School of Library & Information Science

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, in face-to-face classes at LSU, or in a combination of both formats. 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.

Students will select one of three specializations focusing on libraries, archives, or information management. Within the libraries specialization, the School of Library & Information Science prepares students for a wide variety of careers within academic libraries, business libraries, digital libraries, law libraries, medical libraries, public libraries, school libraries, and technical and youth services within those types of libraries. The archives specialization prepares students for careers in institutional, private, and government archives. Information managers may find careers in libraries and archives as well as in government agencies and corporations.

All students take a common core of courses including:

• LIS 7004 Principles of Management for Librarians and Information Specialists (3)
   
• LIS 7008 Information Technologies (3)
   
• LIS 7011 Information Needs Analysis (3)
   
• LIS 7013 Evaluation of Information Systems (3)
   
• LIS 7901 Issues in Archives, Library, and Information Science (1)
   

Additional courses are required within each specialization and, with the advice of their major professors, students in each specialization also select additional elective courses to complete their degree requirements.

All MLIS students, regardless of specialization, must meet the following degree requirements:

• satisfactory completion of a minimum of 40 semester hours (see the “The Graduate School ” for rules on transfer credit);
• successful performance on a written comprehensive final examination;
• completion of the degree program in five  years. (Credit for individual courses taken more than five years before the completion of the program may be validated with the permission of the instructor of the course and the dean, and with approval of the dean of the Graduate School. Requirements for so doing are set in SLIS PS14.)