The Master of Library and Information Studies (MLIS) degree is a 36-credit-hour program, one of approximately 63 programs in the United States and Canada accredited by the American Library Association and the only ALA-accredited program in the state of Alabama. The degree prepares graduates to work in any type of library setting — public, school (PK-12), academic, or special. The MLIS also equips students for work in archives, information organizations, and in entrepreneurial and research environments, especially those using information technologies and artificial intelligence.
Admissions
Applications are considered holistically, so no single factor determines acceptance to the program. The MLIS program is selective, and does not admit every applicant.
In addition to the minimum Graduate School admission requirements, to be considered for regular admission an application must include:
- Three (3) letters of recommendation; for applicants who have been in school in the last 5 years, at least two (2) letters must be academic references.
Students who do not meet these requirements, but who excel in other areas, may be considered for "Admission with Permission to Continue."
For admission to the Class A School Library Media program, applicants must have
- a valid bachelor’s level or valid master’s level professional educator certificate in a teaching field or a valid master’s level professional educator certificate in another area of instructional support and
- two full years of full-time professional educational work experience in P-12 school system(s)
Also, applicants to the Class A program must have a criminal history background check as required by the Alabama Department of Education.
Applicants with out-of-state licensure who are employed or seeking employment in another state are responsible for knowledge about professional licensure requirements in the prospective states. An applicant with out-of-state licensure who intends to apply for Alabama certification must first apply for the prerequisite certification in Alabama before applying for Class A School Library Media certification in Alabama.
Non-degree Admission Requirements
An applicant may be admitted as a non-degree student if the applicant has either a 3.0 undergraduate GPA or a 3.0 graduate GPA. No more than 12 hours may be taken as a nondegree-seeking student and applied to a degree.
See the Admission Criteria section of this catalog for more information.
Curricular Requirements
Candidates for the MLIS degree must earn a minimum of 36 semester hours of credit from courses the School of Library and Information Studies (SLIS). Courses offered by the College of Communication and Information Sciences, as well as those in other University of Alabama academic units outside SLIS, can be taken on approval by a student's academic advisor. No more than six hours of courses can be taken outside of SLIS. All work must be completed with a grade average of "B" or better. A comprehensive portfolio comprised of course assignments reflecting program learning outcomes is required of all students. All MLIS students must complete, as part of the minimum 36 hours, the following 9 hours of required courses:
| Core Requirements | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| LS 500 | Info Sci & Tech | 3 |
| LS 501 | Information in Communities | 3 |
| LS 513 | Professional Paths | 3 |
| Total Hours | 9 | |
Students may take many pathways to the completion of the MLIS program and should work in conjunction with their assigned academic advisors in the construction of their program. Class A School Library-Media Certification or Archival Studies Concentration may be pursued. In addition, there are informal areas of emphasis offered in Academic Libraries, Digital Stewardship, Information Literacy, Public Libraries, Special Libraries, Social Justice & Inclusivity, and Youth Services.
Areas of Emphasis
| Academic Libraries | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| Management Elective | ||
| LS 531 | Academic Libraries | 3 |
| User Services Electives | ||
| LS 507 | User Ctr Info Services | 3 |
| LS 512 | Info Resources:Science | 3 |
| LS 527 | Info Lit. Instruct. | 3 |
| LS 567 | Digital Reference | 3 |
| LS 580 | Outreach to Diverse Population | 3 |
| Technical Services Electives | ||
| LS 505 | Collection Development | 3 |
| LS 506 | Cataloging and Classification | 3 |
| LS 566 | Metadata Fundamentals | 3 |
| Technology Services Electives | ||
| LS 524 | Project Management | 3 |
| LS 581 | Universal Access (Management/Administration) | 3 |
| Other Electives | ||
| LS 570 | Internship | 1 to 3 |
| Digital Stewardship | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| LS 508 | Management Theory and Practice | 3 |
| LS 524 | Project Management | 3 |
| LS 551 | AV Collections Management | 3 |
| LS 552 | Digital Preservation | 3 |
| LS 562 | Digital Libraries | 3 |
| LS 563 | Linked Data | 3 |
| LS 566 | Metadata Fundamentals | 3 |
| LS 569 | Database Management | 3 |
| LS 584 | Data Bias | 3 |
| CIS 666 | Information Policy | 3 |
| Public Libraries | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| Management Elective | ||
| LS 530 | Public Libraries | 3 |
| User Services Electives | ||
| LS 507 | User Ctr Info Services | 3 |
| LS 515 | Information Ethics | 3 |
| LS 520 | Early Child Lit & Story Prog | 3 |
| LS 521 | Matl & Serv Children | 3 |
| LS 522 | Matl & Serv YA | 3 |
| LS 523 | Matl Services Adults | 3 |
| LS 541 | Youth Programming | 3 |
| LS 543 | Trad. & Digital Storytelling | 3 |
| LS 580 | Outreach to Diverse Population | 3 |
| Technical Services Electives | ||
| LS 505 | Collection Development | 3 |
| LS 506 | Cataloging and Classification | 3 |
| LS 566 | Metadata Fundamentals | 3 |
| Technology Services Electives | ||
| LS 524 | Project Management | 3 |
| LS 581 | Universal Access | 3 |
| Other Electives | ||
| LS 570 | Internship | 1 to 3 |
| Special Libraries | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| Management Elective | ||
| LS 533 | Spec Libr & Info Centrs | 3 |
| User Services Electives | ||
| LS 512 | Info Resources:Science | 3 |
| LS 515 | Information Ethics | 3 |
| LS 527 | Info Lit. Instruct. | 3 |
| LS 567 | Digital Reference | 3 |
| Technical Services Electives | ||
| LS 505 | Collection Development | 3 |
| LS 506 | Cataloging and Classification | 3 |
| LS 566 | Metadata Fundamentals | 3 |
| Technology Services Electives | ||
| LS 524 | Project Management | 3 |
| LS 581 | Universal Access | 3 |
| Other Electives | ||
| LS 570 | Internship | 1 to 3 |
| Social Justice and Inclusivity | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| LS 570 | Internship | 1 to 3 |
| Archives | ||
| LS 558 | Archival Repres., Access & Use | 3 |
| LS 590 | Issues In Librarianship | 3 |
| Collections | ||
| LS 621 | Intercultural Youth Lit | 3 |
| Community Outreach and Services | ||
| LS 544 | Cultural Div Prog Youth & Fam | 3 |
| LS 580 | Outreach to Diverse Population | 3 |
| Information Technologies | ||
| LS 565 | Social Media and Informatics | 3 |
| LS 581 | Universal Access | 3 |
| LS 583 | Social Aspects of Information | 3 |
| LS 584 | Data Bias | 3 |
| Issues in the Profession | ||
| LS 582 | Race Gender & Sexuality in LIS | 3 |
| CIS 668 | Social Justice & Inclusion | 3 |
| CIS 650 | Seminar in C&IS | 3 |
| Youth Services | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| Management Elective | ||
| LS 530 | Public Libraries | 3 |
| Collection Development and Reader's Advisory | ||
| LS 520 | Early Child Lit & Story Prog | 3 |
| LS 521 | Matl & Serv Children | 3 |
| LS 522 | Matl & Serv YA | 3 |
| LS 620 | Graphic Novels - Youth | 3 |
| Service and Program Planning and Management | ||
| LS 621 | Intercultural Youth Lit | 3 |
| LS 541 | Youth Programming | 3 |
| LS 543 | Trad. & Digital Storytelling | 3 |
| Community Outreach | ||
| LS 580 | Outreach to Diverse Population | 3 |
| LS 544 | Cultural Div Prog Youth & Fam | 3 |
| Other Elective Useful to Youth Librarians | 1 | |
| LS 505 | Collection Development | 3 |
| LS 506 | Cataloging and Classification | 3 |
| LS 507 | User Ctr Info Services | 3 |
| LS 523 | Matl Services Adults | 3 |
| LS 570 | Internship | 1 to 3 |
| Footnotes | |
|---|---|
| 1 | See also School Libraries for information about serving youth in a school library setting. |
| Information Literacy | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| LS 502 | Research Methods | 3 |
| LS 507 | User Ctr Info Services | 3 |
| LS 527 | Info Lit. Instruct. | 3 |
| Reference Specialization Electives | ||
| LS 512 | Info Resources:Science | 3 |
| LS 567 | Digital Reference | 3 |
| Electives for Providing Info Literacy Support to Diverse Populations | ||
| LS 544 | Cultural Div Prog Youth & Fam | 3 |
| LS 565 | Social Media and Informatics | 3 |
| LS 580 | Outreach to Diverse Population | 3 |
| LS 581 | Universal Access | 3 |
| LS 582 | Race Gender & Sexuality in LIS | 3 |
| LS 584 | Data Bias | 3 |
| Digital Literacy Electives | ||
| LS 583 | Social Aspects of Information | 3 |
| Other Relevant Electives | ||
| LS 505 | Collection Development | 3 |
| LS 515 | Information Ethics | 3 |
| LS 566 | Metadata Fundamentals | 3 |
| Management Elective (choose one) | ||
| LS 530 | Public Libraries | 3 |
| LS 531 | Academic Libraries | 3 |
| LS 533 | Spec Libr & Info Centrs | 3 |
School Library Media Concentration (Class A Certification)
For candidates admitted to the Class A Library Media program July 1, 2017, and thereafter, a minimum GPA of 3.25 on all courses in the Alabama State Board of Education approved library media program is required for certification.
Students pursuing Library Media certification should refer to the State-approved program checklist to ensure that requirements are met. In addition to completing an approved program of study, the candidate is required to pass a comprehensive assessment administered by the School of Library and Information Studies (SLIS) and earn a passing score on the Praxis for Library Media Specialist.
If courses equivalent to any of these required courses have been taken previously, substitutions may be made, with the approval of a faculty advisor and the SLIS school library media coordinator.
| MLIS - School Library Media Concentration (Class A Certification) | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| Core | ||
| LS 500 | Info Sci & Tech | 3 |
| LS 501 | Information in Communities | 3 |
| LS 513 | Professional Paths | 3 |
| Credit Hours Subtotal: | 9 | |
| School Library Media Concentration | ||
| LS 504 | Media Prod & Utilization | 3 |
| LS 532 | School Media Centers | 3 |
| LS 542 | Instruct Design & Dev | 3 |
| LS 572 | Intern Sch Media Cntrs | 3 |
| Credit Hours Subtotal: | 12 | |
| Electives | ||
| LS 502 | Research Methods | 3 |
| LS 507 | User Ctr Info Services | 3 |
| LS 520 or | Early Child Lit & Story Prog | 3 |
| LS 521 | Matl & Serv Children | |
| LS 522 | Matl & Serv YA | 3 |
| Ancillary BEF course | 3 | |
| History Of Amer Educn | ||
| Sociology Of Education | ||
| Multicultural Education | ||
| Found Educn Through Film | ||
| Readings In Soc Of Ed | ||
| Critical Race Theory In Educ | ||
| Multicult Soc Ed Leadershp | ||
| Ethics And Education | ||
| Credit Hours Subtotal: | 15 | |
| SPE 500 is required if a special education survey course was not part of the undergraduate program or another graduate program. | 0-3 | |
| Total Hours | 36-39 | |
Archival Studies Concentration
The School of Library & Information Studies at The University of Alabama offers a program of study within the MLIS degree that leads to an ACHE-recognized concentration in Archival Studies. This concentration provides a comprehensive grounding in the academic discipline of archival studies, and an understanding of the theory, art, and practice that informs archival work. Students have the opportunity to develop competencies for work with rare books, manuscripts, traditional records, and digital media.
Graduates of the concentration leave prepared for employment in academic, cultural, public, governmental, and corporate environments. Recent graduates are currently employed at leading institutions, including the Alabama Department of Archives and History (ADAH), the New York State Archives, the University of Washington, Birmingham-Southern College, and Samford University.
In addition to the MLIS requirements, the Archival Studies Concentration requires completion of the following curriculum:
| Archival Studies Concentration Requirements (in addition to MLIS Requirements): | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| LS 555 | Intro Archival Studies | 3 |
| LS 556 | Archival Theory & Practice | 3 |
| LS 557 | Archival Appraisal | 3 |
| LS 558 | Archival Repres., Access & Use | 3 |
| Approved archival studies electives | 6 | |
Transfer Requirements and Credit for Non-Letter Graded Courses
Graduate credit may be transferred from another accredited university or may be elected from the offerings of other departments. Thesis credit cannot be transferred from another university. SLIS Nine-hour Rule: No more than nine hours of credit can be applied toward the MLIS for any combination of graduate courses taken outside SLIS, directed research courses, internships, and thesis credit. These hours may be combined as follows:
Coursework
Six hours of approved credit for graduate work taken outside SLIS and three hours of credit for a directed research course or internship; or:
Six hours of credit for any combination of directed research courses and internships and three hours of approved credit for graduate work taken outside SLIS.
Thesis
Six hours of thesis credit and three hours of credit for directed research course or internship; or:
Six hours of thesis credit and three hours of approved credit for graduate work taken outside SLIS.
More information about transfer requirements can the found from the Graduate School.
Comprehensive Examination/Capstone Requirements
All MLIS students are required to complete a comprehensive portfolio reflecting their learning in relation to the MLIS program learning outcomes. This portfolio is a representation of student growth during their coursework.
Final portfolios include work samples from courses taken throughout the program, and are due during the final semester of coursework. Specific submission deadlines are communicated to students each semester.
Programmatic Learning Outcomes (PLOs) for the MLIS Degree
The programmatic learning outcomes (PLOs) for students enrolled in the MLIS degree are aligned with the American Library Association's Standards for Accreditation. The PLOs are:
(1) Students will have the skills and knowledge to understand the role of technology in library and information services; (2) Students will be able to use evidence to inform library and information practices; (3) Students will be able to critically articulate the philosophy, principles, and ethics of library and information science; and (4) Students will be able to practice principles of social and cultural justice in their preparation for careers in library and information environments.
Plan I: Thesis Option
Candidates for the master’s degree under the thesis plan must earn a minimum of 36 credit hours, including nine hours of required courses, and six hours of thesis credit (LS 599); no more than six hours of thesis credit may be counted toward the degree.
A thesis evidencing research capacity, independent thought, and the ability to interpret materials is required of all master's degree candidates who pursue Plan I: Thesis. The subject chosen must be related to library and information studies and must be approved by the student’s thesis director, the student’s thesis committee, and the SLIS Director.
The thesis committee must include three individuals, including at least two full-time SLIS faculty members, at least one of whom must be a full member of the graduate faculty; a third committee member may be a faculty member from another department of the University, a faculty member from another institution, or a well-qualified practitioner. All committee members must hold appropriate Graduate Faculty status.
The student must obtain committee approval for a prospectus for the thesis project prior to enrolling in thesis credit; a formal defense of the prospectus will constitute the final examination for the MLIS degree.
The candidate must give members of the examining committee a minimum of two weeks to read the thesis before the date of the final oral examination. A final oral examination is required of all students completing a thesis. All members of the thesis committee must be members of the UA graduate faculty and must attend the final oral examination unless there are extraordinary circumstances warranting the graduate dean's approval of the absence prior to the defense meeting. The thesis defense shall be made orally before the student’s thesis committee and will be open to the public.
Theses must comply with the regulations set out in A Student Guide to Preparing Electronic Theses and Dissertations, available on the Graduate School's website. Approval of the thesis by the graduate dean is necessary before graduation.
The thesis should be completed, if possible, while the student is in residence at the University. To request permission to complete a thesis in absentia, the student must, before leaving the University, submit a satisfactory outline of the thesis, as well as evidence that adequate facilities are available where the work will be done, to the head of the student's major department.
Protection of Human Subjects for Research
Scientific research involving human subjects has produced substantial benefits for society, but it also has posed troubling ethical questions. The mission of the University's Institutional Review Board (IRB) for Protection of Human Subjects is to ensure that research involving human subjects is conducted ethically. University and federal policies require that review and approval to use human subjects in research precede the research. In the case of thesis research that involves the use of human subjects, the principal investigator – normally the student – is responsible for contacting the college's Human Research Review Committee to obtain approval for the planned research. Both the student and the thesis chair are responsible for completing IRB training.
Plan II: Non-Thesis Option
Candidates for MLIS degree under the non-thesis plan must earn a minimum of 36 credit hours, including nine hours of required courses, from the School of Library and Information Studies (SLIS). Courses offered by the College of Communication and Information Sciences, as well as those in other University of Alabama academic units outside SLIS, can be taken on approval by a student's academic advisor. No more than six hours of courses can be taken outside of SLIS. All work must be completed with a grade average of "B" or better. A comprehensive portfolio comprised of course assignments reflecting program learning outcomes is required of all students.
Time Limits for Degree Completion Requirements
All requirements for the master's degree must be completed during the six years (18 consecutive semesters) immediately preceding the date on which the degree is to be awarded. Additional information about time limits for degree completion for Masters programs is available at the Graduate School.
Student Progress Requirement
All graduate students must earn and maintain an overall graduate grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or better for all graduate courses undertaken at The University of Alabama. Grades below "C" count in computing the GPA but do not carry credit toward a degree. A graduate student with good academic standing whose GPA drops below 3.0 at any time after earning 12 semester hours will have earned Academic Warning.
Students who have earned academic warning or are in non-degree status may not hold graduate assistantships.
A student placed on Academic Warning has the next 12 hours of graduate work to raise the overall graduate GPA to 3.0 or better. The overall graduate GPA after the next 12 hours following academic warning must be at least 3.0 to avoid Academic Suspension (dismissal) from the Graduate School.
Note that academic dismissal from the department or Graduate School differs from dismissal for academic misconduct. Academic misconduct results in dismissal from the University. The Academic Misconduct policy may be found at the Provost's website.
Additional information about student progress and scholastic requirements is available on the Graduate School website.
Permission to Continue Admission
Under exceptional circumstances, a student may be admitted to the MLIS program if they do not meet the GPA requirement for regular admission (GPA of 3.0). If such an applicant is admitted, they will need to obtain permission to continue in the program after the first 12 semester hours of graduate-level work have been completed. Permission to continue is earned by achieving a GPA of “B” or better (3.0) in the first 12 semester hours. If the 12 hours are completed in a term in which the total credits exceed 12, the evaluation is made on the basis of all graduate-level work completed at the end of that term of enrollment. Once a student has been given the permission to continue they will be evaluated by the same student progress guidelines as regular admission students.
Students admitted under permission to continue designation who do not meet the 3.0 requirement after their first 12 hours of graduate-level work will not receive permission to continue in their graduate program and will be dropped from the program.
Academic Misconduct Information
Student academic misconduct is not permitted. In the event of perceived academic misconduct, the University Academic Misconduct Policy will be followed. More information is available here.
Withdrawal or Leave of Absence Information
Students who need to withdraw from a course, the university or take a leave of absence should contact their academic advisor and the SLIS director. Additional information is available on the Graduate School website related to withdrawals and leaves of absence.
Academic Grievances Information
Academic grievances are addressed according to the "University-Wide Academic Grievance Procedures" outlined in the University of Alabama Faculty Handbook.
Grades and Academic Standing
See here for Graduate School Policy information.
Graduate School Deadlines Information
The University of Alabama Graduate School keeps a calendar of specific student deadlines available on the Graduate School website.
Application for Graduation Information
Once requirements for the degree are completed, each candidate for a master's degree must apply for graduation through the Office of the Graduate School prior to the deadline posted each semester on the University of Alabama's Registrar Academic Calendar. The form "Application for Degree" is required for this purpose, and must be completed online via mybama.