Master of Library and Information Studies

 

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Master of Library and Information Studies

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Master of Science in Knowledge Management

Bachelor of Arts in Information Studies

Advisement and Program Planning

Course Descriptions

SLIS offers a comprehensive degree program through coursework and practical experience.  The American Library Association Accredited MLIS degree program requires a minimum of 36 hours of completed coursework.  Students complete their degree through one of three end of program assessment options;

• passing a comprehensive examination,
• completing a written thesis and oral defence, or
• completing a portfolio and oral defense.

While it is possible to complete the degree in one calendar year, most students take their coursework over a longer period of time. The degree must be completed within five calendar years from the time of initial enrollment.

While in the program, students must maintain a B grade point average. A maximum of two grades of C may be applied toward the degree. Students receiving a grade of D or F in any letter-graded LIS course will be removed from the program. Additionally, any required course in which a student earns a grade of C must be repeated (three grades of C result in termination from the program). A student cannot use the course in which the grade of C was earned toward fulfillment of degree requirements.

Degree Requirements - Courses: (Download in PDF format)

Required courses; The shared theories and concepts of library and information studies and knowledge management fields.
12 hours:

• LIS 5033 Information and Knowledge Society
• LIS 5023 Management of Information and Knowledge Organizations
  (pre-/co-requisite 5033)
• LIS 5043 Organization of Information and Knowledge Resources
  (pre-/co-requisite 5033)
• LIS 5053 Information Users in the Knowledge Society
  (pre-/co-requisite 5033)

Guided Electives; The theories, concepts, and applications basic to specialization in library and information studies or knowledge management.
15 hours; at least one course from each of the following categories:

Organizational Development and Management

Prerequisites:  LIS 5033 Information and Knowledge Society and LIS 5023 Management of Information and Knowledge Organizations

• HR 5033 Seminar in Leadership in Organizations
• HR 5073 Creative Problem Solving
• LIS 5223 Information Technology Management
• LIS 5243 Academic Library Administration
• LIS 5253 Community Relations and Advocacy
• LIS 5263 Organizational Learning and Learning Organizations
• LIS 5273 Public Library Administration
• LIS 5283 School Library Media Center Administration
• LIS 5293 Special Library and Information Center Administration
• ODYN 5113 The Psychology of Leadership

Information Technology
Corequisite:  LIS 5033 Information and Knowledge Society

• LIS 5533 Introduction to Instructional Technology
• LIS 5603 Information Systems and Networks
• LIS 5643 Knowledge Representation
• LIS 5653 Preservation of Information Materials
• LIS 5990 Database Management
• LIS 5990 Digital Collections
  
• LIS 5990 Information Security

Content Management
Prerequisites:  LIS 5033 Information and Knowledge Society and LIS 5043 Organization of Information and Knowledge Resources

• LIS 5403 Cataloging and Classification
• LIS 5413 Indexing and Abstracting
• LIS 5423 Archives
• LIS 5433 Design and Implementation of Web-based Information Services
• LIS 5473 Document and Records Management
• LIS 5543 Collection Development and Management

Access to Knowledge Structures
Prerequisites:  LIS 5033 Information and Knowledge Society and LIS 5053 Information Users in the Knowledge Society

• LIS 5503 Information Literacy and Instruction
• LIS 5513 Information Sources and Services
• LIS 5523 Online Information Retrieval
• LIS 5553 Competitive Intelligence

Research, Discovery, and Evaluation
Prerequisites:  LIS 5033 Information and Knowledge Society, LIS 5023 Management of Information and Knowledge Organizations, LIS 5043 Organization of Information and Knowledge Resources, and LIS 5053 Information Users in the Knowledge Society

• LIS 5713, Research Methods
• LIS 5990 Evaluation of Information Services and Products (5733)
  (option for non-thesis students)

General electives; The specialized theories, concepts, and applications within library and information studies or knowledge management.
9 hours; three additional courses selected from courses in the categories above, from the following courses, or from appropriate courses in other units under advisor's guidance or completion of a thesis (no more than 6 hours of thesis credit may count toward the degree).

• LIS 5123 Literature and Methods for Reader’s Advisory Services
• LIS 5133 Biomedical Bibliography and Reference Materials
• LIS 5143 Government Publications
• LIS 5163 Biomedical Databases
• LIS 5183 Books and Materials for Children
• LIS 5193 Books and Materials for Young Adults
• LIS 5333 Multicultural Librarianship
• LIS 5703 Electronic Access to Social Science Research Resources
• LIS 5823 Internship in Library and Information Centers
• LIS 5920 Directed Research (1-3 hours)
• LIS 5940 Directed Project (1-3 hours)
• LIS 5960 Directed Readings (1-3 hours)
• LIS 5980 Research for Master's Thesis (2-6 hours)
• LIS 5990 Special Problems (1-3 hours)
  • LIS 5990 Information Policy

Courses

Credit toward the MLIS degree may be granted for courses that are recognized by the Graduate College as applicable toward graduate study. A student may enroll for degree credit in courses outside the School, but the courses chosen must relate closely to and support the student’s program as a whole. A student wishing to take courses outside the School must include those courses on the program plan and obtain their adviser’s signature.

Certain courses in the School may be graded on a Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory basis.  The grade S (Satisfactory) is a neutral grade that signifies quality of B work or better. Courses graded on an S/U basis are directed research, directed project, directed reading, internship and research for a master’s thesis.  For courses graded S/U, S is the only passing grade.  U (Unsatisfactory) is used to indicate that no credit is to be given for the work undertaken. Students may not enroll in more than twelve hours of S/U graded courses as credit toward completion of degree requirements.  In special situations, the student may petition the Graduate Studies Committee to enroll in additional S/U credit hours.  No coursework graded Pass/NoPass (P/NP) may be included in the graduate program of study.

Academic Standing

In order to complete the SLIS program, students must remain in good academic standing within SLIS and within the Graduate College.

End of Program Assessment

In Addition to the course requirements, the Graduate College requires that all candidates for an advanced degree complete an End of Program Assessment. for the MLIS, the School offers three options:

Comprehensive Examination:
This examination is a written, monitored exam covering the breadth of knowledge taught in the program. A student may take the comprehensive examination during the last six hours of coursework, and after all the required courses have been completed. There is additional information about this examination in SLIS Student Guide to the Comprehensive Examination for the Master's Degree.

Thesis Option:
A thesis is a written representation of original research. At the end of his or her program, the thesis student must complete and defend a written thesis. Six credit hours are allowed for thesis research. There is additional information about the thesis option in SLIS Thesis Guidelines.

Portfolio Option:
Students who choose the Portfolio Option must declare their this choice the first semester that they enter the program. There is additional information about the portfolio option in the SLIS Student Guide to the Portfolio for the Master of Library and Information Studies