Master of Library and Information Science

Accredited by the American Library Association since 1967, the Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS) degree prepares professionals for leadership roles in libraries and other information organizations. By emphasizing the practical application of knowledge and skills, we educate students in the core principles of librarianship - information access, organization, services and management - as well as emerging fields incorporating electronic media such as digital collections, competitive intelligence, information architecture and website development.

The MLIS degree requires a minimum of 36 graduate level credits distributed as follows: 18 credit hours in the Library and Information Science professional core and a minimum of 18 credit hours in an area of professional specialization. A maximum of 6 credit hours in courses outside SLIS may be accepted as cognates.

The MLIS degree is available online and on-campus. On-campus students should expect to take at least one class online (LIS 6080). On-campus classes may also be held at the WSU Oakland Center. Depending on what specialization a student pursues and the flexibility of their schedule, it is likely that on-campus students will take a number of online classes during their MLIS program.