MLIS Degree Requirements

 

The Master of Library and Information Studies is 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 defense,
    • or completing a portfolio and oral defense

Though 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 grade point average of 3.00 (B average). Students receiving a grade of D or F in any letter-graded LIS course will be removed from the program. Three grades of C will also result in termination from the program. Two grades of C may be applied toward the degree, but ONLY IN GUIDED OR GENERAL ELECTIVE COURSES. Students may only count required courses toward their degree requirements in which grades of A or B are earned. Additionally, any required course in which a student earns a grade of C must be repeated in order to earn a grade of A or B.

 

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS - Courses - Download in PDF Format

 

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

15 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)
  • LIS 5063 Information and Communication Technology (pre-/co-requisite 5033)

 

Guided electives: The theories, concepts, and applications basic to specialization in library and information studies or knowledge management.

12 hours; at least one course from each of the following 4 categories:

  • Organizational Development and Management
    • Prerequisites: LIS 5033 Information and Knowledge Society and LIS 5023 Management of Information and Knowledge Organizations
    • LIS 5223 Information Technology Management (additional prerequisite: LIS 5063)
    • 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

  • 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 5453 Digital Collections (additional prerequisite: LIS 5063)

    • LIS 5473 Document and Records Management

    • LIS 5543 Collection Development and Management (will change to 5443)

  • 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

    • LIS 5563 Archival Appraisal (additional pre-requisite: LIS 5343 Archives)

  • Research, Discovery, and Evaluation

    • Prerequisites: LIS 5033 Information and Knowledge Society

    • LIS 5713 Research Methods

    • LIS 5733 Evaluation Methods (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 Readers’ Advisory Services

  • LIS 5133 Biomedical Bibliography and Reference Materials

  • LIS 5143 Government Publications

  • LIS 5163 Biomedical Databases

  • LIS 5173 Multicultural Librarianship

  • LIS 5183 Books and Materials for Children

  • LIS 5193 Books and Materials for Young Adults

  • LIS 5343 Archives (title to change to Archival Concepts and Traditions)

  • LIS 5533 Introduction to Instructional Technology

  • LIS 5633 Design and Implementation of Web-based Information Services

  • LIS 5653 Preservation of Information Materials

  • LIS 5683 Database Design for Information Organizations

  • LIS 5823 Internship in Library/Information Centers

  • LIS 5920 Directed Research (1-3 hours)

  • LIS 5940 Directed Project (1-3 hours)

  • LIS 5960 Directed Readings (1-3 hours)

  • LIS 5970 Special Topics/Seminar (1-3 hours)

  • LIS 5980 Research for Master’s Thesis (2-6 hours)

  • LIS 5990 Special Problems (1-3 hours)

  • LIS 5990 Networks and Information Management Systems

 

In addition to course requirements, the Graduate College requires all candidates for an advanced degree to complete an end of program assessment. For the MLIS, the School offers three options: the comprehensive examination, the thesis, or the portfolio.