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Certificate Requirements

The certificate program consists of 18 credit hours of required and elective course work in a specific area of library and information science. A student may pursue the certificate simultaneously with the M.L.I.S. or following completion of the M.L.I.S. School of Library and Information Science students who are admitted to the certificate program prior to completion of the M.L.I.S. are allowed to use 6 hours of M.L.I.S. credit toward the certificate provided the 6 hours are related to the proposed area of specialization for the certificate. If there is a lapse of time between completion of the M.L.I.S. and enrollment in the certificate program or if the student is a graduate of another ALA-accredited master’s program, 18 hours of course work will be required to earn the certificate. Courses that will be more than four years old at the time the certificate will be awarded may not be included in the program of study.

Students must complete a minimum of 3 credit hours of internship (SLIS 794 ) and an additional nine or 15 credit hours, depending upon whether admission was prior to or following completion of the M.L.I.S. degree. Students may choose their elective courses in library and information science or a related discipline after consultation with an academic advisor. Each student’s program of study will be tailored according to prior course work and the student’s professional objectives.

The student will apply for and be awarded the M.L.I.S. degree upon completion of the 36 hours required for that degree. Subsequently the student will be awarded the Certificate of Graduate Study in Library and Information Science upon completion of the additional 12-18 hours as specified above.