The status of information society studies in the information science curriculum

Argues for a central role for information society studies in degree programmes. Information society studies is an interdisciplinary specialism devoted to examination of the macrolevel role of information flows and technologies. The views of information science educators on information society studies are appraised. Reports the current status of information society instruction in the information science schools of the UK and Ireland. Investigation shows ten schools run modules on the information society, in some cases as options. The content, methods of instruction and assessment, and other relevant indicators of the condition of information society studies are reported and analysed. Features a discussion of the rationale for inclusion of this specialism in the information science curriculum, and concludes with a “civic” argument for core status, namely that information professionals have a duty to enter the public debate on important information society issues.