Archives
The Master's in Archives at Paris-Saclay University trains multiskilled archivists who can work in a variety of contexts: in the public sector or in a private organization, throughout the document lifecycle and the archival chain (records management, preservation of written heritage). Ninety percent of graduates are employed within six months of completing a program that combines early professionalization and research-based training.
In constant collaboration with the heads of partner training departments—the Yvelines Departmental Archives, the Hauts-de-Seine Departmental Archives, the National Archives, and the Engineering and Archive Projects Department of La Poste—the teaching team offers progressive specialization in the field of archiving and archive and data management. The first year of the Master's program retains a disciplinary and academic structure, while the second year is organized around professional modules, followed by a long internship. Throughout these two years, there is a strong focus on project-based learning and a variety of professional situations in a range of formats (applied research dissertations in archiving, organization of scientific events, supervised practical work on collections or with producers, and exercises carried out individually, in pairs, in groups, or as a class).
Informations
- Principles, standards, and implementation of the archival processing chain (from collection to availability of final archives, whether paper, digital, or hybrid);
- Principles, standards, and implementation of records management (management of document production from creation and handling of the entire life cycle of documents and data);
- Application of archival and records management principles to the management of scientific and heritage data;
Scientific methodology in the humanities and social sciences;
- Skills and expertise in project management, team management, collaborative work, and interactions with different types of professional stakeholders.
Learning outcome targets
The Archives program aims to train students in archival science and archival management applied to all forms of documentary production. Its scientific objectives fall within the field of traditional and digital humanities and, more broadly, within the field of heritage sciences. It combines research training with learning professional practices related to contemporary issues in archive and data management in the business, government, and research environments. It thus offers students an original approach based on teaching the main principles of archival science while preparing them to apply this knowledge in a heuristic and critical manner in various contemporary institutional contexts. The program draws on the expertise of archive managers and the educational and scientific contributions of faculty members specializing in history, law, archives, writing, and digital technology.
Target audience
In line with the educational and scientific focus of the Master's program, the course is open to anyone with a bachelor's degree in the humanities and social sciences (history, art history, sociology, law, economics, etc.), as well as digital sciences and experimental sciences, provided they demonstrate a solid general knowledge, intellectual curiosity, and the ability to synthesize and write. Above all, applicants must demonstrate a clear career plan and a clear vision of the current realities and challenges of the archival profession, which go beyond heritage issues and involve addressing the challenges of the digital transition (hybridization, massification, and de-hierarchization of information, document, and data production) and societal demands (democratic transparency, visibility). The teaching team of the Master's in Archives also regularly supports professionals undergoing career change.