Three Policies for the Program in Library and Information Science: Master of Arts in Library and Information Science [M.A. (Library and Information Science)]

Based on the Policy on Graduation and Degree Conferral (Diploma Policy) of Keio University, the goal is to cultivate individuals who possess deep knowledge and skills in library and information science and, based on these, have the will and ability to proactively solve social problems. 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 specified in the curriculum.

Competency Goal (1): The ability to develop specialized research based on foundational specialized knowledge in the research areas of informatics, information media, information systems, and information retrieval.

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

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

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

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

Competency Goal (6): The ability to pursue the achievement of self-set goals and the resolution of social problems using appropriate methods, while being aware of the significance of studying library and information science in society.

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

Based on this curriculum design, education is conducted through a combination of the following methods.

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

(2) Cultivating advanced research and writing skills and deepening students' knowledge of their research topics to enable them to write a master's thesis, through individual supervision by an academic advisor and seminar classes. Additionally, providing opportunities to receive guidance from multiple faculty members through events such as a mid-term master's thesis progress report session.

(3) Permitting a limited number of credits earned through official study abroad programs at overseas graduate schools to be included in the completion requirements. In addition, supporting students studying abroad through the Graduate School of Letters' own financial aid programs.

(4) Offering all courses on a semester basis to allow for more flexible course planning, with study abroad opportunities in mind.

(5) To enable interdisciplinary research, students are permitted to take a limited number of courses to fulfill their graduation requirements from 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.

The assessment of learning outcomes for the target qualities and abilities to be acquired through this major's curriculum is conducted based on direct indicators, such as the grading criteria established for each course, in accordance with the assessment plan for the entire Juku. The assessment also uses quantitative and qualitative, as well as direct and indirect indicators, including various questionnaires and surveys. Specific examples include: 1) student course evaluations, and 2) data on leaves of absence and withdrawals.

For the master's thesis examination, the process begins with the approval of the thesis title and the examination committee by the committee of the Graduate School of Letters. The examination committee consists of a main examiner (in principle, the academic advisor) and two sub-examiners. Following a thesis review by the examination committee and an oral defense conducted by the committee and related faculty, the final results are deliberated and approved by the committee of the Graduate School of Letters.

Target Quality and Ability (1): "The ability to develop specialized research based on fundamental expertise in the research areas of informatics, information media, information systems, and information retrieval."

→ We will offer a balanced selection of courses corresponding to these four areas and ensure they are available for students to take.

Target Quality and Ability (2): "The reading comprehension skills to comprehensively and accurately collect literature and information resources for addressing research topics in library and information science, including those in English, and to fully grasp their content."

→ We will establish courses for acquiring academic skills, including information literacy education, and will also offer a required course involving the reading and critical discussion of the latest articles in the field of library and information science.

Target Quality and Ability (3): "The ability to collect and analyze data and present appropriate evidence to gain academic insights in library and information science."

→ We will establish courses for acquiring academic skills, including statistics and data science.

Target Quality and Ability (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."

→ We will establish courses for master's thesis supervision. Through individual thesis guidance from an academic advisor and discussions in research seminars, students will deepen their knowledge of their research topic and cultivate their research and writing abilities. We will also provide opportunities to receive guidance from multiple faculty members by holding a major-wide mid-term progress report session for master's theses.

Target Quality and Ability (5): "Based on the ability to contemplate humanity, culture, and society from the perspective of information and knowledge, the practical research skills to recognize and critically analyze significant problems and issues, and to work toward their resolution."

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

Target Quality and Ability (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."

→ We will provide individual guidance by having students belong to small-group seminars throughout their entire enrollment in the master's program.

(1) Has a sufficient understanding of their own area of specialization, gained through writing an undergraduate thesis and taking specialized courses, and also possesses fundamental knowledge and skills in the overall field of library and information science.

(2) Has independently formulated a research plan for graduate school detailing what they want to study and how, and possesses a proactive attitude toward undertaking that research.

(3) Possesses the fundamental reading comprehension skills to read specialized literature in English accurately and critically, as well as the fundamental communication skills to discuss academic content.

(4) Is actively considering a future career as a practitioner or a researcher after completing the master's program.

To admit a wide range of such applicants, we will conduct (1) a written examination on specialized subjects, (2) a written examination on language proficiency, and (3) an individual interview. Selection will be based on a comprehensive evaluation of these three components.

(1) Written Examination (Specialized Subjects)

Applicants will be evaluated on whether they possess sufficient fundamental knowledge of library and information science at the undergraduate level.

(2) Written Examination (Language Proficiency)

Applicants will be evaluated on their ability to correctly comprehend an English text explaining fundamental topics in library and information science.

(3) Interview

A comprehensive evaluation will be conducted based on factors such as whether the applicant has a well-developed research plan for graduate studies, possesses the motivation and ability to pursue it with dedication, and has a proactive outlook on their career as a practitioner or researcher after completing the master's program.