Master of Library and Information Studies

 

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Master of Library and Information Studies

• Program Mission and Objectives
• Career Opportunities
• Degree Requirements
• Locations
• Admissions
• Specialized Tracks

Master of Science in Knowledge Management

Bachelor of Arts in Information Studies

Advisement and Program Planning

Course Descriptions

The MLIS Application packet documentation is available for download as PDF documents.

• Admissions Procedures
• Admissions Checklist
• Application
• List of Recommenders
• Recommendation Form
• Degree Requirements
• Course Descriptions
• Course Rotation Schedule
• SLIS Vision, Mission, Goals, and Objectives
• SLIS Faculty
• Scholarship Information
• Academic Common Market
• Technology Tutorials
• School Library Media Certification Requirements
• MLIS/History of Science Dual Degree Requirements

Application packets are also available at the SLIS offices in Norman and Tulsa.

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The admission policy of the Master of Library and Information Studies (MLIS) program has as its goal the selection of persons who are academically well qualified and who exhibit a potential for assuming leadership roles in creating knowledge-sharing cultural environments within organizations. The School of Library and Information Studies encourages applications from students with diverse educational, geographical, cultural, and intellectual backgrounds.

Applicants for admission to the MLIS degree program must meet the criteria established by the University of Oklahoma Graduate College. Detailed information on admission to graduate study at the University of Oklahoma is provided in the Graduate College Bulletin or online at the graduate college websites (Norman and Tulsa). Students must also apply for admissions to the Graduate College, as well as to the MLIS program.

In addition to meeting the general requirements for admission to the Graduate College, applicants must also meet the admissions requirements for the Master of Library and Information Studies (MLIS) degree program. Compliance with those requirements is demonstrated by presentation of the following documents:

1. an application to the Master of Library and Information Studies program
2. a statement of purpose and goals, including a specific professional career plan and a self-assessment of relevant prior experience
3. a professional resume
4. three letters of reference from persons familiar with the applicant’s scholastic or employment record
5. scores for the Graduate Record Examination. Graduate Record Examination scores are not required for applicants who have completed a post-baccalaureate degree with a grade point average of at least 3.20 on a 4-point scale.

Full Graduate Standing

An applicant may be granted full graduate standing if:

• all required documentation has been submitted and determined to be complete, and
• the applicant has been determined to be acceptable for admission to the Graduate College, and
• the applicant’s academic record indicates a grade point average of at least 3.20 for the last 60 hours of letter-graded undergraduate course work or has completed a master’s degree or at least 12 semester hours of letter-graded graduate course work with a cumulative 3.00 grade point average for all graduate work, and
• the applicant submits valid Graduate Record Examination scores.

Conditional Admission

A graduate of an accredited four-year institution whose grade point average is below 3.20 but not less than 2.80, and who has met all other requirements for admission to full graduate standing may be admitted conditionally. A student whose grade point average is below 2.80, but who has met all other requirements, may apply for admission after completing at least 12 hours at the undergraduate (3000 or above) level in an effort to improve the grade point average and demonstrate academic competence.

Transfer Credit

Students who transfer from another graduate program at the University of Oklahoma or from another institution may be admitted to full graduate standing in the School of Library and Information Studies if they have satisfied all of the requirements listed above. For applicability of transfer credit toward the degree sought, see also the general regulations of the Graduate College.

No more than 9 hours taken prior to admission to the MLIS program may count toward the MLIS degree. Students enrolled in unclassified status are cautioned to submit a complete application before they have completed 12 hours.

All transfer credit must be approved by the University’s Office of Admissions and the School’s Admission Committee. The conditions for transfer of credit include the following:

• All hours must be graduate hours from an accredited institution, graded A or B, and must not have been applied toward another degree.
• All Library and Information Studies hours must be from an ALA accredited program.
• All hours must be related to and supportive of each individual’s program.

The student is responsible for submitting a written request to the Admissions Committee, asking for consideration of the transfer hours and providing documentation regarding the applicability of such coursework.

Financial Support

Assistantships and scholarships are available to MLIS students on a competitive basis. Information on additional financial support opportunities is available from Financial Aid Services (http://www.financialaid.ou.edu/) or the Tulsa Graduate College (http://tulsagrad.ou.edu). Additional information about financial support can be found in the Student section of this website.

Denial of Admission

Students who have been denied admission to the MLIS program may not enroll in Library and Information Studies courses. This restriction includes students who change their status to unclassified after denial of admission to the program. Students who have been denied and who enroll in graduate LIS courses may be disenrolled by the School.

Appeals

Any applicant who feels that he or she has been wrongly denied admission to the MLIS program may appeal in writing to the Admissions and Financial Aid Committee.

ADMISSION OF UNDERGRADUATES TO GRADUATE COURSES

A senior undergraduate student not admitted to the School of Library and Information Studies may enroll in graduate courses offered by the school with the instructor’s permission. If the courses meet the conditions established by the Graduate College for graduate credit, they may be accepted as degree credits in the School of Library and Information Studies. Admission of undergraduates to the School of Library and Information Studies is based upon policy described in the general regulations in the Graduate College Bulletin. Students should be aware of the school’s additional requirements governing admission and should contact the school before attempting to enroll.

TIME LIMITS FOR COMPLETION OF MASTER’S DEGREE

A student is expected to complete work for the master’s degree within five calendar years from the student’s first graduate enrollment in the School of Library and Information Studies. See the general regulations of the Graduate College for an extension of time.

READMISSION

If a student withdraws from the school, readmission may be obtained by petitioning the school. If one year or more has elapsed since enrollment, the student must also apply for readmission to the Graduate College. While in most cases courses taken in previous terms in residence will be applied to the student’s degree, some courses may not be applied toward the degree. This will more likely be the case with courses taken five or more years in the past, but it may also apply to courses taken at a more recent time. The School of Library and Information Studies Committee on Admissions, Financial Aids and Academic Standing will evaluate each case on its particular merits.

REGISTRATION AND ENROLLMENT

A student may apply at any time of the year for admission to a degree program in the School of Library and Information Studies, but must comply with University deadlines.

A student cannot carry more than 16 hours of graduate credit in any regular semester, or more than nine hours in a summer session, without permission of the Dean of the Graduate College. Graduate students who are employed must reduce the number of credit hours carried in proportion to the number of hours worked. This will necessarily extend the time required to complete the degree program.

When a student has been admitted to a degree program in the School of Library and Information Studies, it is assumed that the student will enroll in the program at the first registration period following completion of the admission requirements. At the student’s request, enrollment may be postponed for as much as one calendar year. If the delay exceeds one year, the entire application procedure must be reinitiated.

When a student is accepted by the school, a faculty adviser is assigned and noted in the student’s letter of acceptance. Upon acceptance to the program and prior to the completion of 12 hours at the latest (including any hours taken before official admission to the program), any student in the MLIS or MSKM program must file with the School a program of study showing which courses are to constitute the 36 hours to be taken for the degree, including any courses to be taken at the University of Oklahoma outside the school and any courses transferred from another institution. Students are required to work with the adviser during attendance at the school and must consult with the adviser prior to enrollment each semester. The student should also consult the adviser at any time that academic or career-related problems arise. A student’s request for a change of adviser will be given due consideration.

FACULTY/STAFF ACCESS TO STUDENT RECORDS

Certain college, departmental, and administrative officers of the University have a legitimate interest and need for information contained in the student's records, and are authorized access to this information on a "need to know" basis (Title 5 Student Records and Information [5.2] of the University of Oklahoma 2001-2002 Student Code of Responsibilities and Conduct for the Norman Campus). These needs include, for example, access by faculty/staff for evaluating applicants to the program and for advising/assisting the student in meeting her/his professional goals and the requirements of the program. The University endeavors to protect the confidentiality of student records as provided by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).