MARA Required Courses

New Technology Workshop: All MARA students are required to successfully complete a new technology workshop that begins several weeks before the start of the first semester. If a student does not complete the class, they should discuss their suitability for the program with the MARA advisor. If the advisor agrees, the student will be allowed to retake the new technology workshop the next time it is offered. If the class is not satisfactorily completed on the second attempt, the student will be unable to take their three MLIS electives. Thus, the student will be unable to continue with the MARA degree.

MARA 200 The Records and Information Management Professions

ACA Pre-Approved Course

Overview of the management and role of records and information in business, society and history.  The course examines definitions and important concepts related to records and information management and core archival and information management professional functions.

Not repeatable. All MARA 200 students receive a one-year paid membership in ASIS&T, NAGARA, or SAA.

Prerequisite: Demonstrated computer literacy through completion of required new student online technology workshop.

Note: Satisfactory completion of all written assignments in this course fulfills the university’s “Competency in Written English” requirement.

MARA 204 Management of Archives, Records Management, and Information Governance Programs

ACA Pre-Approved Course

Overview of management and leadership roles and responsibilities in archives, records management, and information governance settings, and application of management principles, techniques and theories to program administration. Examination of organizational structures, programmatic areas, decision-making, strategic planning, and ethical responsibilities, and global impact. Discussion of management-level interactions, including those with administration, human resources, legal, finance, IT, marketing.

Not repeatable.

Prerequisite: Demonstrated computer literacy through completion of required new student online technology workshop.

MARA 210 Records Creation, Appraisal and Retention

ACA Pre-Approved Course

Overview of records creation and management processes and documentation of those processes. Topics include electronic records content management, digitization, physical records document control, legal compliance; basic appraisal concepts; records inventories, retention analysis and records retention policy frameworks; vital records; contingency planning; records disposition; and archives.

Not repeatable.

Prerequisite: Demonstrated computer literacy through completion of required new student online technology workshop.

MARA 211 Access, Storage and Retrieval of Records and Information

ACA Pre-Approved Course

Overview of archival and contemporary records and information access, storage and retrieval. This course examines records and information classification retrieval systems, storage operations, archival reference service and outreach, legal and ethical access considerations, and user communities.

Not repeatable.

Prerequisite: Demonstrated computer literacy through completion of required new student online technology workshop.

MARA 249 Management of Digital Data, Information, and Records

ACA Pre-Approved Course

Overview of the principles and methods of managing data, information and records as operational, legal and historical evidence in digital environments. This course examines the way in which new information technologies impact an organizations’ capacity to define, identify, control, manage, and preserve digital assets.

Not repeatable.

Prerequisite: Demonstrated computer literacy through completion of required new student online technology workshop.

MARA 283 Enterprise Content Management and Digital Preservation

ACA Pre-Approved Course

Presents theoretical principles and practical aspects of digital content management and preservation. Explores challenges related to multiple file formats, standards, and retention requirements. Provides hands-on experience using both a digital content management system and a trusted digital repository.

Not repeatable.

Prerequisites: MARA 210 or MARA 211 or MARA 249

MARA 285 Research Methods in Records Management and Archival Science

ACA Pre-Approved Course

Overview of research methods in the social sciences and their application to research about and within archives and records centers. Research design, human subjects, quantitative and qualitative methods, model studies, methodological critique and evaluation, data analysis and presentation.

Not repeatable.

Prerequisite: None

MARA 286 Information Assurance

This course ran as MARA 284 Seminar in Archives and Records Management, topic: Information Assurance through Spring 2021

An overview of information assurance and risk management theories, principles, and techniques. This course examines the information assurance frameworks and risk management planning structures used to ensure that an organization’s information resources and assets are protected.

Not repeatable.

Prerequisites: MARA 200, 204 for MARA students taking 3-unit topics. Prerequisites are waived for non-MARA students.

MARA 287 Information Governance

This course ran as MARA 284 Seminar in Archives and Records Management, topic: Information Governance through Fall 2020

Introduction to the major components of an information governance framework: policies, processes, compliance, and audits. The Information Governance Reference Model is used to analyze the stakeholders, standards, processes, technologies, methods, and tools required to develop an effective information governance strategy.

Not repeatable.

Prerequisites: MARA 200, 204 for MARA students taking 3-unit topics. Prerequisites are waived for non-MARA students.

MARA 289 e-Portfolio

ACA Pre-Approved Course

Completion of the ePortfolio, integrating theory and practice, to satisfy the Culminating Experience, with the portfolio based on core competencies for archives and records administration professionals as outlined in the MARA 289 Student Handbook. Completed in final semester (fall or spring only).

Not repeatable.

Prerequisites: See information about eligibility by looking at the MARA 289 e-Portfolio Student Handbook (Revision May 2015) and reviewing the section on “Eligibility.”