Curriculum

The MLIS program consists of 63 quarter credits, consisting of nine core courses, electives, and a culminating experience.  The core courses rely heavily on theory, and students should expect a broad overview of library and information science as they progress through these core courses.  The electives allow opportunities for specialization and emphasis. MLIS requirements are the same for students in the Residential MLIS and Online MLIS programs. Law MLIS students should refer to their specific requirements, which differ.  All requirements for a graduate degree must be completed within six years.

Core Curriculum

The core curriculum required of all MLIS students totals 33 credits, made up of nine courses which are organized around the life cycle of information. This organizing framework examines the life cycle of knowledge, leading from creation and publication of information through evaluation, selection, organization, retrieval, access and use in the creation of new knowledge.

This framework serves two important purposes. It provides an overall conceptual and theoretical structure which acts as a foundation for later coursework and experiences, and it organizes the core curriculum in terms of order and coherence of courses and topics. Courses in the core cover the following topics:

  • LIS 500 The Life Cycle of Information (2 credits)
  • LIS 510 Information Behavior (4)
  • LIS 520 Information Resources, Services and Collections (4)
  • LIS 530 Organization of Information and Resources (4)
  • LIS 550 Information in Social Context (4)
  • LIS 560 Instructional and Training Strategies for Information Professionals (3)
  • LIS 570 Research Methods (4)
  • LIS 580 Management of Information Organizations (4)
  • One 4-credit Information Technology Core Course which you can choose from a menu of options such as information retrieval, XML, conceptual database design, and network system administration. (4)  Click here for more information.

Course descriptions may be found in the UW Course Catalog.

Electives

Beyond the required core courses, students have the option of crafting a program of study specific to their interests and career goals. MLIS course electives include, among others, organization of information; information systems; resources and services; and children, young adult, and school library services and resources. Students complete a minimum of 30 credits of electives, which includes advanced LIS and INFX courses, Directed Fieldwork (LIS 590), Independent Study (LIS 600), or relevant upper level coursework in other academic disciplines.

Culminating Experience 

MLIS students are provided with a range of options for completing the required Culminating Experience (CE) for completion of the MLIS degree, including a Professional Portfolio, Capstone, Research Project, or Thesis. Students may choose one Culminating Experience option to begin pursuing after completion of 30 credits in the MLIS program.  Click here to learn more about these options.

Directed Fieldwork

Directed Fieldwork (LIS 590) historically has been one of the iSchool’s most popular courses. It is an elective course designed to provide students with an opportunity to work in an information environment under the supervision of an experienced professional mentor. During a fieldwork placement, the student works to meet meaningful learning objectives that have been mutually defined by student and supervisor. The range of settings and opportunities has expanded dramatically in recent years and includes wide-ranging options from archives to corporate libraries, from reference and technical services to database development, and from web design to working with children and youth. For more information, see Directed Fieldwork for MLIS Students.