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Dean of the School: John Unsworth
501 East Daniel Street, Champaign, IL 61820-6211
(217) 333-7197, (800) 982-0914 (within the U.S.)
E-mail: gslis@alexia.lis.uiuc.edu
Graduate Degree Programs
The Graduate School of Library and Information Science offers programs
of study leading to the master of science, the certificate of advanced
study, and the doctor of philosophy degrees. The master of science
degree program prepares men and women for professional careers in
all types of information organizations, including libraries. The certificate
of advanced study program provides the opportunity (1) to study an
aspect of library and information science in greater depth than is
possible in the master of science program, (2) to refresh and upgrade
one’s professional training several years after completing the
master of science program, or (3) to redirect one’s career into
a different area of library and information science. The doctor of
philosophy is a research degree program.
Admission
Applicants are admitted in the fall, spring, and summer semesters.
The general admission requirements of the Graduate College apply.
Consideration is also given to language study and computer skills,
relevant work experience, letters of reference, and evidence of leadership.
International students must score at least 620 on the paper-based
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) (260 on the computer-based
test). The certificate of advanced study requires a master’s
degree in library and information science from a school with an ALA-accredited
program or a master’s degree in a closely related field and
a grade point average of at least 3.0 (A = 4.0) in the master’s
program. Students may be accepted into the doctor of philosophy program
with a master’s degree in a wide range of fields, as long as
the degree is consistent with the applicant’s goals in the program.
Promising students may also be admitted to the doctoral program without
a master’s degree with the additional requirement that they
complete a preliminary stage of eight units, at least five of which
must be courses offered by the Graduate School of Library and Information
Science, before moving on to the doctoral requirements.
Graduate Teaching Experience
Although teaching is not a general Graduate College requirement, experience
in teaching is considered an important part of the graduate experience
in the Ph.D. program for those interested in faculty careers.
Master of Science
The M.S. degree requires all students to complete 40 graduate hours
of graduate study, including a course on information organization
and access as well as a course on libraries, information, and society.
Two scheduling options are available to students pursuing the M.S.
degree. The On-Campus Option serves students who are in residence
at Urbana-Champaign, as well as part-time,
commuting students who complete their degrees by attending courses
on campus one day per week. The LEEP scheduling option is an online education
option that combines brief periods of on-campus instruction with
instruction using the Internet and other information technologies for delivery.
Students work closely with faculty advisers to select an appropriate
course of study. A thesis is not required but is available as an option.
A minimum of 12 months is required to complete the master’s
degree. Students prepare for careers in all types of information organizations.
Examples of the professional positions they find include: Internet
trainer, webmaster, and knowledge manager, as well as work in electronic
reference, automated systems, cataloging, youth services, school media,
and other positions in public, academic, school, and special libraries.
Certificate of Advanced Study
The certificate is awarded upon completion of 40 graduate hours of
graduate coursework beyond the master’s degree. Of the 40 graduate
hours at least 24, including LIS 593–Certificate of Advanced
Study Project, must be in library and information science. Students
and faculty advisers work closely together in selecting appropriate
courses of study to meet individual needs. A minimum of 12 months is required to
complete the Certificate of Advanced Study program, which may also be completed
through the LEEP online scheduling option.
Doctor of Philosophy
The Ph.D. program consists of the following components: (1) a history and foundation of LIS seminar (4 graduate hours); (2) research methods (8 or more
graduate hours); (3) electives (36 graduate hours); (4) research practicum;
(5) an optional teaching practicum; and (6) thesis (32 or more graduate
hours). Thus, a minimum of 48 graduate hours of graduate coursework
plus 32 graduate hours of thesis credit are required. A minimum of
two years is required to complete the necessary coursework; an additional
year or more, preferably in residence, is required for the thesis.
Research Interests, Facilities, and Resources
Among the major areas of faculty research interest are community information
systems; information in organizations; folklore and fairy tales; reference
and access services; design and evaluation of digital libraries; and
social, public policy, and ethical issues in library and information
services. The school’s Library Research Center engages in applied
and pure research on contract. The Information Systems Research Laboratory supports research into and about the design, impacts, analysis, and evaluation of information technologies, including information and its properties, information services and access, and the creation/management of information content. Information Researchers is a fee-based
information retrieval and analysis service. Prairienet provides a
community information network and Internet access for residents of
East Central Illinois. The Center for Children’s Books provides
a review and research collection of the newest literature for children
and young adults and publishes The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s
Books. The Publications Office publishes the refereed journal, Library
Trends, and a variety of occasional papers and monographs. The staff
of all these units are available to students and faculty for consultation
and guidance. A computer network with Internet connectivity is integral
to teaching and learning activities. The University Library provides
a vast reservoir of resources for all types of study and research
in library and information science.
The school maintains an ongoing commitment to continuing education
through conferences, institutes, workshops, and course offerings through
the Division of Academic Outreach.
Financial Aid
Financial aid may be available from the school, the University Library,
and elsewhere in the University in the form of graduate assistantships, teaching assistantships, research assistantships,
and hourly paid work. Area libraries may provide preprofessional or
hourly positions. Also, the school offers a limited number of fellowships
for which doctoral students tend to be favored over C.A.S. and master’s
degree students.
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