Tracks & Joint Degrees

Program of Study

The MLIS degree calls for 14 courses, eight of which are required courses. No more than six hours of field experience credit may be applied toward the degree. No more than six hours of directed independent study credit may be applied toward the degree. Major professors will assist students in developing an individual program of study.

Required Courses & Specializations Details

Please refer to the list of Required Courses & Specializations Details

Tracks

  1. Academic Libraries
  2. Archives Management
  3. Collection Management
  4. Electronic Information Retrieval
  5. Information Systems Analysis
  6. Public Libraries
  7. Special Libraries and Information Centers
  8. Technical Processes
  9. Youth Services
  10. Health Sciences Information Centers
  11. School Library Certification
  12. Library and Information Science/ Systems Science Joint Degree

Academic Libraries

Academic librarianship is a dynamic, evolving profession devoted to meeting the information needs of college students, faculty and researchers. LIS 7401, Academic Libraries, is the basic course in this area. Supporting courses include LIS 7410, Digital Libraries; LIS 7502, Networks for Information Centers; LIS 7607, Electronic Information Sources; LIS 7608, Cataloging and Classification; LIS 7807, Information Literacy Instruction; and LIS 7809, Research in Library & Information Science. Students will also be advised to take at least one resources course such as LIS, 7200, Resources for the Humanities; LIS 7201, Resources for the Social Sciences; LIS 7202, Resources for Science and Technology; LIS 7203, Sources of Government Information, or LIS 7205, Business Information Resources. The academic course work is enhanced by LIS 7904, Field Experience in Academic Libraries, which provides pre professional experience in an academic setting. Return to List

Archives Management

With a track in archives management, you can become a guardian of historical records in universities, museums, governments at all levels, corporations, and a wide variety of libraries and historical societies. Classes include LIS 7408, Introduction to Archives Management, LIS 7603, Electronic Description of Archival Materials, LIS 7504, Preservation Management of Physical Records; LIS 7410, Digital Libraries, and LIS 7913, Field Experience in Archives. Return to List

Collection Management

Collection management specialists are required in libraries of all types to manage an ever increasing variety of materials. The basic course for this area is LIS 7003, Principles of Collection Management. This is supported by LIS 7106, Advanced Topics in Collection Management. Students should take at least one resource course such as LIS, 7200, Resources for the Humanities; LIS 7201, Resources for the Social Sciences; LIS 7202, Resources for Science and Technology; LIS 7203, Sources of Government Information, or LIS 7205, Business Information Resources. Field experience, focusing in an area of collection management, is recommended. Return to List

Electronic Information Retrieval

proliferation of electronic information retrieval systems in libraries and information centers requires experts to evaluate, implement, and maintain such services.

Suggested courses include LIS 7501, Management of Information Systems; LIS 7502, Networks for Information Centers; LIS 7605, Information Science; LIS 7606, Abstracting and Indexing; LIS 7607, Electronic Information Resources; LIS 7610jCSC 7481, Information Retrieval Systems; CSC 4402, Introduction to Database Management Systems; and CSC 7402, Database Management Systems. Return to List

Information Systems Analysis

The automation of libraries and information services requires the application of a process of structured analysis, which ultimately leads to the successful implementation of advanced information systems. Information Systems Analysis allows the student to focus on this concentration area. Specific courses related to this track are LIS 7402, Cooperatives, Consortia and Networks; LIS 7501, Management of Information Systems; LIS 7502, Networks for Information Centers; ISDS 4020, Operations Research for Managers; ISDS 4021, Foundations of Mathematical Programming; ISDS 7530, Information Systems Analysis and Design I; ISDS 7531, Information Systems Analysis and Design II; CSC 4330, Software Systems Development; and CSC 7500, Systems Modeling and Computer Simulation. Return to List

Public Libraries

Public library careers offer a wide variety of work tracks and professional development opportunities. In addition to specific course work related to public libraries, such as LIS 7405, Public Libraries, students are encouraged to specialize in a specific area of work within the library by taking LIS 7101, Media and Services for Children; LIS 7102, Media and Services for Young Adults; LIS 7103, Media and Services for Young Adolescents; LIS 7905, Field Experience in Public Libraries; PADM 7912, Public Personnel Policy; and PADM 7914, Public Budgeting. Return to List

Special Libraries and Information Centers

Special librarianship encompasses a broad array of careers in medical, science, legal and business institutions. A specific course for this area is LIS 7403, Special Libraries and Information Centers. Appropriate electives may include LIS 7604, Principles of Records Management and LIS 7903, Field Experience in Special Libraries and Information Centers, or special topics such as LIS 7910, Knowledge Management. Return to List

Technical Processes

Technical processes include the acquisition, organizing, and preparation for use of library resources. Elective courses in the areas of library technical processes include LIS 7003, Principles of Collection Management; LIS 7608, Cataloging and Classification; LIS 7609, Seminar on Cataloging and Classification; and LIS 7106, Advanced Topics in Collection Management. Additionally, CSC 4402, Introduction to Database Management Systems is strongly recommended for new technical services practitioners. Return to List

Youth Services

Youth services librarians in public libraries develop collections and provide programming and reference services for children from birth through age 10, tweens from ages 11 through 14, and/or teens from ages 15 to 18. They often manage their own departments and staff, as well as their own collections and budgets. In addition to the required courses, the foundation for youth services in public libraries is laid in 7405 Public Libraries and 7101 Media and Services for Children or 7102 Media and Services for Young Adults. Additional courses include 7105 Graphic Novels in Libraries, 7800 The Art and Practice of Storytelling, 7807 Information Literacy Instruction, 7900 Field Experience in Library and Information Services, and 7910-7912 when the topic is appropriate. Appropriate courses in child or adolescent development are recommended for those who lack a background in those areas. Return to List

Health Sciences Information Centers

Preparation for careers in medical, hospital, and allied health facilities is provided through courses dealing with health information resources and health information centers. Students will want to take LIS 7404, Health Sciences Information Centers, as well as one or more of the following: LIS 7202, Resources for Science & Technology; LIS 7403, Special Libraries and Information Centers; and LIS 7906, Field Experience in Health Sciences Libraries and Information Centers. Return to List

School Library Certification

If you hold a valid teacher's certificate, you may add school library certification by completing a program of study in graduate library and information science including elementary and/or secondary library materials organization, administration and interpretation of elementary and/or secondary library service, and elementary and/or secondary school library practice. This plan is recognized by the LSU College of Education and the Louisiana Department of Education. The following courses meet Louisiana school library certification requirements.

  1. Category 1- Elementary and/or Secondary School Library Materials
    Nine semester hours
    Students take 7002 and two courses selected from: 7101, 7102, 7105, 7406, 7800, 7801, 7911, 7912.
  2. Category 2- Organization, Administration, and Interpretation of Elementary and/or Secondary School Library Service
    Six semester hours
    Students take 7400 and either 7012 OR 7608.
  3. Category 3- Elementary and/or Secondary School Library Practice
    Three semester hours
    Students take LIS 7902.

Students who do not have a valid teacher’s certificate may be certified by completing the MLIS and passing the school library portion of the Praxis examination.

For further information on certification contact Dr. Beth Paskoff, LSU School of Library & Information Science, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803 (bpaskoff@lsu.edu). Return to List

Library and Information Science/ Systems Science Joint Degree

To meet the growing demand for information professionals with backgrounds in library science and computer science, a joint degree program has been implemented. This program prepares information professionals knowledgeable in systems and computer applications in such core topics as control. Return to List