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University of Washington Information School

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Master of Library and Information Science

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MLIS Degree Planning

  1. Programs
  2. MLIS
  3. Academics
  4. Degree Planning

I am the iSchool

Eve Kausch: Eve Kausch, MLIS: "I am excited by the possibilities that information organization creates and how interdisciplinary the information field is." Read more.

Degree requirements and planning charts are available for MLIS students based on what year you start the MLIS program. Currently enrolled students should look online at the MLIS Student Resource Center for your specific degree requirements and additional information:

Students starting in 2017 and thereafter will adhere to the requirements below. If you entered the program prior to 2017, please contact your advisor for past degree requirements.

  • Required quarter credits: 63 total credits
  • Pass all required core courses with a 2.7 or higher, or CR grade:
    • Set core:
      • LIS 520, Concepts, Services, and Issues for Information Professionals
      • LIS 530, Organization of Information and Resources
      • LIS 580, Management of Information Organizations
    • You choose:
      • Choose between LIS 510, Information Behavior or LIS 547, Design Methods for Librarianship
      • Choose between LIS 570, Research, Assessment, and Design or an advanced research methods course
      • Choose one from a menu of courses on social/ethical issues:
        • LIS 513, Information and Migration
        • LIS 551, Intellectual Freedom in Libraries
        • LIS 552, Critical and Existential Perspectives on the Information Society
        • LIS 553, Information and Social Justice
        • LIS 556, Information Ownership and Control: Copyright
        • LIS 563, Cultural History of Children's and Young Adult Literature
        • LIS 583, Cross Cultural Approaches to Leadership
      • Choose one from a menu of info tech core courses:
        • LIS 511, Introduction to Programming for Information and Data Science
        • LIS 542, Information Structures Using XML
        • LIS 543, Relational Database Management Systems
        • LIS 544, Information Retrieval Systems
        • LIS 549, Beginning Web Development
        • LIS 572, Introduction to Data Science
        • IMT 546, Data Communications and Networking
        • IMT 547, Social Media Data Mining and Analysis
        • IMT 573, Data Science I: Theoretical Foundations
  • Pass the Capstone course series, earning CR grades in LIS 569 in autumn quarter, LIS 596 in winter quarter and LIS 597 in spring quarter.

Residential MLIS Degree Plan — Current Cohorts

It typically takes two calendar years to complete the Residential MLIS degree. The average course load per quarter is three to four classes (average of 10 credits per quarter).

Quarter 1st Year Residential 2nd Year Residential
Autumn LIS 520 (4)
LIS 570 (4)
Your choice of elective, society core, or info tech core

LIS 569 - Capstone I (1)
Your choice of electives, society core, or info tech core
 

Winter LIS 510 (3) or LIS 547 (4)
LIS 530 (4)
Your choice of elective, society core, or info tech core
LIS 596 – Capstone II (2)
Your choice of electives, society core, or info tech core
 
Spring LIS 580 (4)
Your choice of electives, society core, or info tech core
LIS 597 – Capstone III (2)
Your choice of electives, society core, or info tech core
Summer Optional quarter w/ limited elective course offerings Optional quarter w/ limited elective course offerings

Online MLIS Degree Plan — Current Cohorts

It typically takes three calendar years to complete the Online MLIS degree. The average course load per quarter is two to three classes (average of 8 credits per quarter). Tip: to progress at a faster pace, simply take one extra elective course each quarter, at an average of 10 total credits per quarter.

Quarter 1st Year Online 2nd Year Online* 3rd Year Online
Autumn LIS 520 (4)
LIS 570 (4)
LIS 580 (4)
Your choice of elective, society core, or info tech core
LIS 569 - Capstone I (1)
Your choice of electives, society core, or info tech core
 
Winter LIS 510 (3) or LIS 547 (4)
LIS 530 (4)
Your choice of electives, society core, or info tech core
 
LIS 596 – Capstone II (2)
Your choice of electives, society core, or info tech core
Spring Your choice of electives, society core, or info tech core Your choice of electives, society core, or info tech core LIS 597 – Capstone III (2)
Your choice of electives, society core, or info tech core
Summer Optional quarter w/ limited elective course offerings Optional quarter w/ limited elective course offerings Optional quarter w/ limited elective course offerings

Law Librarianship Degree Plan — Current Cohorts

It typically takes four quarters (one calendar year) to complete the Law Librarianship program. The average course load per quarter is approximately 12 credits per quarter. 

Quarter Law Librarianship  (note all are required in this sequence)
Autumn
  • LIS 520 Concepts, Services, and Issues for Information Professionals (4 credits)
  • LIS 579 Instructional Strategies for Legal Information (3 credits)
  • LIS 592 Legal Research Methods (4 credits)
  • LIS 595 Research and Writing in Law Librarianship (1 credit)
Winter
  • LIS 530 Organization of Information and Resources (4 credits)
  • LIS 547 Design Methods for Librarianship (4 credits)
  • LIS 595 Research and Writing in Law Librarianship (2 credits)
  • Elective
    • LIS 598 Teaching Practicum (3 credits) OR 
    • LIS 545 Data Curation I: Fundamentals (4 credits)
Spring
  • LIS 549 Beginning Web Development (4 credits)
  • LIS 572 Introduction to Data Science (4 credits)
  • LIS 595 Research and Writing in Law Librarianship (1 credit)
  • Elective
    • LIS 556 Information Ownership & Control: Copyright (3 credits) OR
    • LIS 584 Knowledge Management (3 credits)
Summer
  • LIS 590 Directed Fieldwork (3 credits)
  • LIS 594 Management Skills in Law Libraries (3 credits)

School Library Media Endorsement

The SLME is earned after completing three requirements: passing the state's WEST-E exam, completing designated coursework in accordance with Washington state policy, and holding a teaching certification.  Folks frequently gain their teaching certification before entering into the MLIS program or after graduating. The degree plan below meets the coursework guidelines outlined by the state.

Residential MLIS – School Library Media Endorsement Degree Plan

Quarter 1st Year Residential 2nd Year Residential
Autumn LIS 520 (4)
LIS 570 (4)
Your choice of elective, society core, or info tech core
LIS 569 -- Capstone I (1)
LIS 522 (3)
LIS 565 (3) online course
Your choice of elective, society core, or info tech core
Winter LIS 510 (3) or LIS 547 (4)
LIS 530 (4)
Your choice of elective, society core, or info tech core

LIS 596 – Capstone II (2)
LIS 566 (3) online course
LIS 568 (3) online course
Your choice of elective, society core, or info tech core

Spring LIS 580 (4)
LIS 516 (3) online course
Your choice of elective, society core, or info tech core
LIS 597 – Capstone III (2)
Your choice of two electives, society core, or info tech core (6)
Summer Optional quarter w/ limited elective course offerings Optional quarter w/ limited elective course offerings

Online MLIS – School Library Media Endorsement Degree Plan

Quarter 1st Year Online 2nd Year Online* 3rd Year Online
Autumn LIS 520 (4)
LIS 570 (4)
LIS 580 (4)
LIS 565 (3)
LIS 569 -- Capstone I (1)
Your choice of electives, society core, or info tech core
Winter

LIS 510 (3) or LIS 547 (4)
LIS 530 (4)

LIS 566 (3)
LIS 568 (3)
LIS 596 – Capstone II (2)
Your choice of elective, society core, or info tech core
Spring

LIS 516 (3)
Your choice of elective, society core, or info tech core

LIS 522 (3)
Elective (3)
LIS 597 – Capstone III (2)
Your choice of elective (3)
Summer Optional quarter w/ limited elective course offerings Optional quarter w/ limited elective course offerings Optional quarter w/ limited elective course offerings

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News

Two women work on a project.

Summit brings online MSIM students to campus

Monday, March 20, 2023
Journalist and author Mónica Guzman’s advice for Master of Science in Information Management students: “Where you can, welcome disagreement.” She shared those words with dozens of online students March 17 at the opening keynote...
Read more

World struggles to make progress on meaningful access to information

Thursday, March 16, 2023
Information access is a fundamental driver of many of the goals in the United Nations’ 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda, yet many countries are struggling to make progress. A new analysis has found that statistical indicators of...
Read more

Events

Apr 1
 
9:00-2:30PM

WE Rise Annual Conference

Husky Union Building
Apr 3
 
12:30-1:20PM

iSchool Research Symposium: Meredith Broussard

Zoom only
Apr 4
 
12:30-1:00PM

Alternative Summer Plan

Online
Apr 5
 
6:00-7:00PM

MSIM Program Overview

Virtual / Zoom
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Box 352840 - Mary Gates Hall, Ste. 370
Seattle, WA 98195-2840
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