Archives

Use archival principles and practices to make available documentary materials and historical evidence with long-term value to researchers and the public.

The Advanced Certificate in Archives prepares students for careers in digital and physical archives, as well as the related fields of special collections, digital libraries, and digital asset management. With a focus on archival theory, practice, research, and technology skill development, students learn how to apply strategies and techniques for the long-term preservation of cultural artifacts to support scholarly, historical, and personal research.

By the end of this program, student will be able to:

1. Understand the social function of archives, and how it differs from and intersects with libraries and museums.
2. Demonstrate extensive knowledge of core archival principles and practices, such as collection development, appraisal, donor relations, arrangement and description, legal/ethical issues, access/reference and instruction/outreach.
3. Process an archival collection and use archival descriptive standards, specifically DACS and EAD.
4. Demonstrate familiarity with digitization and managing born-digital materials. 
5. Discuss trends in the field of archival practice and archival studies.
6. Think critically about the role of archives for sustaining personal, social and public memory.

To read more about archives projects completed by Pratt School of Information students and alumni, please visit the following resources:

• Archival Outlook: Sounds from the Past: Archives Students Give Voice to World War II Ambulance Drivers
• New York Times: Leaving Cloister of Dusty Offices, Young Archivists Meet Like Minds
• Library of Congress, The Signal: Students Saving Sounds: An Interview With Anthony Cocciolo
• Evidence Based Library and Information Practice: Situating Student Learning in Rich Contexts: A Constructionist Approach to Digital Archives Education
• Student Work from Projects in Digital Archives (LIS 665)

Advanced Certificate Requirements

The Advanced Certificate in Archives consists of 12 credits (four 3-credit courses): two required courses and two electives, which must be completed with a B average or better. The program can be taken as a stand-alone program or within the School of Information's MSLIS program.

Required Courses (2 courses, 6 credits)
INFO 625 Management of Archives & Special Collections
INFO 698 Practicum/Seminar (Internship and project must be at an Archives)

Elective Courses (2 courses, 6 credits)
Choose two courses from the list below: 
INFO 632 Conservation & Preservation
INFO 634 Conservation Lab 
INFO 635 Archives Appraisal, Acquisition and Use
INFO 655 Digital Preservation & Curation
INFO 661 Art Documentation
INFO 662 Advanced Cataloging & Classification
INFO 663 Metadata: Description & Access
INFO 664 Programming for Cultural Heritage
INFO 665 Projects in Digital Archives
INFO 668 Projects in Moving Image & Sound Archives
INFO 669 Digital Asset Management
INFO 670 Linked Open Data for Libraries, Archives & Museums
INFO 689 Rare Books & Special Collections
INFO 694 Film & Media Collections
INFO 695 Photography Collections 

For more information on archives-related electives, please refer to the PDF of relevant courses for Archives students.

Admissions Requirements

Use archival principles and practices to make available documentary materials and historical evidence with long-term value to researchers and the public. This advanced certificate can be taken within the School of Information's MS in Library and Information Science or it can also be taken as a post-master’s program.

Applicants to the post-master’s advanced certificate program must:

• hold a master's degree in library science, information science, or similar, from an accredited university
• submit the online application form, non-refundable application fee, and official transcripts (uploaded online at application)
• submit a statement of purpose (approximately two pages) online
• submit a current resume online
• request two letters of recommendation online from employers, professors, or others able to judge the applicant’s potential for graduate study

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Certificate Coordinator
Anthony Cocciolo, Ed.D.
Associate Professor

Questions? For admissions inquiries, please contact Graduate Admissions at 718.636.3514 or admissions@pratt.edu. For all other inquiries, contact the School of Information at 212.647.7682 or si@pratt.edu. For more information, you may also request a catalog and sign-up to attend an information session.    

Curriculum

Adv Certificate in Archives