Syllabus

Semester 1

1. Introduction to Archival Science: Principles of appraisal, arrangement, description, and access.
2. Records Management: Lifecycle management, retention schedules, compliance (e.g., GDPR, FOIA).
3. Information Governance: Legal/ethical frameworks, risk management, and policy design.
4. Research Methods in Archives and Records: Research design, methods, and techniques.

Semester 2

1. Digital Preservation: Managing born-digital records, migration strategies, and metadata standards (e.g., PREMIS, OAIS).
2. Archival Description Standards: EAD (Encoded Archival Description), ISAD(G), and Dublin Core.
3. Database Management: SQL, XML, and metadata schemas.
4. Digitization Techniques: Scanning, OCR, and long-term storage solutions.

Semester 3

1. Cultural Heritage Management: Ethics, repatriation, and community archives.
2. Disaster Management: Risk assessment, recovery plans for physical/digital collections.
3. Oral History & Audiovisual Archives: Preservation of non-textual materials.
4. Elective Course: Choose from options like Digital Curation, Museum Studies, or Corporate Archives.

Semester 4

1. Capstone Project: Real-world problem-solving (e.g., designing a records system).
2. Thesis/Dissertation: Original research on topics like AI in archives or decolonizing collections.
3. Professional Practice: Internship or placement in an archival or records management setting.
4. Elective Course: Choose from options like Data Privacy Law, Indigenous Archives, or Blockchain for Records.

*Practical Components*
- *Internships/Placements*: Hands-on experience at archives, libraries, or government bodies.
- *Capstone Project*: Real-world problem-solving (e.g., designing a records system).
- *Thesis/Dissertation*: Original research on topics like AI in archives or decolonizing collections.

*Learning Outcomes*
- Ability to manage physical/digital records through their lifecycle.
- Skills in digitization, preservation, and metadata creation.
- Understanding of legal/ethical issues in archives and records.
- Proficiency in archival software and emerging technologies.
 

 *Example Programs*
1. *University College London (UK)*: MA Archives and Records Management (1 year).  
2. *University of Toronto (Canada)*: Master of Information, Archives & Records Management (2 years).  
3. *Monash University (Australia)*: Master of Information Management (Archives & Records).  
4. *University of South Carolina (US)*: MLIS with Archival Studies concentration.