Library and Information Science Education at the University of Pretoria, South Africa: Restructuring and Curriculum Development

Abstract

The Department of Information Science at the University of Pretoria offers a full range of undergraduate and postgraduate courses in information science and library science that are combined in a number of degree programs. A brief ouline of the course content of each program is given, indicating various optional modules that students may take to specialize according to their own preferences and abilities. In addition to traditional library and information science (LIS) subjects, the core curriculum contains a large number of current topics essential for the new information professional. Information literacy (including computer literacy) forms an essential part of the core curriculum in the first year of information science, and these courses are open to all students at the university. Since the department cannot offer all fields of specialization at the depth that might be required by industry, the department has during the past few years been forging new alliances with other departments and faculties at the university. This move has enabled students to extensively expand their choice of subjects for the degrees in library and information science. Hence, during the past ten years this department has developed from a fairly traditional LIS school to an open department that offers extensive opportunities to any information professional, as well as to other students who need information skills to obtain a competitive advantage in a predominantly information-based industry.