To advance the core mission of any organization, information professionals must have an increasingly complex understanding of the information over which they preside. They must be able to create and manage an information archive, analyze a data set and the needs of its users, and evaluate database design. They need to have a practical understanding of the laws governing the use of information, and they must consider thoughtfully the social and policy questions that involve the lawful handling and use of information. They need to master the wide range of government and business information resources produced by city, state, and national governments, as well as by international governmental organizations and by commercial vendors. They must be able to work with an organization’s IT department to design and implement systems to house and retrieve information, and they must be able to work with commercial vendors to design information products that serve an organization’s specific needs.

The curriculum includes core courses in topics ranging from information technology and archives management to government information resources and legal issues for information professionals. Elective courses include database design, managing non-print materials, and oral history archives.

The program is designed for mid-career professionals who already work in information environments and want to systemize and enhance their knowledge and skills. The program is also appropriate for recent college graduates or individuals changing careers who want to become information professionals in business, government, and nonprofit organizations.

An information session about this new program will be held on Wednesday, October 4 at 6:30 at Columbia (116th and Broadway). To attend an information session or for more information on Columbia’s Master of Science on Information and Archive Management, visit www.ce.columbia.edu/infoarchive, call 212 854-9699, or email ce-info@columbia.edu.