MLIS Reading Courses: Policy and Procedures
(INFO 6700/6710)

General Guidelines

Students interested in registering for a reading course must first meet with the SIM Director to discuss the reading course topic and coordinate supervision. At the meeting, be prepared to discuss your interest or topic.

Reading courses are intended to add flexibility to the program by providing students with an opportunity to develop a specific interest in the library/information studies field by:

• studying an aspect of a topic in greater detail than is possible within an existing course,
• studying an area not currently covered by the curriculum, or
• conducting a research study or special project.

Normally a course regularly offered within the University cannot be taken as a reading course; however, if a regularly scheduled course is not offered during a student’s program, it may be offered as a reading course at the discretion of the SIM Director. Reading courses are intended to supplement, not duplicate, the existing curriculum.

Reading courses are available only to students enrolled in the MLIS program who have a grade point average of 3.5 (midway between a B+ and A-) or higher.

Students may take a maximum of two reading courses during their program.

If a Reading Course involves research with human subjects ethics review is required; students can seek assistance from their supervisor.

When possible, Reading Course students will present the results of their work in a public session. 

Proposal

A course proposal must be prepared in advance by the student and submitted to the supervising professor for approval.

Proposals must be submitted no later than one week before the start of class in any term and final approval must be received within the first two weeks of classes. Proposals must be approved by the supervisor and one of: a faculty member of the Curriculum Committee or the SIM Director.  A copy of the approved proposal must be submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies.

Proposal must include:

• Title
• Introduction
• Purpose/Objectives
• Relevance to the general field of library and information studies and to the School’s goals and objectives
• Selected reading list
• Methodology, including requirement for ethics approval
• Time-line for activities in the course
• Method of evaluation

Download one of the following forms:
  Reading Course Proposal Form* 
  Reading Course Proposal Form**

* Includes embedded form fields which enable the applicant to complete the grey form fields electronically, and save the completed document. After completion, print the form and sign it.

** Print this form and complete it by hand (Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader--you can download it here.)

Supervisor

A reading course may be taken under the supervision of a full-time faculty member of the School or of any other departments in the Faculty of Graduate Studies.

Students may consult directly with any member of the School’s full-time faculty about the potential of taking a reading course.

If the potential supervisor is external to the School or a part-time member of the SIM faculty, the student must consult with the SIM Director before any consultations take place.