Dual MA-MLIS Degree

The Graduate College approves proposals for dual degree programs. A dual degree allows a student to receive master’s degrees in two departments. The programs may be designed for a specific student or established by agreement between departments. For such programs, the Graduate College requires a minimum of 18 courses or 54 credit hours, including a minimum of 27 hours in each department or school. Students should consult with an adviser about options for a dual master’s degree. The Master of Library and Information Studies/Master of Arts in History of Science, Technology, and Medicine program is an example of a dual degree program established by a department and the School of Library and Information Studies. Students must be admitted to both degrees before twelve hours are completed in one or the other.

The purpose of the dual Master of Library and Information Studies and Master of Arts in the History of Science, Technology, and Medicine program is to provide a course of study for those individuals planning for a career in librarianship as a science librarian, as a curator of a rare book and manuscript collection in the history of science/health sciences, or as a public historian or archivist in the history of science.

Students must apply to and be accepted by each department. Dual degree students work with a joint advising committee made up of members of both units. They meet the requirements for the master’s degree in each department, including the comprehensive master’s degree examination or the master’s thesis (a portfolio is a third option for the MLIS degree). Language proficiency, usually in French, German, or Latin, is required in the History of Science, Technology, and Medicine Department.

The total course load requirement is 18 courses or 54 credit hours (a minimum of 27 credit hours in each department). Twenty-seven History of Science, Technology, and Medicine hours are required for the thesis option in History of Science, Technology, and Medicine.  The non-thesis option for the M.A. requires 29 hours in the History of Science department.  Students may choose to write a thesis in the History of Science Department and/or the School of Library and Information Studies if they wish.

Students must simultaneously apply for graduation for both degrees. Both degrees must be completed before either is awarded.

(Thesis Option: 27 hours; Non-Thesis Option: 29 hours)

Required courses, Thesis and Non-Thesis Options, 21 hours: 

 HSTM 5970 Seminar in Research, Criticism, & Analysis (3 hours) 
 HSTM 5990 Special Studies/Graduate Survey in History of Science (6 hours) 
 HSTM 5513 Advanced Studies in the History of Ancient and Medieval Science (3 hours) 
 HSTM 5523 Advanced Studies in the History of Renaissance and Early Modern Science (3 hours) 
 HSTM 5533 Advanced Studies in the History of Modern Science (3 hours) 
 HSTM 5550 Topics in the History of Science (3 hours)

Elective Courses and Thesis Hours (where applicable): 

Thesis Option, 6 hours: 

Electives: one course (3 hours) selected from the following options: 
 HSTM 5550 Topics in the History of Science 
 HSTM 5960 Directed Readings in the History of Science 
 Other approved course outside the department (e.g., History) 
Thesis: 3 hours 
 HSTM 5980 Research for Master’s Thesis

Non-thesis Option, 8 hours:

Electives: 8 hours selected from the following options: 
 HSTM 5550 Topics in the History of Science 
 HSTM 5960 Directed Readings in the History of Science 
 Other approved course outside the department (e.g., History)

Required courses, 18 hours; six courses: 

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) 
LIS 5713 Research Methods OR LIS 5733 Evaluation Methods (pre/co-requisite 5033)

Electives, 18 hours; six additional courses selected from the following courses, or from appropriate courses in other units under adviser’s guidance (thesis students may count a maximum of 6 hours of thesis credit toward the degree):

LIS 5123 Literature and Methods for Reader's Advisory Services
LIS 5133 Biomedical Bibliography and Reference Materials
LIS 5143 Government Information
LIS 5163 Biomedical Databases
LIS 5173 Diversity Fundamentals in LIS
LIS 5183 Information Resources and Services for Children
LIS 5193 Information Resources and Services for Young Adults
LIS 5203 Leadership in Information Organizations
LIS 5213 Social Informatics
LIS 5223 Information Technology Management
LIS 5233 Oklahoma Information Environment
LIS 5253 Community Relations and Advocacy
LIS 5283 School Library Administration
LIS 5343 Archival Concepts and Traditions
LIS 5403 Cataloging and Classification
LIS 5413 Indexing and Abstracting
LIS 5443 Collection Development and Management
LIS 5453 Digital Collections
LIS 5463 Archival Representation and Use
LIS 5473 Document and Records Management
LIS 5503 Information Literacy and Instruction
LIS 5513 Information Sources and Services
LIS 5523 Online Information Retrieval
LIS 5533 Introduction to Instructional Technology
LIS 5553 Competitive Intelligence
LIS 5563 Archival Appraisal
LIS 5613 Dynamic Web Development
LIS 5623 Introduction to Data Mining for Information Professionals
LIS 5633 Design and Implementation of Web-based Information Services
LIS 5653 Preservation of Information Materials
LIS 5673 Introduction to Information Visualization
LIS 5683 Database Design for Information Organizations
LIS 5970 Special Topics/Seminar
LIS 5990 Special Problems

Some recent special topic courses have included:

LIS 5970 Health Informatics
LIS 5970 Consumer Health Information
LIS 5970 Digital Curation
LIS 5970 Makerspaces: Theory and Practice (for Fall 2017)
LIS 5970 Information Retrieval & Text Mining - to be taught Summer 2018
LIS 5970 Introduction to Big Data Analytics - to be taught Spring 2018

Independent Study Courses

LIS 5823 Internship in Library/Information Centers 
LIS 5920 Directed Research 
LIS 5940 Directed Project 
LIS 5960 Directed Readings 
LIS 5970 Special Topics/Seminar 
LIS 5980 Research for Master’s Theses

End of Program Assessment Options:  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:

1. Thesis 
   
2. Portfolio

For the History of Science, Technology, and Medicine degree, the Department offers two options:

1. Thesis (thesis option) 
2. Portfolio and the comprehensive exam (non-thesis option)

rev. 12/02/2022