Skagit Valley College

Catalog Course Search Details

 Course Title:   Critical Information Studies & Research Methods

 Title Abbreviation:   Critical Info Studies

 Department:    LIB

 Course #:    201

 Credits:    5

 Variable:     No

 IUs:    5

 CIP:    250101

 EPC:    n/a

 REV:    2021


 Course Description  

This course empowers students to find, evaluate and use information sources and critically think about the nature of information in both a scholarly setting and in society.

 Prerequisite  

Prerequisite: None.

Additional Course Details

Contact Hours (based on 11 week quarter)

Lecture: 55

Lab:

Other: 0

Systems: 0

Clinical: 0


Intent: Distribution Requirement(s) Status:  

Academic Social Sciences, Elective  

Equivalencies At Other Institutions

Other Institution Equivalencies Table
Institution Course # Remarks
WWU LIB 201 Approved

Learning Outcomes

After completing this course, the student will be able to:

  1. Define and develop an academic-level research topic.
  2. Develop project management skills related to academic research.
  3. Discuss and evaluate historical and current issues and theories in scholarly communication, including copyright, open access and intellectual freedom.
  4. Discuss and evaluate arguments related to current and historical information issues in society, including Digital Divide, impact of social media, �fake news� and their own consumption of online resources.
  5. Analyze information-seeking behavior and explain how they search.
  6. Practice citing sources and ethical use of information in academic research.
  7. Practice information finding and evaluation skills across multiple format types and genres

General Education Learning Values & Outcomes

Revised August 2008 and affects outlines for 2008 year 1 and later.

Course Contents

  1. Introduction to Libraries & the Research Process
  2. Getting Started on Your Research
  3. Finding Sources and Nature of Search
  4. Searching and evaluating internet sources
  5. Access, Algorithms and Automation
  6. Information Creation & Evaluation
  7. Using Other Libraries and Research Behavior
  8. Reporting the Results of Your Research - Joining the Academic Conversation
  9. The Changing Nature of Information
  10. Intersectional Technology and Knowledge Organization
  11. Portfolio and Final Review