The course treats the organization and structure of files including relationships between information representation and processing techniques, transformations between storage media, and the referencing of information as related to the structure of its representation. The intent of the course is fourfold: (a) To teach the underlying principles of file organization, structure, manipulation and utilization; (b) To unify the basic concepts of information handling in the engineering, information, life, physical, social and management sciences; (c) To give the student practical experience in planning, implementing, evaluating, optimizing, and documenting file management procedures using manual, electromechanical and electronic equipment; (d) To apply principles of file organization and information handling to the design of information systems taking into account the content of the files, needs of the user, and characteristics of data-processing equipment to be used. (Author)