Master's Degrees: MS & MA
Master of Science
The Master of Science (MS) is the degree typically earned by students preparing for a career as a professional librarian or IT specialist. Students may opt to complete the Master of Arts (MA), but additional course work may be required to meet liberal arts requirements for that degree.
Accreditation
The Master's degree is accredited by the American Library Association (ALA) and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS).
Hours
36 Credit Hours (effective Fall 2007)
Time to Completion
- Course work for the Master's degree must be completed within 7 years from the time the student first registers for graduate credit.
- Any graduate work transferred from another institution must have commenced not more than 7 years prior to completion of the degree for the credits to be applicable to the Master's degree.
- Exceptions may be appealed through the College of Information.
Thesis
Optional for either the MS or the MA.
Curriculum design
The Master's curriculum requires 36 credits, including four required core courses (12 credits):
LIS 5271 Research Methods in Information Studies (3 credits)
OR
LIS 5203 Assessing Information Needs (3 credits)
AND
LIS 5411 Introduction to Information Policy (3 credits)
OR
LIS 5020 Foundations of the Information Professions (3 credits)
AND
LIS 5408 Management of Information Organization (3 credits)
AND
LIS 5703 Information Organization (3 credits)
The remaining 24 credits may be taken at the discretion of the student and should support the student’s professional goals. To facilitate course selection, courses have been organized into programs of study along general and specialized areas of interest.
If you have questions, please contact Susanne M. Houff, Graduate Coordinator.
Students are urged to plan their program of study in consultation with a faculty advisor who is assigned during the first semester the student is enrolled.
The Master’s program offers a range of flexibility for career preparation:
- (3) Broad Area Concentrations with optional specializations:
Students may focus their graduate study in specialized areas of interest organized under 3 broad area concentrations as defined below. Each concentration offers OPTIONAL specializations that may be completed.
- Information Needs & Services
The specializations within this concentration prepare students to meet the information needs of users by providing services, instruction, and leadership, and by organizing information in user-centered ways.
- Youth Information Needs & Services
The specializations within this concentration prepare students to meet the information needs of children and young adults in various settings, including libraries and school media centers.
- Information Architecture & Technology
The specializations within this concentration prepare students to meet the information needs of users by developing and managing information technologies, including web- based resources and networks.
- Information Needs & Services
- General Librarianship Program of Study:
Students who opt to pursue generalized preparation for librarianship may complete the General Librarianship program of study.
- General Librarianship Program of Study (link to concentrations page)
- Individualized Program of Study:
Students who want maximum flexibility in their course selection may opt to customize an Individualized Program of Study in consultation with their assigned faculty advisor. A copy of the program of study should be added to the student’s file in Graduate Student Services.
- Individualized Program of Study (link to concentrations page)
For specific information on each of the Programs of Study, please go to the Master's Degree Programs of Study page.
Master of Arts
Students opting to complete the Master of Arts degree must meet the following additional requirements:
- Demonstrate proficiency in a foreign language by:
- Satisfactory performance on the Graduate School Foreign Language Tests of the Educational Testing Service, or
- Certification by the appropriate language department, or
- Completion of 12 semester hours in a foreign language with an average grade of at least 3.0 ("B"), or
- Four years of a single language in high school.
Note: It is the student’s responsibility to document proficiency to the College of Information.
- Take 6 or more semester hours of graduate credit in one or more of the following fields: art; classical language, literature, and civilization; communication (not to include speech correction); English; history; humanities; modern languages and linguistics; music; philosophy; religion and theatre.
Additional Programs and Certifications
- Specialist (Post-Master's)
- JD/MLIS (Joint Juris Doctor/MLIS Degree Program)
- School Library Media Specialist Certification
- Project LEAD Program
- Certificates
Note: ONLY two certificates (Museum Studies and School Library Media Leadership) may be earned with credits taken toward the degree. For more information about Certificates, please go to the Certificates page.
HOW TO APPLY:
For information about HOW TO APPLY, please go to the graduate prospective student's page.
If you need staff assistance, please select from the staff below.
Admission requirements and application process |
Status of application materials and admission decision |
Delores Bryant Voice: (850) 645-3280 |
Marion Davis Voice: (850) 644-8103 |
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