Archival Administration is an introductory course which touches on all aspects of the archival profession. The first half of the course centers around collecting, processing, preserving and then marketing a collection. Students will discover the various practices and theories that are used throughout the profession.

The latter half of the class includes discussions on the use of collections, as seen through the eyes of the researcher. Further, students explore issues surrounding records management, electronic records, the legalities of the profession and also its ethics.

There are two research projects, a mid-term and a final exam. Both the mid-term and the final are long essay questions and students are required to select 2-3 questions from a list of 4-5. This class is more challenging than one would expect an introductory course to be. The professor, Mike Smith, is very particular about what he looks for in a research project or an essay. Although a strict grader, he goes above and beyond to help his students outside of class.