Three Policies for the Master of Arts in Library and Information Science [M.A. (Library and Information Science)]: Field of Information Resources Management, Major in Library and Information Science

Based on the Policy on Graduation and Degree Conferral (Diploma Policy) of Keio University, the program aims to develop individuals who possess deep knowledge and skills in library and information science and have the will and ability to proactively solve social issues based on this expertise. In particular, it seeks to develop more advanced professionals by providing learning opportunities to those employed in fields related to library and information science, such as librarians. In addition, the degree of Master of Arts in Library and Information Science [M.A. (Library and Information Science)] is conferred upon students who fulfill the prescribed requirements of the curriculum.

Competency Goal (1): The ability to conduct research on various issues in the field and resolve them effectively and efficiently, based on the specialized knowledge required for work related to library and information science.

Competency Goal (2): The reading comprehension skills to comprehensively and accurately collect literature and information resources, including those in English, to address research topics in library and information science, and to fully grasp their content.

Competency Goal (3): The ability to collect and analyze data and present appropriate evidence in order to gain academic insights in library and information science.

Competency Goal (4): The ability to write a master's thesis on a specific topic within the field of library and information science and to present professional findings.

Competency Goal (5): The practical research skills to recognize and critically analyze significant problems and issues and to work toward their resolution, based on the ability to contemplate humanity, culture, and society from the perspective of information and knowledge.

Competency Goal (6): The ability to be aware of the significance of studying library and information science within society and to achieve self-set goals and resolve social problems using appropriate methods.

To develop the qualities and abilities outlined in the "Policy on Graduation and Degree Conferral (Diploma Policy)," the Field of Information Resources Management (Master's Program) of the Major in Library and Information Science, Graduate School of Letters, systematically organizes a curriculum composed of lecture and seminar courses. The program establishes courses centered on small-group presentations and discussions that can be taken throughout the entire period of enrollment. The requirements for completion are earning 32 or more credits and passing the master's thesis review.

Under this curriculum structure, education is conducted through a combination of the following methods.

(1) Offering small-group seminar courses that can be taken throughout the entire period of enrollment in the master's program.

(2) Deepening students' knowledge of their research topics and developing their advanced research and writing skills through individual supervision from an academic advisor and seminar classes, in order to enable them to write a master's thesis. Additionally, providing opportunities to receive guidance from multiple faculty members through events such as interim master's thesis presentations.

(3) Permitting a limited number of credits earned while studying abroad as a regular student at an overseas graduate school to be counted toward the completion requirements. In addition, providing support for studying abroad through the Graduate School of Letters' own support system.

(4) Offering all courses as semester-long courses to allow for more flexible course registration, with opportunities such as studying abroad in mind.

(5) To facilitate interdisciplinary research, students are permitted to take a limited number of credits from courses offered by other graduate schools and affiliated Research Centers and Institutes at Keio University, as well as from other graduate schools affiliated with the Graduate School of Letters, to fulfill their degree requirements.

The assessment of learning outcomes for the qualities and abilities to be acquired through this major's curriculum is conducted based on the university-wide assessment plan. This involves direct indicators, such as the grading criteria defined for each course, as well as quantitative and qualitative, direct and indirect indicators, including various questionnaires and surveys. Specifically, this includes (1) course evaluations by students and (2) data on leaves of absence and withdrawals.

The master's thesis examination process involves the approval of the thesis title and the examination committee—composed of a main examiner (in principle, the academic advisor) and two sub-examiners—by the Graduate School of Letters committee. This is followed by a thesis review and an oral defense conducted by the examination committee and related faculty members. The final results are then deliberated and approved by the Graduate School of Letters committee.

Learning Objective for Qualities and Abilities (1): The ability to conduct specialized research based on fundamental expertise in the fields of informatics, information media, information systems, and information retrieval.

→ A balanced curriculum of courses corresponding to these four fields will be established and made available to students.

Learning Objective for Qualities and Abilities (2): The reading comprehension skills to comprehensively and accurately collect literature and information resources, including those in English, to address research topics in library and information science, and to fully grasp their content.

→ Courses for acquiring academic skills, including information literacy education, will be established. In addition, courses that involve reading and critically discussing the latest articles in the field of library and information science will be offered as required courses.

Learning Objective for Qualities and Abilities (3): The ability to collect and analyze data and present appropriate evidence to gain academic insights in library and information science.

→ Courses for acquiring academic skills, including statistics and data science, will be established.

Learning Objective for Qualities and Abilities (4): The ability to write a master's thesis on a specific topic in the field of library and information science and to present specialized findings.

→ Courses for master's thesis supervision will be established. Through individual thesis guidance from their academic advisor and discussions in research seminars, students will deepen their knowledge of their research topic and develop their research and writing skills. Additionally, opportunities to receive guidance from multiple faculty members will be provided through a major-wide mid-term presentation session for master's theses.

Learning Objective for Qualities and Abilities (5): Based on the ability to contemplate humanity, culture, and society from the perspective of information and knowledge, the practical research skills to identify and critically analyze significant problems and issues, and to work toward their resolution.

→ We will incorporate PBL (Project-Based Learning) elements into our classes to enhance students' thinking and reasoning skills for solving concrete problems.

Learning Objective for Qualities and Abilities (6): The ability to be aware of the significance of studying library and information science in society and to achieve self-set goals and solve social problems using appropriate methods.

→ Students will be placed in small-group seminars throughout their enrollment in the master's program to receive individual guidance.

(1) Have a sufficient understanding of their field of specialization, acquired through writing an undergraduate thesis or completing specialized courses, and possess fundamental knowledge and skills in the overall field of library and information science.

(2) Have independently developed a research plan for their graduate studies, outlining what they want to research and how they plan to do it, and possess a proactive attitude toward conducting that research.

(3) Have worked for a certain period in a field related to library and information science, such as a librarian, and are thoroughly familiar with the professional duties.

(4) Have proactively considered their future career as a practitioner or researcher after completing the master's program.

To admit a diverse range of such candidates, we will conduct (1) a written examination (specialized subjects) and (2) an individual interview. Selection will be based on a comprehensive evaluation of both (1) and (2).

(1) Written Examination (Specialized Subjects)

Applicants will be evaluated on whether they possess a sufficient level of fundamental knowledge of library and information science relevant to professional practice.

(2) Interview

Applicants will be comprehensively evaluated on several points, including whether they have a well-developed research plan for their graduate studies and the motivation and ability to pursue it proactively; whether they have given proactive thought to their future career as a practitioner or researcher after completing the master's program; and whether the knowledge and skills of library and information science are highly necessary for their current work.