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

Specialist Option—Health Sciences Librarianship

Medical, hospital, social science agencies, and other health-related agencies need information specialists educated in health sciences librarianship. The School of Library and Information Studies offers the following courses to students interested in pursuing a career in this area:

• LIS 5133, Biomedical Bibliography and Reference Materials;
• LIS 5163, Biomedical Data Bases; and
• LIS 5823, Internship in Library/Information Centers.

The courses are held at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. Students should discuss a full program in this area with their advisers.

School Library Media Specialist Certificate Program

The courses required for the school library media certificate program are listed below. Students should consult with their advisers on issues of certification including testing required by the Oklahoma State Department of Education, portfolio development, and current certification status.

Courses Required of All MLIS Students

LIS 5033 Information and Knowledge Society
LIS 5023 Management of Information and Knowledge Organizations
LIS 5043 Organization of Information and Knowledge Resources
LIS 5053 Information Users in the Knowledge Society

Courses Required for Students Seeking the MLIS with School Library Media Specialist Certification

• LIS 5283 School Library Media Center Administration
• LIS 5603 Information Systems and Networks or
  LIS 5533 Introduction to Instructional Technology
• LIS 5513 Information Sources and Services or
  LIS 5543 Collection Development and Management
• LIS 5403 Cataloging and Classification
• LIS 5183 Books and Materials for Children
• LIS 5193 Books and Materials for Young Adults
• LIS 5503 Information Literacy and Instruction or
  LIS 5253 Community Relations and Advocacy
• LIS 5713 Research Methods or
• LIS 5990 Evaluation of Information Services and Products (5733)
  (option for non-thesis students)

Within the school library media program, there are two reasons for a student to produce a portfolio

1. A portfolio is required by the State of Oklahoma for all individuals in certification programs.
2. The OU Graduate College requires an end-of-program assessment for each OU graduate degree. In SLIS, a portfolio is one of three options (portfolio, comprehensive exam, masters thesis) accepted by the Graduate College for the end-of-program assessment of the MLIS degree.

Students, who are seeking library media specialist certification, may develop a portfolio that meets requirements of both the State of Oklahoma and of the Graduate College.

A student, who is seeking certification as a school library media specialist within the MLIS program and is selecting the portfolio option for the end-of-program assessment of the MLIS degree, should consult with his/her faculty advisor during the first semester of enrollment, carefully comply with the SLIS Student Guide to the Portfolio for the Master’s Degree, and formally declare the portfolio option during the first semester.

The following documents will be helpful in the development of a school library media portfolio that meets the requirements of the State of Oklahoma for library media specialist certification and of the OU Graduate College for the MLIS degree (the documents are downloadable PDF files)

• Portfolio Development explains the portfolio’s requirements, benefits, possible contents, method of organization, and evaluation.
• ALA/AASL Standards for Initial School Library Media Programs defines standards and indicators for library media specialist preparation. It is the official document of the American Library Association (ALA) and its division, the American Association of School Libraries (AASL).
• ALA/AASL Standards in Detail is an adapted version of the ALA/AASL Standards for Initial School Library Media Programs (pages 12-25). It provides language and explanations that can guide reflections on the developmental stages of preparing to be a library media specialist.
• An Overview of the ALA/AASL Standards is an outline of the ALA/AASL standards and indicators. The outline format may be copied as a Word file and used in an electronic portfolio as the structure for entering reflections and placing links to artifacts.
• The Pre-Assessment, based on the ALA/AASL competencies, should be taken early in the program and included as a baseline artifact. It is also useful in focusing school library media specialist candidates’ attention on MLIS program elements that support their professional goals.
• The Post-Assessment, which has the same statements as the pre-assessment, should be taken during the last semester of the program. Because it can inform students’ personal reflections regarding the attainment of professional competencies that support library media specialist certification, it should also be included as an artifact in the portfolio.

Dual Degree Programs

In its quest to provide alternative educational opportunities for students wishing to specialize in a variety of areas, the School of Library and Information Studies has developed a number of specialized programs. In addition, the Generic Dual Master’s degree program is available for students who wish to earn dual master’s degrees not specified by the School.

Master of Library and Information Studies (MLIS)/Master of Arts (History of Science)

The School of Library and Information Studies and the Department of History of Science offer a dual degree program for their two fields. Students apply and are accepted by each department. Dual degree students work with a joint advising committee made up of faculty from both units. The requirements for the master’s degree in each department must be met.

Generic Dual Master's Degree

This option allows a graduate student at the University of Oklahoma the option of seeking dual masters’ degrees in any two areas of his/her choosing. In order to pursue the generic dual master’s degree, the student must be admitted to both programs before 12 credit hours of program work is completed in either program. Once admitted to both programs, the student will be admitted into the Generic Dual Master’s Degree Program. Further details are available in University bulletins and from the individual departments.