Mar 29, 2024  
2016-2017 General Catalog 
    
2016-2017 General Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

School of Library & Information Science


OFFICE 267 Coates Hall
TELEPHONE 225-578-3158
FAX 225-578-4581
WEBSITE www.slis.lsu.edu

For more information regarding the GRADUATE PROGRAM, click here.  

The School of Library & Information Science offers the Master of Library & Information Science degree (MLIS) which provides education for careers in all types of libraries (including school, public, academic, digital, medical, and law libraries), archives, and information centers. Students may complete the degree online or in a combination of online and face-to-face classes. The MLIS degree is accredited by the American Library Association. It is the only accredited MLIS degree in Louisiana.

A broad general education is the best preparation for library and information science. Undergraduates are advised to develop strong subject emphases in the areas of their special interests and abilities, since every field of knowledge is useful in the information professions. The school does not require a foreign language for admission; however, course work in one or more foreign languages is advisable for those who expect to prepare for careers in research or technical libraries. Students who expect to become librarians in elementary or secondary schools should plan their undergraduate programs with state teacher certification requirements in mind.

Students working toward the master’s degree are enrolled in the Graduate School; therefore, applicants must meet the general Graduate School requirements in addition to the School of Library & Information Science requirements. Admission will be based on the candidate’s scholastic record and aptitude for a career in the information professions.

All students take a common core of courses:

In consultation with their advisors, students will select additional elective courses to complete their degree requirements.

All MLIS students must meet the following degree requirements:

  • satisfactory completion of a minimum of 36 semester hours (21 hours of core courses, and 15 hours of elective courses);
  • completion of the degree program in five years. Credit for individual courses taken more than five years before the completion of the program may, in some cases, be validated. Requirements for so doing are set in SLIS PS14. The school will not validate courses taught by another faculty, either within or outside of the LSU System.