Online Master of Library and Information Science

Total credit hours per program: 36 credit hours

Cost per credit hour: $485

Total cost with fees: $17,460

Cost per credit hour and fees are subject to change. Exact fees may vary by program. Please consult an Enrollment Coach for the final program cost.

Students can select a total of 6 electives (18 credit hours) that best suit their career interests from among the four focused elective groups below. Students may take courses from one area or multiple areas. 

All students must apply through and be admitted by the Graduate School. Students are admitted to the program six times a year. All application materials must be received by the application deadlines. In addition to materials required by the Graduate School, the following materials are required for all students applying to SLIS:

1. A resume that includes all undergraduate and graduate education (regardless of whether a degree was earned), continuing education, and relevant employment and volunteer experience.
2. A Statement of Purpose of at least 1,000 words that answers these three questions:
   • Why do you want to earn a degree?
   • What are your career goals and objectives?
   • How will the degree help you to achieve these goals?

The Graduate School's criteria for unconditional and probationary admission are shown below.

Unconditional Admission:

1. A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
2. A grade-point average of at least 3.0 (“A”= 4.0) on all undergraduate work (or in the final 64 credit hours) and 3.0 on any graduate-level work. Only the graduate GPA will be considered for those who have earned a graduate degree.

Probationary Admission:

1. A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
2. A grade-point average of at least 2.75 (“A”= 4.0) on the final 64 hours (half degree requirement) of undergraduate work and 3.0 on any graduate-level work previously taken. Applicants with a GPA of less than 2.75 for the final 64 hours of undergraduate work must have completed a minimum of nine hours of graduate work with at least a 3.33 GPA for those courses in order to be considered for admission.
3. Official GRE scores (Verbal, Quantitative and Analytical Writing) no more than five years old of at least 300 composite and 3.5 writing. Other standardized graduate admissions exams will be considered (GMAT, MAT, LSAT, etc.).
4. In your Statement of Purpose, you must also address the reasons for your lack of achievement as an undergraduate and the reasons you believe you would succeed in the program.

A broad range of career opportunities are open to graduates of the Online MLIS program. Many graduates go into the field of librarianship, working in public, corporate, academic, and school libraries. But the MLIS degree also gives you the flexibility to explore a variety of careers.

Selected Positions: 

• Acquisitions Librarian
• Children’s Librarian
• Government Documents Librarian
• Law Librarian
• Reference Librarian
• Technical Services Librarian
• Young Adults Librarian
• Bibliographer
• Indexer
• Abstractor
• Archivist
• Processing Archivist
• Manuscript Curator
• Records Analyst
• Records Manager
• Museum Librarian
• Museum Registrar
• Preservationist/Conservator
• Antiquarian Book Specialist
• Genealogical Researcher
• Ontologist
• Taxonomist/Thesaurus Developer
• Metadata Specialist
• Commercial Records Center Manager
• Digital Projects Researcher
• Document Manager/Analyst
• Electronic/Digital Resources Cataloger
• Imaging Specialist
• Micrographics Specialist
• Information Manager
• Information Resource Manager
• Public Records Researcher
• Usability Specialist
• Data Miner
• Reprography Specialist
• Visual Resource Specialist
• Book (or Serials) Vendor Representative
• Grey Literature Specialist
• Hypermedia Products Developer
• Electronic Document Professional
• Forms Management

The online Master of Library and Information Science program is accredited by the American Library Association (ALA). 

Our online MLIS degree offers a solid foundation in information management, organization, and research. Students will be prepared to excel in a diverse range of information science careers. Electives help to further hone students’ skills in a specific area of their choosing.

Students in the Master of Library & Information Science will meet the following learning outcomes:

• Be able to describe and identify political, social, legal, and ethical issues related to the role of information in society. This encompasses information creation, access, and use by individuals and groups in real-world settings.
• Demonstrate an understanding of information technologies. Appropriate information technologies encompass theories and tools in the context of library and information services.
• Critically evaluate and synthesize research literature in LIS and other disciplines.
• Be able to describe and evaluate information services that reflect and respond to the needs of diverse constituencies. Information services include but are not restricted to collection, organization, description, dissemination of information, programming, and outreach.

Why choose LSU’s online Master of Library and Information Science?

Our MLIS is the only ALA-accredited program in Louisiana. It has also maintained accreditation since 1931. For over 90 years, the comprehensive MLIS program has provided students with the knowledge and experience to excel in their careers. Courses are taught by expert faculty, and graduates themselves become respected leaders in the LIS field. Additionally, students also can complete a graduate certificate while they earn their online Master of Library and Information Science.

There are many factors new students should consider when deciding whether to begin their academic degree or certificate program in the summer or during a fall/spring term. Summer modules are shorter (5 weeks) when compared to fall/spring modules (7 weeks). Therefore, a course during a 5-week module requires students to dedicate more time than a 7-week module.

New students that have full-time jobs or family obligations may find it more challenging to begin their degree or certificate program in the summer modules. Graduate School policy requires students maintain a 3.0 GPA or higher to avoid academic probation (“B” or better), and a 2.75 GPA or higher to remain academically eligible. Our online students have told us that summer courses demand they devote more time to their coursework to be successful because of the shorter length of the summer module. Students in summer courses should expect to spend about 25 hours per week on their academic studies.

Online studies provide the flexibility you need to fit your educational goals into your life. Please consider these factors when deciding which start time gives you the best opportunity for a successful beginning to your academic journey.

For more detailed information, you may read the School of Library & Information Science Graduate Student Handbook.