INTRODUCTION

The Graduate Diploma of Science (Information Services) aims to produce graduates capable of filling senior roles in the information services, information brokerage, information management and knowledge management industries.  The course is designed to address market needs for professional information services staff with a broad range of high level skills in information services, information management and information technology. Career destinations include librarianship, teacher librarianship and enterprise information and knowledge management.

The Graduate Diploma of Science (Information Services) is recognised as an exit point from the Master of Information Services.  In certain areas of specialisation, students may exit the Graduate Diploma after twelve months of part-time study with a Graduate Certificate in Information Services.

Students who successfully complete certain areas of specialisation in the Graduate Diploma are eligible for professional membership of one or more of the following professional associations, subject to any additional membership requirements:

• Information Science  and Teacher Librarianship area of specialisation graduates are eligible for Associate (professional) membership of the Australian Library and Information Association;
• Archives and Records area of specialisation graduates are eligible for professional membership of the Australian Society of Archivists Inc.

Applicants must have a three year undergraduate degree and/or satisfy Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) entry pathway requirements for graduate diploma studies.  Applicants with extensive relevant prior experience, but no first degree, who demonstrate potential to undertake work at this level, may be granted AQF alternative entry to this course following completion of the Graduate Certificate in Information Services.

Special admission requirements apply to some specializations.

Prospective students who do not have a three-year tertiary qualification may apply for alternative entry to areas of specialization other than the Teacher-Librarianship stream. Applicants for AQF alternative entry must demonstrate prior learning, including at least five years’ appropriate professional experience and should include with their application a curriculum vitae and references confirming their professional experience. Any additional  special admission requirements are detailed under the individual areas of specialization below.

Certified copies of qualifications must be appended to application forms.

The Graduate Diploma of Science (Information Services) is a 120 credit point (eight unit) course completed full-time over two semesters of study. The Graduate Diploma of Science (Information Services) may also be studied part-time.  A graduate certificate exit point exists on completion of 60 credit points.

Students successfully completing the Graduate Diploma of Science (Information Services) can seek advanced standing for these studies in the Master of Information Services program, requiring completion of an additional 60 credit points.

Students must complete 120 credit points from a selected area of specialisation for the Graduate Diploma award.