The FSU School of Information Certificate in User Services prepares information professionals to assume the role of an information, research, and instructional specialist in order to provide assistance to patrons. The certificate program offers training in searching, selecting, and using information resources in a wide range of forms and formats; understanding information needs; and communicating and working effectively with diverse populations.
The School of Information offers graduate-level certificate programs to allow students to master technical aspects in specialized areas of study. Certificates are open to degree- and non-degree seeking students who:
- Provide proof of Completion of a Bachelor’s Degree from a regionally-accredited college or university.
- Have a minimum earned grade point average of 3.0 or higher on all upper-division undergraduate course work toward a bachelor’s degree, or a minimum 3.0 GPA on an earned master’s degree
or
Are currently enrolled as a graduate student in good standing at The Florida State University.
Admission and completion of a graduate-level certificate program does not guarantee admission to a master’s or specialist degree program. Students may, however, apply up to 12 semester hours of credit earned toward the master’s or specialist degree with approval.
Graduate Certificate Application
Submit the online iSchool Certificate Application prior to completion of the 2nd course required for a certificate.
NOTE: All applicants must be currently enrolled as a graduate student in good standing at Florida State University or be admitted as a degree seeking or non-degree seeking student.
Non-Degree seeking students should be able to self-enroll in most online graduate courses offered by the School of Information when the non-degree seeking student enrollment appointment opens if admitted by the FSU Office of Admissions. Core courses are restricted to students pursuing a master’s or specialist degree in the School of Information, but may be requested on a space-available basis. All requests for enrollment in any of the following courses (LIS 5020, LIS 5203, LIS 5271, LIS 5275, LIS 5408, LIS5411, LIS 5487, or LIS 5703) can be sent directly to iSchool Student Services at ischooladvising@admin.fsu.edu. Each request will be reviewed and accommodated on a space available basis when the non-degree seeking enrollment appointment opens and a confirmation email will be sent indicating a final determination.
To earn a certificate, students must:
- Apply and be approved to pursue a certificate program prior to completion of the 2nd course required for a certificate. See the Certificate Admissions tab for more information on how to apply.
- Complete the required number of credit hours of course work from the approved list of courses on each individual certificate program section.
- Earn a grade of “B” or higher in EACH OF THE COURSES completed for a certificate.
- Submit the online iSchool Graduate Certificate Completion Request Form requesting completion of the certificate at the beginning of the term in which the requirements for the certificate will be complete.
Courses used to satisfy one certificate may not be used to satisfy another certificate. Students must request completion of the certificate BEFORE completion of the master’s or specialist degree has been earned. Certificates cannot be awarded or posted once the degree-seeking program has been completed.
Be sure to check and see if a course has any prerequisites by visiting the course descriptions page.
Certificate Requirements
Required: LIS 5603 Introduction to Information Services (3 credits)
Take a total of 9 credit hours from the following courses. No other courses may be substituted for any of the courses listed below. For more information about the courses listed below, see the graduate course descriptions. These requirements are effective fall 2021.
LIS 5203 Information Behavior
LIS 5241 International and Comparative Information Services
LIS 5255 Information, Technology, and Older Adults
LIS 5313 Digital Media: Concepts and Production
LIS 5417 Introduction to Legal Resources
LIS 5472 Digital Libraries
LIS 5474 Business Information and Competitive Intelligence (3 credits)
LIS 5524 Instructional Role of the Informational Specialist
LIS 5564 Information Needs of Children
LIS 5565 Information Needs of Young Adults
LIS 5566 Diverse Resources for Children and Young Adults
LIS 5576 Information Needs of Adults
LIS 5631 Health Information Sources
LIS 5661 Government Information
