This is the first version of the 2025–26 General Catalog. Please check back regularly for changes. The final edition and the historical PDF will be published during the fall semester.
The graduate Certificate in Book Arts and Book Studies requires 18 s.h. of graduate credit. Students must earn a UI cumulative grade-point average of at least 2.75 in certificate coursework. The certificate is open to students enrolled in a graduate degree program and nondegree students.
Courses should be selected in consultation with an advisor.
The program requires the following coursework.
Studio Practice
| Course # | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| One of these (3 s.h.): | ||
| UICB:3280 | Elements of Book Art | 3 |
| UICB:3380 | Letterpress | 3 |
| UICB:4100 | Paperworks | 3 |
| UICB:4205 | Bookbinding I: Materials and Techniques | 3 |
| UICB:4210 | Boxes and Enclosures | 3 |
| UICB:4270 | Bookbinding II | 3 |
| UICB:4280 | Artists' Books | 3 |
| UICB:4290 | Historical Book Structures | 3 |
| UICB:4300 | Letterpress I | 3 |
| UICB:4370 | Topics in Letterpress | 3 |
| UICB:4380 | Letterpress II | 3 |
| UICB:4390 | Book and Publication Design | 3 |
| UICB:4400 | History of Western Letterforms | 3 |
| UICB:4405 | Introduction to Calligraphy Intensive | 3 |
| UICB:4415 | Introduction to Classical Calligraphy | 3 |
| UICB:4420 | Introduction to Medieval Calligraphy | 3 |
| UICB:4490 | Advanced Studies in Letter Arts | 3 |
| UICB:5110 | Papermaking I: East Asia, Nepal, and Contemporary Practice | 3 |
| UICB:5130 | Papermaking I: Central Asia, Europe, and Contemporary Practice | 3 |
| UICB:5140 | Papermaking II: Contemporary Papermaking | 3 |
| UICB:5170 | Papermaking III: The Papermakers | 3 |
| UICB:5180 | Advanced Projects in Paper | 3 |
| UICB:5210 | Bookbinding III | 3 |
| UICB:5220 | Book Conservation | 3 |
| UICB:5280 | Bookbinding IV | 3 |
| UICB:5330 | Letterpress III: Imagemaking | 3 |
| UICB:5340 | Letterpress III: The Handprinted Book | 3 |
| UICB:5380 | Letterpress IV: Advanced Projects | 3 |
| A related course with advisor approval | ||
Scholarly Inquiry and Material Analysis
| Course # | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| One of these (3 s.h.): | ||
| UICB:3140 | Literature and the Book | 3 |
| UICB:3142 | Topics in Book History | 3 |
| UICB:3401 | Literature and Book History | 3 |
| UICB:3980 | American Print Culture | 3 |
| UICB:4150 | Introduction to Book Studies | 3 |
| UICB:4910 | The Book in the Middle Ages | 3 |
| UICB:4920 | The Book in Early Modern Europe | 3 |
| UICB:5600 | Reading Culture: History and Research in Print and Digital Media | 3 |
| UICB:5930 | Topics in Material Analysis | 3 |
| UICB:6100 | Book Studies Proseminar | 3 |
| UICB:6530 | Book History Seminar | 3 |
| ARTH:3870 | History of Photography | 3 |
| A related course with departmental approval | ||
Center for the Book Electives
| Course # | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| 12 s.h. from these: | ||
| UICB:3140 | Literature and the Book | 3 |
| UICB:3142 | Topics in Book History | 3 |
| UICB:3280 | Elements of Book Art | 3 |
| UICB:3380 | Letterpress | 3 |
| UICB:3401 | Literature and Book History | 3 |
| UICB:3980 | American Print Culture | 3 |
| UICB:4100 | Paperworks | 3 |
| UICB:4150 | Introduction to Book Studies | 3 |
| UICB:4205 | Bookbinding I: Materials and Techniques | 3 |
| UICB:4210 | Boxes and Enclosures | 3 |
| UICB:4270 | Bookbinding II | 3 |
| UICB:4280 | Artists' Books | 3 |
| UICB:4290 | Historical Book Structures | 3 |
| UICB:4300 | Letterpress I | 3 |
| UICB:4370 | Topics in Letterpress | arr. |
| UICB:4380 | Letterpress II | 3 |
| UICB:4390 | Book and Publication Design | 3 |
| UICB:4400 | History of Western Letterforms | 3 |
| UICB:4405 | Introduction to Calligraphy Intensive | 3 |
| UICB:4415 | Introduction to Classical Calligraphy | 3 |
| UICB:4420 | Introduction to Medieval Calligraphy | 3 |
| UICB:4490 | Advanced Studies in Letter Arts | 3 |
| UICB:4910 | The Book in the Middle Ages | 3 |
| UICB:4920 | The Book in Early Modern Europe | 3 |
| UICB:5110 | Papermaking I: East Asia, Nepal, and Contemporary Practice | 3 |
| UICB:5130 | Papermaking I: Central Asia, Europe, and Contemporary Practice | 3 |
| UICB:5140 | Papermaking II: Contemporary Papermaking | 3 |
| UICB:5170 | Papermaking III: The Papermakers | 3 |
| UICB:5180 | Advanced Projects in Paper | 1-3 |
| UICB:5210 | Bookbinding III | 3 |
| UICB:5220 | Book Conservation | 3 |
| UICB:5280 | Bookbinding IV | 3 |
| UICB:5330 | Letterpress III: Imagemaking | arr. |
| UICB:5340 | Letterpress III: The Handprinted Book | 3 |
| UICB:5380 | Letterpress IV: Advanced Projects | 3 |
| UICB:5520 | Studies in Book History and Technologies | 0-3 |
| UICB:5530 | Preservation Management | 3 |
| UICB:5540 | Topics in Book Arts | 1-3 |
| UICB:5550 | Special Project for Graduate Students | arr. |
| UICB:5600 | Reading Culture: History and Research in Print and Digital Media | 3 |
| UICB:5930 | Topics in Material Analysis | 3 |
| UICB:6100 | Book Studies Proseminar | 1-3 |
| UICB:6370 | Topics in Book Studies | 3 |
| UICB:6510 | Book Art Seminar: History, Practice, and Critique | 3 |
| UICB:6520 | Graduate Book Arts Workshop | 3 |
| UICB:6530 | Book History Seminar | 3 |
| Related Center for the Book courses (prefix UICB) numbered 3000 and above, except UICB:3900 and UICB:6540, with advisor approval | ||
Certificate/MA in Library and Information Science
The Center for the Book and the School of Library and Information Science collaborate to offer the Certificate in Book Arts and Book Studies/MA in library and information science. It requires admission to the School of Library and Information Science MA program and the Center for the Book certificate program.
The certificate/MA in Library and Information Science offers multiple pathways into professional engagement with artifacts available in archives and libraries, such as rare and artist books. Students select courses that enable them to gain skills and knowledge in areas of service such as conservation, cataloging, instruction, and outreach. The combined program requires 51 s.h. of coursework. Students take 27 s.h. of library and information science courses (prefix SLIS) and 15 s.h. of book arts and studies courses (prefix UICB). The remaining 9 s.h. may be taken in either School of Library and Information Science or Center for the Book coursework, or from another unit with approval of the School of Library and Information Science.
Admission deadline is Feb. 1 for fall entry. For more information, see Library and Information Science, MA in the catalog.
Applicants must meet the admission requirements of the Graduate College; see the Manual of Rules and Regulations on the Graduate College website. Visit Admissions on the Center for the Book website for more information.