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Degree Requirements (36 Hours)

For the M.L.I.S. degree, an approved program of at least 36 semester hours of graduate course work must be completed with a minimum grade point average of 3.00 (B) overall and on all 700-800 level courses. No student who receives a grade below B on more than six hours of work may continue in the program. Any grade of U or F dismisses the student from the program.

Additionally, Graduate School policy states that graduate students whose cumulative grade point average (GPA) drops below 3.00 (B) will be placed on academic probation and allowed one calendar year in which to raise the GPA to at least 3.00. Students who do not reach a cumulative 3.00 GPA during this grace period will not be permitted to enroll for further graduate work.

Nine hours of required courses (SLIS 701 , and usually SLIS 705  and SLIS 707 ) are designed to provide the student with an understanding of the information professions. SLIS 701  is required of all students. Students who have prior course work or experience in library or information science may apply to exempt from SLIS 705 and/or SLIS 707. If successful, the student will replace required courses with an equal number of elective courses. Exemption from required courses does not reduce the length of the program.

Students and their advisors will choose a minimum of 27 hours of elective courses. Elective courses in the School of Library and Information Science and/or graduate departments in other institutions may be used to develop a specialization in one or more areas or to provide a broad, general preparation for the information professions.

A minimum of 24 graduate hours must be completed within the school. Students may transfer up to six semester hours of graduate course work from colleges or universities other than the University of South Carolina. Courses that will be more than six years old at the time the M.L.I.S. degree is awarded may not be included in the program.

In partial fulfillment of the requirements for graduation, each student will submit an electronic portfolio via Content Collection in Blackboard documenting learning and professional growth during the MLIS program. The portfolio, to be submitted in the semester prior to the student’s anticipated completion of the program, will include a reflective essay and work samples (including, but not limited to, research papers, projects, and posters; professional briefs; and recorded presentations) which demonstrate evidence of student understanding of the SLIS MLIS competency areas.