Library and Information Science - M.L.I.S. Download to print

The Master of Library and Information Science prepares students for professional positions in academic, public, special, school libraries, museums and other types of information agencies. Graduates with the M.L.I.S. degree can also find jobs in cultural organizations and companies of all sorts and sizes. Many M.L.I.S. graduates go on to positions in other areas of the information field besides libraries – in research, for example, or publishing, information management, competitive business intelligence and more. The American Library Association has granted continued accreditation to the Kent State M.L.I.S. program for over 50 years. An accredited M.L.I.S. is the basic requirement for professional employment in most libraries and information centers.

The degree program is also available 100 percent online.

The student has the option of taking general electives for the M.L.I.S. or focusing in one or more areas. The School provides Guidesheets to help students select appropriate courses for a variety of areas specialization.

Students interested in School Library Media licensure have three pathways: M.L.I.S. degree with K-12 School Library Media Licensure, Dual Degree M.Ed./ M.L.I.S. degrees with K-12 School Library Media Licensure, or K-12 School Library Media Licensure only. The K-12 School Library media Licensure only program prepares graduates to work in school libraries only, leads to a multi-age licensure in school library media, and includes library science and instructional technology courses. In addition, they must successfully complete the exam for Library Media Specialists, administered by the Evaluation Systems Group of Pearson.

Also, for a number of M.L.I.S. degree options, a sequence of required courses provides training in the theory and practice in the following:

• The Masters of Library and Information Science (M.L.I.S. + K-12 School Library Media Licensure prepares graduates to work in all types of libraries including school libraries, leads to the M.L.I.S. + multi-age licensure in school library media, and includes library science and instructional technology courses within the College of Education, Health and Human Services.
   
• The Dual Degree Master of Education (M.Ed.) and M.L.I.S. + K-12 School Library Media Licensure prepares graduates to work in all types of libraries, including school libraries, and confers initial teaching license.  The program leads to the M.Ed. and M.L.I.S. + multi-licensure in school library media, is offered in cooperation with the College of Education, Health, and Human Services, and includes professional educational requirements, as well as library science and instructional technology courses.
   
• The Dual Master of Library and Information Science (M.L.I.S.) and Master of Science in Information Architecture and Knowledge Management (M.S.-I.A.K.M.) provides an opportunity to students to combine skills required by all professional positions in all types of libraries and technology skills that will allow them to secure jobs in libraries, information centers, businesses, a variety of companies, and cultural heritage organizations. The M.L.I.S. degree is an American Library Association-accredited degree, a basic requirement for most library professional positions. Students may choose to concentrate their M.S.-I.A.K.M. program of study on health informatics (HI), knowledge management (KM), or user experience design (UXD).

Official transcript(s), three letters of recommendation, GRE if GPA is below 3.0 in highest completed degree, TOEFL for international students, goal statement and biographical sketch. Prospective students should complete the application process no later than September 15 for spring admission, January 15 for summer admission and March 15 for fall admission. For further details on admission procedures and deadlines, prospective students should consult the school's web site. Please refer to the University policy for graduate admissions.
 

The Master of Library and Information Science degree requires a minimum of 37 hours.

Licensure Requirement (not required for graduation):
Candidates seeking Ohio licensure are required to pass specific assessments in order to apply for licensure. Students should consult their advisors for specific program requirements and refer to the See Ohio Department of Education-Educator Preparation website for more information on assessments specific to licensure type.

Graduates of this program will be able to:

1. Demonstrate critical thinking skills to identify, assess and respond to future trends with innovative approaches.

2. Identify and assess information needs and behaviors and the application to library and other information communities.

3. Analyze and engage in the changing cultural, educational, and social roles and responsibilities of librarians and information professionals, and the place of the library and other information agencies in a global society.

4. Identify, select, acquire, organize, process, and provide access to information resources for libraries and other information agencies. (Collection)

5. Evaluate and effectively utilize general and specialized information sources and tools for provision of services for diverse service communities. (Services)

6. Identify and assess information needs and behaviors and the application to library and other information communities.

7. Describe and apply basic management and leadership principles in library and other information agencies.

8. Describe, assess and implement technology solutions for serving the current and future information needs of diverse communities.

9. Identify, analyze, evaluate and conduct research in the field of library and information science and other fields and apply findings to the solution of problems in the profession.

14. Articulate the role and importance of advocacy for libraries and other information agencies.

Students must choose between a 3-hour culminating experience (LIS 60670) or a 6-hour master’s thesis to meet degree requirements.

American Library Association