Master of Archival Studies

Welcome

Welcome to the homepage for the Master of Archival Studies (MAS) degree! As our latest graduate program, we are excited about offering a new set of courses that explore the very modern world of archives. The information presented here includes a description of the program, contact information, and links to important websites that will help potential students become graduate students. If you are interested in applying, please see "Application Information" in the left-hand column, and if you have any questions, please contact the Program Director.

About the Program

The MAS was recently approved by the Board of Regents and is housed in the College of Information and Mathematical Sciences (CIMS) at Clayton State University. The MAS degree program at Clayton State constitutes a broader study of archival science than students would receive either in a master's-level degree program in library and information science or a public history graduate program. In addition to traditional archival courses, the MAS program emphasizes the influence of information technology on the creation, preservation, and access to records. The program also provides for a strong emphasis on experiential learning that will help students to apply what they are learning in actual archival work situations. This innovative blend of traditional knowledge, technology, and experiential learning makes Clayton State's MAS program a uniquely broad and contemporary study of archival science that is not offered at any other college or university in Georgia or the Southeast.

The proposed curriculum is in accordance with the guidelines for archival education published by the Society of American Archivists and The Academy of Certified Archivists.

Learning Outcomes

Students will:

• be able to select another option for a graduate study program that builds on their undergraduate studies
• demonstrate the similarities and differences between Archival Studies and the related fields of Library & Information Studies, Public History, and Museum Management
• strengthen their foundation of archival knowledge acquiring knowledge from other relevant disciplines
• acquire the knowledge of how contemporary information technology is used to create records
• acquire the skills necessary to select, preserve, and make available records that are created in traditional paper formats as well as records created using electronic technology in the Information Age
• demonstrate their professional and social responsibilities and the knowledge of the ethical and legal dimensions of archival work.
• gain the benefit from experiential learning settings that will better prepare them for finding and performing well in professional-level positions in the archival field
• qualify to compete for good-paying professional-level positions (in Georgia and elsewhere) in a growing field that currently has few members who are from underrepresented communities