IAC001: Foundations of Information Architecture — Student Agreement
Course: Foundations of Information Architecture
Cohort / term: Fall 2026 pilot
Dates: September 10, 2026 – October 1, 2026 (four weekly sessions)
Live session: Thursdays at 8:00 a.m. Pacific / 11 a.m. Eastern, via Zoom
Instructor(s): Shari Thurow and Noreen Whysel
Tuition: Free (Pilot)
Welcome to the World IA Association's Information Architecture Certificate Program. This is a short agreement that sets out what you can expect from us and what we ask of you in return. Because our cohorts are small and our courses are hands-on, the experience depends on everyone showing up and taking part. Please read this before the course begins and sign at the bottom.
By signing, you confirm you've read the syllabus for your course and you agree to the commitments below.
Each course has four weekly live sessions. Attending live is part of the course. Missing more than one of the four sessions means you will not receive the certificate for that course.
If you know in advance you'll miss a session, let your instructor know. Reach out early if something comes up during the course; we'd rather work with you than lose you.
2. Preparation and participation
Review the syllabus and any assigned readings before each session. Sessions build on the readings and on the session before. Come ready to participate. Discussion and peer feedback are a core part of learning.
3. Assignments and final project
Complete the weekly assignments and submit a final project in the last week. Each week's work builds toward the final project, so keeping up makes it manageable. Assignments are designed around your own examples.
4. What earns a certificate
To receive a certificate of completion for a course, you must:
• Attend at least three of the four live sessions,
• Complete the weekly assignments, and
• Submit the final project.
Complete all three courses in the program and you earn the full IA Certificate from the World IA Association.
We teach critical thinking about information, including how to evaluate what AI produces, so authentic, original work is essential.
• Acceptable: assistive tools such as grammar and spell-check.
• Not acceptable: submitting work generated wholesale by AI in place of doing the assignment yourself.
Treat instructors and fellow students with respect. We don't tolerate harassment, discrimination, or disruptive behavior. You agree to follow the
World IA Association Code of Conduct.
7. Confidentiality of the cohort
Our small-cohort format works because people share openly. What classmates share in sessions and discussions stays within the cohort. Do not record, screenshot, or redistribute live sessions or another student's work without their explicit consent.
8. Your work and our materials
You keep ownership of your own assignments and projects. Course materials are provided for your personal learning. Please don't redistribute, publish, or resell the course materials.
If you find you can't continue, please email us at
education@information-architecture.world.
A computer with a stable internet connection and a Google account to access Google Classroom and to join live sessions.
11. Accessibility and support
We want everyone to be able to take part fully. If you need an accommodation, tell us at
education@information-architecture.world and we'll do our best to support you.
Your information is handled per the
World IA Association Privacy Policy. We use it only to run the certificate program and communicate with you about it.
