MLIS Academics
The MLIS curriculum is designed to prepare you for a broad array of professional experiences at diverse organizations and companies.
The program is 63 quarter credits, consisting of three elements: core courses, electives, and a final degree project. Program 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.
The MLIS curriculum is grounded in a set of core courses which are designed to give you a broad and solid foundation in important aspects of the library and information science field. Our world-class and diverse faculty has established this core curriculum to provide a conceptual and theoretical base of knowledge on how information is organized, stored, searched, and used, along with important technological, policy, pedagogical, research, management, and design concepts.
Beyond the required core courses, you have a lot of flexibility and the option of designing a program of study specific to your interests and career goals. Elective credits may include advanced LIS courses, other iSchool graduate courses, directed fieldwork, independent study, or relevant upper-level coursework in other academic disciplines.
Following is a list of the core and indication of what is required or not based on entry year into the MLIS program (Residential or Online):
| Required core for AUT 2015 and previous cohorts: | Required core for AUT 2016 cohort: | Required core for AUT 2017 cohort: | |
| LIS 500: The Question of Information | Required | Not offered nor required | Not offered nor required |
| LIS 510: Information Behavior | Required | Required | Choose from LIS 510 or LIS 547 |
| LIS 520: Information Resources, Services and Collections | Required | Required | Required |
| LIS 530: Organization of Information and Resources | Required | Required | Required |
| LIS 550: Information and Society | Required | Required | LIS 550 is not offered; however choose from a menu of courses on social/ethical issues |
| LIS 560: Instructional and Training Strategies for Information Professionals | Required | Required | Elective |
| LIS 570: Research, Assessment and Design | Required | Required | Choose from LIS 570 or an advanced research methods course |
| LIS 580: Management of Information Organizations | Required | Required | Required |
| Information Technology Core Course (one required)* | Choose from LIS 511, LIS 549, LIS 542, LIS 543, LIS 544, IMT 546, IMT 547, LIS 572, or IMT 573. | Choose from LIS 511, LIS 549, LIS 542, LIS 543, LIS 544, IMT 546, IMT 547, LIS 572, or IMT 573. | Choose from LIS 511, LIS 549, LIS 542, LIS 543, LIS 544, IMT 546, IMT 547, LIS 572, or IMT 573. |
| LIS 596 & 597: Capstone I and II | Required | Required | Required |
*Any iSchool course with the same title but different course designations (e.g. INFX 511/LIS 511/IMT 511) can be used to meet degree requirements.