Curriculum

The curriculum reflects the role of library and information services in a rapidly changing technological and global society. It is designed to take advantage of institutional cooperation and to allow student flexibility. Full-time students should be able to complete the program in two academic years. The flexibility of the program, moreover, affords adult learners the opportunity to earn the degree as part-time students.

The core curriculum is designed to give expertise in four major areas:

  • Administration

  • Resources for Clients

  • Services in the Knowledge Society

  • Technical Knowledge

Program of Study - MLIS

The Master of Library and Information Science program consists of 36 semester hours of coursework. There are five three-hour required core courses.

Core Courses:        15 hrs                                                  

  • MLIS 7000 Foundations of Library and Information Science
  • MLIS 7100 Information Sources and Services
  • MLIS 7200 Management of Libraries and Information Centers
  • MLIS 7300 Organization of Information
  • MLIS 7800 Capstone Course

All core courses are offered every academic year.

Elective Courses:      21 hrs                                               

  • Elective courses are typically offered at least every other year.
  • Portfolio requirement - The MLIS Program requires its students to develop and maintain a portfolio. It is incorporated as an integral part of the Foundations (MLIS 7000) and Capstone courses (MLIS 7800).

Total Required for the MLIS Degree:     36 hrs

 

Optional Areas of Interest:

The MLIS Program has organized its elective courses into areas of interest to reflect the skills needed in a variety of professional areas of practice. These areas of interest include Cataloging & Classification, Library Management, Reference Sources & Services, Technology, Youth Services, and Special Libraries, Archives or Conservation Librarianship. The MLIS faculty have established lists of courses (below) that support each interest area. These lists can be used as a starting point for constructing your program of study and adapted to meet your individual interests, experiences or expertise, or areas where you want to enhance current or develop new areas of expertise.  

Courses that may be of interest include:

Code Title Hours
MLIS 7300 Organization of Information 3 
MLIS 7310 Introduction to Metadata for Catalogers 3
MLIS 7330 Metadata and Advanced Cataloging 3
MLIS 7355 Cataloging and Classification 3
MLIS 7360 Indexing, Abstracting, and Thesaurus Construction 3

Courses that may be of interest include:

Code Title Hours
MLIS 7200 Management of Libraries and Information Centers 3
MLIS 7210 Academic Libraries 3
MLIS 7220 Public Libraries 3
MLIS 7222 Adult Services in Public Libraries 3
MLIS 7230  Special Libraries and Information Centers 3
MLIS 7240 Marketing Library Services 3
MLIS 7250 Human Resources Management 3
MLIS 7260 Leadership in Libraries and Information Centers 3
MLIS 7280 Community Building 3
MLIS 7290 Project Management for Libraries 3

Courses that may be of interest include:

Code Title Hours
MLIS 7100 Information Sources and Services 3
MLIS 7110 Online Searching 3
MLIS 7120 Government Information Sources 3
MLIS 7125 Genealogy for Librarians 3
MLIS 7140 Advanced Reference 3
MLIS 7180 Library Services for Users with Disabilities 3
MLIS 7430 Information Literacy Instruction 3

Courses that may be of interest include:

Code Title Hours
MLIS 7330 Metadata and Advanced Cataloging 3
MLIS 7440 Electronic Resources in Libraries 3
MLIS 7510 Essential Technologies in Libraries 3
MLIS 7520 Database Design for Information Professionals 3
MLIS 7540 Integrated Library Management Systems 3
MLIS 7570 Information Architecture 3
MLIS 7580 Digital Libraries 3

Courses that may be of interest include:​

Code Title Hours
MLIS 7220 Public Libraries 3
MLIS 7420 Literature for Children 3
MLIS 7421 Multicultural Youth Literature 3
MLIS 7422 Programming for Children and Young Teens 3
MLIS 7423 Literature for Young Adults 3
MLIS 7425 Youth Electronic Resources 3

Courses that may be of interest include:​

Code Title Hours
MLIS 7230 Special Libraries and Information Centers 3
MLIS 7310 Introduction to Metadata for Catalogers 3
MLIS 7330 Advanced Metadata 3
MLIS 7520 Database Design for Information Professionals 3
MLIS 7570 Information Architecture 3
MLIS 7710 Archival Theory and Issues 3
MLIS 7730 Preservation Management 3
MLIS 7740 Rare Book Librarianship 3

Program of Study - MLIS (prior to Fall 2025)

Core Courses:        18 hrs                                                  

  • MLIS 7000 Foundations of Library and Information Science
  • MLIS 7100 Information Sources and Services
  • MLIS 7200 Management of Libraries and Information Centers
  • MLIS 7300 Organization of Information
  • MLIS 7700 Research Methods
  • MLIS 7800 Capstone Course
  • Collection Development (Effective Fall 2020 any one of the following five courses will meet this requirement):
    • MLIS 7400 Collection Development
    • MLIS 7420 Literature for Children
    • MLIS 7421 Multicultural Youth Literature
    • MLIS 7423, Literature for Young Adults
    • MLIS 7440 Electronic Resources in Libraries.

All core courses are offered every academic year.

Elective Courses:      21 hrs                                               

  • Elective courses are typically offered at least every other year.
  • Portfolio requirement - The MLIS Program requires its students to develop and maintain a portfolio. It is incorporated as an integral part of the Foundations (MLIS 7000) and Capstone courses (MLIS 7800).

Total Required for the MLIS Degree:     39 hrs