Course offerings

The class focuses on developing problem solving skills using Python as a programming language. Starting from procedural function development, we also explore object-oriented techniques, and discuss simple data structures that are often used in software development. The students usually do a few programming assignments, take a midterm, and submit a final project.

What does it really mean to be user-centered? How do we practice user-centered design in a professional and methodical manner? What research findings can we rely on to help us improve user experiences? This is a readings/discussion course that examines in depth what we know about people (that is, what does scientific research actually tell us) and how can we apply this knowledge in the real-world of experience design. We examine human psychology, from physical ergonomics to cultural dispositions, stopping off on cognition and social analyses en route, so as to have a holistic, robust perspective on what it means to understand users. The readings are complemented with an examination of methods e.g., what is a cognitive walkthrough and how do you do it reliably? what are the limitations of heuristic evaluations? The goal is to give you a solid grounding in the practices of user-centered thinking, regardless of your area of application, and prepare you for professional level contributions in the user-experience world. There is no teamwork, all students deliver individual term papers and design critique diaries. There are also no pre-requisites -- technical or theoretical, the class is open to all.

A hands-on introduction to Digital Humanities, which may be defined as “a nexus of fields within which scholars use computing technologies to investigate the kinds of questions that are traditional to the humanities, or. . . [ask] humanities-oriented questions about computing technologies” (Kathleen Fitzpatrick, “Reporting from the Digital Humanities 2010 Conference,” ProfHacker.). What are these questions? As usual, it depends, depends on the scholar’s theoretical orientation, methods, and resources at hand (including not only primary source materials, but time, skill, and support). This course will include learning to evaluate DH questions and DH projects through project-based exercises in creating and interpreting digital humanities resources and tools and a close (and critical) look at the infrastructural, institutional, and political issues involved in interrogating “the digital” in the humanities. As we look at the concepts, methods, theories, and resources of DH through the perspective of practice, we will consider how computational methods are being used to further humanities research and how our understanding of computing technologies is deepened by humanities research.   

Database is the foundation of Data Science. It provides the unique design to store, retrieve, and manage data. Data become the essential gas to power the generative AI. How to model data, encode context, enforce business rules, and achieve efficiency are critical for database design. This course provides the introductory understanding of relational database design with the focus on three parts. The first part is centered around the database design lifecycle by introducing business rules, ER diagram, normalization, and UML chart. The second part talks about database query language SQL by explaining concepts and providing examples. The third part gives you the forward introduction of XML database which is the commonly used NoSQL database. The learning content will be delivered in the variety of exercises including lectures, tutorials, class activities, individual assignments, group assignments, and group projects. This course empathizes peer learning, hands-on practices, forward exploring, and risk taking.

This course is tailored for graduate students in Information Science who wish to deepen their understanding and skills in JavaScript, a cornerstone technology of the web. The course bridges theoretical concepts with practical application, preparing students to tackle complex problems in data processing, visualization, and web development within the realm of Information Science. The course incorporates multiple ways of learning including: readings, lectures, class discussion, in-class pair programming exercises, and project-base learning. Upon completion of this course, students will: • Gain an in-depth understanding of JavaScript's core concepts, including ES6+ features, asynchronous programming, and the event loop. • Learn to efficiently manipulate and process data using JavaScript, leveraging its interaction with APIs, and other web technologies. • Develop skills in creating interactive and dynamic data visualizations using packages such as D3.js or and other JavaScript-based visualization tools. • Understand the principles of web security, performance optimization, and best practices in JavaScript coding standards.

This class explores various data science models, both traditional and the state of the art techniques. The course is designed to provide mathematical and computational basis such as Linear Algebra, Optimization techniques, and probabilistic modeling for different types of machine learning models. The goal of the class is provide a foundational basis for data science techniques. The class focuses on PSETs and a final data science project.

Infrastructure is all around us, even (or perhaps especially) where we do not actively consider or account for it. In this course, students will learn how knowledge infrastructures such as repositories, classification systems, databases, networks, standards, and/or metadata both shape and are shaped by governmental policy, institutional decision making, technical advances, and professional and personal value systems. We consider how infrastructure matters in professional, personal, and political life, and employ infrastructure as a lens to evaluate and understand the legal, ethical, and policy consequences of knowledge work, data science, and information management. In this course, students will employ an infrastructural perspective to evaluate programs, systems, policies, and/or organizations. We will explore the consequences and societal impact of knowledge work at both global and local scales, and consider how infrastructure might be built or refined to support societal or organizational goals such as social justice, privacy, innovation, health, or security. This is primarily a discussion-oriented course, with assessment primarily coming through a multi-stage, semester-long, project oriented around a program evaluation.

Ethnographic research has found application and acceptance across various academic disciplines as well as industries. This course aims to introduce fundamental tenets of ethnographic methodology for investigating sociotechnical systems. Its foundation rests on interdisciplinary perspectives and anthropological insights, while simultaneously aligning with contemporary advancements such as design and speculative ethnography. The role of the future has perpetually held a central position in the utilization and shaping of technologies and information systems. A recurring narrative involves positioning a specific technology or system as "revolutionary" or "the future of" a certain domain. Adopting an ethnographic approach, this course seeks to critically examine sociotechnical imaginaries. Its objective is to glean insights from diverse communities, offering guidance in the construction of futures that are more inclusive, equitable, and diverse.

In this course, we will work to understand and address the challenges of misinformation, disinformation, and strategic manipulation in online environments. First, we will work to develop a deep understanding of the problem space. We will read and discuss existing research (both historical and contemporary) on how and why misinformation and disinformation spread. Next, we will explore the process, both personal and interpersonal, by which these issues can be approached and addressed in our own lives. This will involve reflecting on our own presuppositions, beliefs, and biases about information; and doing a project in which we apply the principles of Human-Centered Design to investigate different design directions for addressing misleading information. Students will gain important contextual knowledge and hands-on design experience that they can take into future professional domains (from education to policy to technology), where they can contribute to building more trustworthy information systems.

Data storytelling is more than sharing data—at its most simple, it’s about designing charts and tables that make sense to the people who will be using them and help those people make better, faster decisions. While making a chart is as easy as a few clicks, doing it well requires much more. There is a science to how our eyes and minds process information as well as an art to making good graphic design choices. This comes together in an effective data presentation when the work is readable, usable, and above all actionable—not just aesthetically pleasing (though we’ll certainly address that too). As information professionals, we are well-positioned to understand and design for the needs of our users, to interrogate our data sources thoughtfully, and to ask future-thinking questions. This course will also draw on elements from cognitive psychology, user experience, data journalism, graphic design, business, and more. This multidisciplinary approach will take us on a grand tour that will touch on many aspects of data analysis and will serve as an excellent introduction to other data-oriented courses in the iSchool master’s program.

Accessible UX provides students working (or planning to work) in any area of UX, Digital Product Management, or Development with key skills and insights into the current accessibility landscape, in addition to specific guidelines and WCAG conformance specifications. The course is divided into foundational and tactical modules. The first half of the course provides a comprehensive overview of Accessibility and its importance. The second half of the course involves evaluating real-world applications and websites per the WCAG guidelines, producing Accessibility reports, planning studies (with persons with disabilities), and designing for accessibility. Course Goals 1. Become proficient in recognizing accessibility issues in key domains 2. Understand successful team and organizational behaviors in Accessibility 3. Learn how Accessible UX and Development is accomplished 4. Evaluate Web and App experiences using the WCAG framework from W3.org/WAI

Processes, techniques, and technologies that generate inscriptions (ready-to-take data), especially from or about people(s) or culture(s). Contexts, consequences, and history of datafication practices. Purposive intervention with datafication processes, practices, and artifacts.

In this class, we will explore different strategies for including games in collections across libraries, archives, and museums using case studies of specific institutions. We will also address unique qualities of digital and board games that make them challenging to existing practice in the field. Students will have hands-on experience with games through the semester.

Learning key data wrangling maneuvers in abstract and implementations in SQL, Excel, R Tidyverse, and Python Pandas. Maneuvers in data transformations include Nest, Pivot, Mutate (inc. separate/unite), Group/Summarize and Rectangling. Projects include working with "wild caught" data datasets (usually CSV or JSON) and computational notebook environments (e.g., iPython, Jupyter, Rmarkdown, Quarto). Fall 2024 has changes from previous syllabus now that we have Database Design and Introduction to Programming. Nonetheless, the previous syllabus is still useful as it links to course materials that show the teaching approach and type of assignments. http://howisonlab.github.io/datawrangling/#Schedule_of_classes

Artificial intelligence (AI) is both a product of and a major influence on society. As AI plays an increasingly important role in society, it is critical to understand both the ethical factors that influence the design of AI and the ethical dimensions of the impacts of AI in society. The goal of this course is to prepare students for the important ethical responsibilities that come with developing systems that may have consequential, even life-and-death, consequences. Students first learn about both the history of ethics and the history of AI, to understand the basis for contemporary, global ethical perspectives (including non-Western and feminist perspectives) and the factors that have influenced the design, development, and deployment of AI-based systems. Students then explore the societal dimensions of the ethics and values of AI. Finally, students explore the technical dimensions of the ethics and values of AI, including design considerations such as fairness, accountability, transparency, power, and agency. Students who perform well in this class will be positioned to take on a leadership role within their organizations and will be able to help guide and steer the design, development, and deployment of AI-based systems in ways that benefit users, other stakeholders, their organizations, and society. The knowledge and skill gained through this course will benefit students throughout their careers, and society as a whole will benefit from ensuring that studenrs are prepared to consider the important ethical dimensions of their work.

Exhibits are a powerful way for libraries, archives, museums, and cultural institutions to engage the public with their collections. This course offers students the opportunity to plan and install an exhibit, focusing on objectives such as: crafting a narrative around physical objects; drafting exhibit text; accommodating media preservation issues; building basic display supports; and publicizing the exhibit. Students will learn about the historical origins of modern-day exhibit practices and will visit and evaluate current exhibits on campus and in the Austin area.

Examine key topics in the management and leadership of arts and cultural organizations, with particular attention to how arts organizations engage (or fail to engage) external constituencies, and the significance of private and public policies. While commercial forms will be considered for purposes of comparison, our primary focus will be on nonprofit organizations. Examples of topics include mission management, organizational leadership, the role of boards of directors, funding strategies, audience engagement, community engagement and relationships, arts advocacy, and policies that create challenges and opportunities for arts organizations and participation. The class will employ exercises and cases to translate broad themes to practical issues in arts management and community engagement. Guest speakers will periodically join us to share their experiences. Relevant to students planning to work in, with, or through nonprofit arts and cultural organizations.

This course examines the U.S. communication policy in light of domestic and international structural, economic and technological changes. We will investigate how notions of control, access and expression have changed during the 20th and the 21st centuries, examining communication policies and regulation against a backdrop of technological innovation. The definitions and controversies around what constitutes the public interest intersect with policies for specific media systems including broadcasting, cablecasting, the Internet and social media, among others. The cultural ramifications of communication systems in terms of their impacts on people and on speech are a related domain we will address. At the current moment, issues around privacy, large tech companies and their role in contemporary life, the limits and authority of regulation, and of course social media,AI and ‘big data’ dominate many political and research agendas. Our goal will be to understand the backgrounds and foundations that bring us to these concerns and to frame them in critical ways.

Universities are merging computer science, information science, and data science into schools of computing. This course argues that the merger joins three distinct ways of knowing, each with its own lineage, founding myths, and blind spots. We trace their history from Mesopotamian archives through the postwar Information Shock that forged all three, then examine how they built the internet, social media, and AI without agreeing on what those systems were for. Generative AI is the next shock: a machine that co-authors exchanges with people rather than producing documents. Students work with AI all semester, developing a capstone project in public through weekly vlogs and peer reactions.

Examines public and private policies and arrangements that impact arts and cultural production and engagement. Examples of topics include: rationales for/against public support; factors promoting arts and cultural engagement; arts policy and communities; arts engagement and other forms of civic engagement. Attention will be given to the implications of new technologies, legal regulations, and international relations. The course focus is primarily on the United States, but comparisons to other countries will also be considered. Relevant to students interested in relationships between arts and cultural institutions, artists, and their wider community and public contexts. Practical applications are explored through exercises and assignments analyzing specific policies and audience engagement strategies. Guest speakers will periodically join us to share their experiences.

Explore the evaluation, selection, and use of books and other media and materials to meet the needs of children and young adults.

In this course, you will gain exposure to legal reference questions and the reference interview, investigate legal research sources, and beome familiar with the methods and strategies for conducting legal reference and basic legal research.

With the ongoing evolution of digital technologies, the creation and sharing of scholarly knowledge continues to change rapidly. In this course, we will explore historical developments, current issues, and ongoing debates in scholarly communication. We will also examine the critical roles of academic libraries and library professionals in the complex scholarly communication landscape. As we learn about topics such as academic publishing, open access and open scholarship, peer review, metrics and impact, copyright and fair use, open education, library values, and social justice, we will consider challenges and opportunities for librarians engaged in scholarly communication. In addition to building a broad understanding of key issues and areas of scholarly communication, students will develop more in-depth knowledge of a scholarly communication issue.

Examine inquiry models and information-seeking theories relevant to K-12 teaching and learning. Explore tools and resources for student learning and strategies for teaching specific information literacy skills within the context of a research-based inquiry.

History and ongoing evolution of instruction in library and information service settings; conceptions of information literacy; learning theories and pedagogical approaches; instructional design principles, including backward design; and reflective teaching practice.

Introduction to the concepts of information organization, representation, and classification. Consideration of different traditions of practice and user concerns.

Philosophical and social context, objectives, and methodology of evaluating, selecting, and managing library materials.

Introduction to the theoretical foundations, history, principles, and research surrounding the representation of information, digital collections, and data with metadata, with emphasis on concepts of standardization, infrastructure, formats, and exchange. Major topics will include metadata types, value and content standards, formats, data interchange standards and protocols. The course introduces participants to the examination and analysis surrounding issues of effectiveness, economics, values and audience surrounding different types of metadata applications. Provides background for further studies in information organization, preservation, and database management.

Introduction to the issues and trends in digital asset management and digitization initiatives, including planning and project management, asset delivery and management systems, interoperability and the importance of standards, copyright, metadata basics, digital preservation, and specific digitization processes for documents, images, video, and sound.

This course explores the life cycle of a digital library/collection through various critical lenses and hands-on experiences. The objective of the course is for students to obtain a solid understanding of the theoretical frameworks, technical processes, and technologies needed to build meaningful, ethical, and reusable digital libraries.

Introduction to structures and practices within the rapidly-evolving field of librarianship. prepares students for their graduate work here.

This course examines key issues, challenges, and opportunities in the creation, management, and leadership of nonprofit organizations. Attention is given both to internal organizational issues and to nonprofits’ relationships with key external constituencies. Among the topics to be considered are nonprofit creation, mission management, organizational leadership, funding strategies, partnerships, and the impact of the public policy environment. Readings and discussion will examine nonprofits in varied fields of activity (such as human services and culture). Assignments and exercises will be employed to help develop presentation and grant writing skills. The course is organized in a seminar format and will employ exercises and cases to translate broad themes to practical issues related to nonprofit strategy and management. Guest speakers will periodically join us to share their own experiences building and running nonprofits (additional speakers may be added).

Disaster events, like floods and fires, can cause severe damage and loss in cultural heritage collections. How will you respond when disaster strikes? This course introduces students to the fundamental preservation concepts, planning strategies, and applied response techniques that make a difference. The class will evaluate the physical impact of fire, water, soot, mold, and insects on varied media, including books, flat paper, audiovisual materials, and other items. Disaster planning exercises model proactive methods to minimize damage. Hands-on response drills enable students to practice salvage techniques, and to triage and prioritize impacted materials.

The purpose of this course is to provide theoretical and practical foundations for information professionals who wish to design and evaluate search systems and services, taking user-centered approaches. This course explores search user interfaces, search behavior, search interaction, search user experience, search as learning, search for creativity, and research methods for understanding information behavior and evaluating search systems. Students will learn search behavior across various contexts, including academic and professional settings, everyday life, and digital learning environments. Students will gain insights into how people interact with, use, and evaluate information in a variety of application areas, such as web search engines, domain-specific search systems, digital libraries, social search platforms, and generative AI-based systems.

Foundations of evaluation, including using the logic model, program evaluation, data gathering, analysis and reporting. Examples of evaluation and assessment in public, academic, and special are explored, with an emphasis on how libraries use data and evaluation to inform decision-making and support advocacy.

Explores the role of library and information organizations in communities, with a focus on building community relationships, engagement, and outreach.

In this class, we will explore different strategies for including games in collections across libraries, archives, and museums using case studies of specific institutions. We will also address unique qualities of digital and board games that make them challenging to existing practice in the field. Students will have hands-on experience with games through the semester.

Learning key data wrangling maneuvers in abstract and implementations in SQL, Excel, R Tidyverse, and Python Pandas. Maneuvers in data transformations include Nest, Pivot, Mutate (inc. separate/unite), Group/Summarize and Rectangling. Projects include working with "wild caught" data datasets (usually CSV or JSON) and computational notebook environments (e.g., iPython, Jupyter, Rmarkdown, Quarto). Fall 2024 has changes from previous syllabus now that we have Database Design and Introduction to Programming. Nonetheless, the previous syllabus is still useful as it links to course materials that show the teaching approach and type of assignments. http://howisonlab.github.io/datawrangling/#Schedule_of_classes

Exhibits are a powerful way for libraries, archives, museums, and cultural institutions to engage the public with their collections. This course offers students the opportunity to plan and install an exhibit, focusing on objectives such as: crafting a narrative around physical objects; drafting exhibit text; accommodating media preservation issues; building basic display supports; and publicizing the exhibit. Students will learn about the historical origins of modern-day exhibit practices and will visit and evaluate current exhibits on campus and in the Austin area.

Designed for students pursuing Texas Education Agency (TEA) certification in school librarianship. Examine the philosophy, objectives, and management of the school library with an emphasis on standards and competencies, and the roles of the school librari

Designed for students pursuing Texas Education Agency (TEA) certification in school librarianship. Examine the philosophy, objectives, standards, and management of the school library with an emphasis on the roles of the school librarian as an instructiona

This course will develop your skills to effectively manage a library, or information organization. We’ll be looking at problems faced by many types of libraries: public, academic, school, special. We’ll examine staffing, budget, collection development, patron behavior, and managing the expectations of users.

Designed for students pursuing Texas Education Agency (TEA) certification in school librarianship. 160 hours of field work in varied school library settings under the supervision of a qualified field supervisor and site supervisor.Offered on the credit/no credit basis only. Participants will not ordinarily receive monetary compensation. Additional information about the Practicum in School Libraries can be found at https://ischool.utexas.edu/programs/school-librarian-certificate/practicum

Records Management is the “field of management responsible for the efficient and systematic control of the creation, receipt, maintenance, use, and disposition of records…” (ISO 15489). This course introduces the principles and practices involved in managing physical and digital records and information in private and public sector organizations.

Examines personal recordkeeping and information management to explore the creation, management, and preservation of digital information. Includes current developments in digital technology that affect recordkeeping.

Study of audio recording through a chronological examination of the development of recording; basic care and preservation of recordings; Preservation of audio archives; and stability concerns of audiovisual media.

Ever wondered how libraries and archives safeguard historical materials for future generations? Preservation is the answer. In this course, students learn collections care strategies that enable today’s information stewards to protect our growing cultural record. Scientific foundations and practical exercises will address common preservation challenges, such as environmental control, mold, insects, pollutants, and light damage. Modern topics in health, safety, and sustainability will highlight the developing nature of the field. Students will evaluate preservation risks for books, paper, electronic media, and other collections materials.

Basic techniques for care and handling of bound materials including but not limited to sewing structure, minor mends, and enclosures.

Universities are merging computer science, information science, and data science into schools of computing. This course argues that the merger joins three distinct ways of knowing, each with its own lineage, founding myths, and blind spots. We trace their history from Mesopotamian archives through the postwar Information Shock that forged all three, then examine how they built the internet, social media, and AI without agreeing on what those systems were for. Generative AI is the next shock: a machine that co-authors exchanges with people rather than producing documents. Students work with AI all semester, developing a capstone project in public through weekly vlogs and peer reactions.