Familiarize students with the basic legal, policy and ethical issues relating to the flow of information via traditional, audiovisual or digital media.

Identify and analyze recent developments in informational policy on a national or international level, and their impact on information flow and the work of information professionals.

Prepare future information professionals to intermediate between legal requirements, professional principles and community standards when dealing with censorship and related matters.

Introduce students to the theoretical and practical problems of copyright protection within modern library and information services, including database and digital services.

Examine other relevant areas, such as intellectual property, privacy, government information and the Freedom of Information Act.