MSc Econ Diploma Archive Administration

This is a distance learning course

Introduction

The University of Aberystwyth (AU) is home to one of the small number of training centres for archive administration and records management in the UK. It is based in the Department of Information Studies but also supported by the Department of History and Welsh History. The range of expertise available provides natural strength both for taught courses of professional training and for higher degrees by research.

Professional training in archive administration has been provided here since 1956, first as a Diploma course and since 1995 as a modular Master's course. The full time Diploma/MSc Econ in Archive Administration has evolved steadily over the years to include new disciplines and subject areas according to professional needs, such as records management, specific applications of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and, most recently, issues associated with the change from paper-based to electronic communication and record-keeping. At the same time, the necessary techniques and standards (both UK and international) relating to the more 'traditional' areas of archive administration retain their central importance; these range from cataloguing methods and the management of archival preservation and service-delivery to skill in reading and interpreting manuscript material. Students are thus provided with broad-based training which will permit entry into a wide range of professional posts. This tradition is now being taken forward in the provision of a distance learning version of the course.

Why study Archive Administration?

By studying archive administration at postgraduate level, you will learn professional principles and techniques and acquire the core skills which will enable you to play a part in the preservation, management and exploitation of an invaluable informational and historical resource.

This course is designed to provide individuals already working in an archive or records management environment, with the training that will equip them with the skills, knowledge and professional qualification to further their career at a professional level.

Distance Learning at Aberystwyth

Aberystwyth's Department of Information Studies (DIS) is the leading provider of distance learning degrees in these subject areas. Records management was added to the postgraduate courses in 1999, and Archive Administration from 2002. The Department pursues a student centred, flexible, open learning approach which has proved not only popular with our students, but very successful in managing to make studying at a distance as rewarding and enjoyable as possible. Our distance learning students participate in residential study schools and are supported by web-based conferencing facilities which enable them to communicate with each other - whether consulting about a particular assignment in one of the module conferencing areas, or just enjoying a light hearted exchange at the electronic students café - and with staff, easing the feeling of isolation that can sometimes be felt by distance learners.

Course structure and delivery mode

The Diploma/MScEcon in Archive Administration is divided into two parts: Part I (120 credits) is the taught course, successful completion of which reaches Diploma-level. Part II (60 credits) involves writing a dissertation, to be submitted for the Master's-level qualification.

Tuition is provided through printed study packs containing the core learning material, supplemented by a resource pack and a conference area on Gwylan (the computer conferencing facility), which provides information updates relevant to the course, and a directory of websites referred to in the study packs. Assessment is by means of a variety of written assignments including essays and reports.

Students can progress at their own pace, taking between two and five years to complete the course. On average, you should expect to spend 10 to 15 hours a week studying.

Study schools

Students are required to attend three study schools in Aberystwyth of 3-5 days in length at various times during their studies. The introductory study school takes place at the start of the course providing an introduction to the course, the University and its facilities as well as to tutors and fellow distance learners.

The second study school is used to introduce students to palaeography (the study of the handwriting styles), and diplomatic (the study of the forms of formal documents), and other skills needed to read and interpret archival material from the sixteenth century onwards. Students must attend this study school before beginning the Manuscript Skills module.

The final study school constitutes the basis of a module in research methodology, which provides students with an introduction to the variety of research methods which apply to the broad field of information studies. This module is also essential preparation for the dissertation.

In addition to the three compulsory study schools, at some point during their time on the course students are encouraged to join a series of study visits in London. This tour is organised annually in January to give both full-time and distance learning students the opportunity to visit a range of national and specialist archival institutions.

Course accreditation

The course has full accreditation from the Society of Archivists, the relevant professional body.

Am I eligible?

To be considered for the course you should:

• have at least three months practical experience of working with archives prior to beginning the course;
• be employed in an archive service, or be working with archives within an organisation which has substantial archival holdings;
• be employed on a permanent contract (full-time, or possibly part-time), or a short-term contract that can reasonably be supposed to last for the duration of the course (a minimum of 2 years);
• have pre-defined Information and Communication Technology skills and access to a computer linked to the Internet.