research organisations.

Professional recognition

Graduates of the Master degree and/or Graduate Diploma may be admitted to Associate (professional) Membership of the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) without further examination; similary to professional membership of RIM Professional Australasia. Graduates of the Records and Archives Management specialisation may also be admitted to professional membership of the Australian Society of Archivists.

Higher education

A Bachelor’s or Master’s (or AQF equivalent) degree in any discipline.

Work and Life

Work experience at a professional level (as recognised by an accrediting body of the course) of a minimum of 10 years full time equivalence in an information or cultural organisation such as an academic, public, school or corporate library, data or archival centre, government information agency, museum, gallery or other information or cultural organisation will be considered

English Proficiency Requirements

Standard English Language Proficiency (ELP) requirements. Refer to http://futurestudents.csu.edu.au/apply/english-language for the specific requirements. This will apply to both domestic and international applicants. Offer may be conditional on ELP but applicants will be required to provide evidence of meeting these requirements before the start of studies.

Practicum placement

Please note that the following subjects have a Workplace Learning component (online) :

INF466 - Professional Study Visit (PG)

INF572 - Professional Placement

If you’ve studied before, you may be able to fast-track your postgraduate degree with Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). If you’ve completed relevant tertiary study, you could be awarded credit for your postgraduate degree. Get in touch to see if you’re eligible for credit based on your previous qualifications or industry experience.

Master of Information Studies (with specialisations)

Applicants who have the following qualifications will be considered for credit as detailed below:

A professionally recognised/accredited undergraduate degree in the information studies field from any Australian university - a maximum of 48 points comprising:

Eight (8) Core subjects (48 points):

INF404 Foundations for Information Studies

INF406 Information Sources and Services

INF466 Professional Study Visit (PG) (4)

INF429 The Information Society

INF435 Collections

INF554 Metadata for Resource Discovery

INF571 Planning for Professional Placement (2 points)

INF572 Professional Placement (2 points)

Join a global leader in the world of information and library studies with the Master of Information Studies (with specialisations) from Charles Sturt University. Delivered online, this course is available for study anywhere and anytime with the flexibility to choose subjects from a range of specialisations. As Australia's largest provider of information and library studies education Charles Sturt University offers you study opportunities unlike anyone else.

Recommended Study Pattern

MASTER OF INFORMATION STUDIES (with specialisations)

The course consists of ten core subjects (64 points) and four restricted elective subjects (32 points) chosen from the restricted electives list or those listed in the Specialisations. 

Available specialisations include Children's Librarianship, Data Management, Information Management, Leadership, Librarianship and Records & Archives Management. Subjects have a value of 8 points unless otherwise specified.

Core Subjects

The core comprises seven standard (8-point) subjects and two 2-point subjects and one 4 point subject. This is the equivalent of eight standard (8-point) subjects.

• INF404 Foundations for Information Studies
• INF406 Information Sources and Services
• INF415 Management of Information Agencies
• INF429 The Information Society
• INF435 Collections
• INF466 Professional Study Visit (PG) (4 points)
• INF554 Metadata for Resource Discovery
• INF567 Research in Practice
• INF571 Planning for Professional Placement (2 points)
• INF572 Professional Placement (2 points)

Upon successful completion of the above core subjects, students are eligible to exit the Masters course with the GRADUATE DIPLOMA OF INFORMATION STUDIES.

Upon successful completion of INF404 Foundations for Information Studies plus any three standard 8-point subjects in the Master of Information Studies course (including those chosen from the specialisation subjects), students are eligible to graduate with the GRADUATE CERTIFICATE IN INFORMATION STUDIES.

Having completed all core subjects listed above, students continuing in the Master of Information Studies are required to complete a further four restricted elective subjects.

Students have the option to complete a general Master of Information Studies degree, or to complete the requirements of one of the specialisations and graduate with a Master of Information Studies (specialisation).

Master of Information Studies

Students choose four restricted electives from the following list:

Restricted Electives

• ETL402  Literature Across the Curriculum
• ETL500  Literature in Digital Environments
• INF430  Audio-visual Archiving
• INF431  Preservation of Audio-visual Materials
• INF432  Audio-visual Archiving 2
• INF433  Information Literacy
• INF441  Knowledge Management in Practice
• INF443  Digital Curation and Preservation
• INF449  Research Data Management
• INF451  Issues in Bibliographic Access
• INF459  Designing and Creating Usable Websites
• INF461  An Introduction to Data Management: Governance, Standards and Ethics
• INF463  Introduction to Data Tools and Analytics
• INF464  Designing and Delivering Programs for User Engagement
• INF465  Working with Special and Cultural Collections
• INF505  Library Services for Children and Young Adults
• INF506  Social Networking for Information Professionals
• INF507  Marketing of Libraries and Information Agencies
• INF514  Human Resource Management in Information Agencies
• INF516  Leadership in Library Services to Children and Young Adults
• INF518  Community Histories
• INF519  Community Outreach
• INF521  Literature and Other Resources for Children and Young Adults
• INF522  Project and Event Management
• INF527  Records, Archives and Society
• INF528  Records and Archives Practice
• INF529  Organisational and Personal Records
• INF556  Extended Essay in Information Studies

Master of Information Studies (Children's Librarianship)

Students complete the following three subjects:

• INF505 Library Services for Children and Young Adults
• INF516 Leadership in Library Services to Children and Young Adults
• INF521 Literature and Other Resources for Children and Young Adults

PLUS one of the following subjects:

• ETL402 Literature Across the Curriculum
• ETL500 Literature in Digital Environments
• INF506 Social Networking for Information Professionals
• INF519 Community Outreach
• INF464 Designing and Delivering Programs for User Engagement
• INF556  Extended Essay in Information Studies

Master of Information Studies (Data Management)

Students complete the following three subjects:

• INF443 Digital Curation and Preservation
• INF461 An Introduction to Data Management: Governance, Standards and Ethics
• INF463 Introduction to Data Tools and Analytics

PLUS one of the following subjects:

• INF449 Research Data Management
• INF522 Project and Event Management
• INF556  Extended Essay in Information Studies

Master of Information Studies (Information Management)

Students complete the following two subjects: 

• INF441 Knowledge Management in Practice
• INF527 Records, Archives and Society

PLUS two of the following subjects:

• INF443 Digital Curation and Preservation
• INF449 Research Data Management
• INF506 Social Networking for Information Professionals
• INF522 Project and Event Management
• INF528 Records and Archives Practice
• INF459 Designing and Creating Usable Websites
• INF556  Extended Essay in Information Studies

Master of Information Studies (Leadership)

Students complete following subject:

• MGT510 Strategic Management

PLUS three of the following subjects:

• INF507 Marketing of Libraries and Information Agencies
• INF514 Human Resource Management in Information Agencies
• INF522 Project and Event Management
• INF556  Extended Essay in Information Studies

Master of Information Studies (Librarianship)

Students choose four from the following subjects:

• INF431 Preservation of Audio-visual Materials
• INF433 Information Literacy
• INF443 Digital Curation and Preservation
• INF449 Research Data Management
• INF451 Issues in Bibliographic Access
• INF464 Designing and Delivering Programs for User Engagement
• INF465 Working with Special and Cultural Collections
• INF505 Library Services for Children and Young Adults
• INF506 Social Networking for Information Professionals
• INF507 Marketing of Libraries and Information Agencies
• INF518 Community Histories
• INF519 Community Outreach
• INF522 Project and Event Management
• INF556 Extended Essay in Information Studies

Master of Information Studies (Records and Archives Management)

Students choose three from the following subjects:

• INF527 Records, Archives and Society
• INF528 Records and Archives Practice
• INF529 Organisational and Personal Records
• PLUS one of the following subjects:
• INF430 Audio-visual Archiving
• INF431 Preservation of Audio-visual Materials
• INF432 Audio-visual Archiving 2
• INF443 Digital Curation and Preservation
• INF518 Community Histories
• INF556  Extended Essay in Information Studies

Award Requirements

As a Charles Sturt University student, throughout your course you have a responsibility to continue to develop skills in English language, literacy and numeracy as appropriate to your discipline. This ongoing development will enable you to effectively participate in your course and graduate prepared to enter the workforce.

Master of Information Studies (with specialisations)

To graduate students must satisfactorily complete 96 points.

Exit Points

Graduate Certificate in Information Studies