IS Undergraduate Course Offerings
IS offers a number of courses that provide undergraduate students with a blend of conceptual and theoretical knowledge and practical, hands-on laboratory experiences. Classes provide a solid foundation in contemporary library and information studies theory, information seeking and retrieval skills and information technology. In the laboratory environment, students have opportunities to apply their theoretical insights and practical skills to real word problems and situations.
See also: UCLA Undergraduate Resources
An * next to the course number indicates that this course has been approved as a GE credit course.
IS 10 Fundamentals of Information Searching & Evaluation
This course is specifically designed to introduce and facilitate first year undergraduate students knowledgeable use of the UCLA libraries’ bibliographic and information resources encompassing both general and specialized print and digital materials as well as relevant scholarly and professional literature in the humanities, physical and social sciences. Upon completion of this course, students are expected to have gained a mastery of basic UCLA library resources, information searching techniques and evaluation skills.
IS 20* Introduction to Information Studies
This course introduces undergraduate students to the field of information studies. It is a survey course of the nature and structure of information, information in culture, communities and organizations; information institutions, industries and markets; and, economic and political roles of information and information technology. This course introduces students to various forms and types of information and how information is disseminated in the humanities, physical and social sciences. The course also has a hands-on laboratory component that teaches students how to search for and retrieve information from digital and print sources and how to evaluate information.
IS 30* Information Technology in Society
This course introduces students to the ways in which the Internet and related technologies are helping to reorganize a wide variety of relationships in society. The course examines the origins of the Internet, ways in which the Internet is utilized, access to information and information technology in organizations and workplaces.
IS 19 Fiat Lux Seminars
During the year, the Information Studies department offers several Fiat Lux Seminars. Seminars focus on specific issues and current topics of importance taught by Information Studies faculty members in their areas of expertise. Recent seminar topics include: Digital Security, New Media, and Records and Archival issues.
IS 180
Special Topics in Information Studies. (4) Lecture, three hours; discussion, one hour. Designed for juniors/seniors. Selected topics or issues related to social, cultural, economic, or political aspects of information and information systems. Consult "Schedule of Classes" for topics andinstructors. May be repeated once for credit with topic change. P/NPor letter grading.
Recently offered IS 180 course course description:
Major media firms and cultural institutions have been challenged in recent years by activists, artists, and citizen groups using new media technologies to resist, "talk back," or otherwise challenge the prevailing culture. This course focuses on five major types of these alternative and activist Internet projects: culture jamming, alternative computing, mediated mobilization, indymedia, and folksonomy. The key characteristics of these projects are discussed and example cases presented.
