Program Overview
The University of Wisconsin-Madison's M.A. in Library and Information Studies prepares graduates for careers in information services, offering specializations in librarianship, archives, data management, information organization, and user experience design. Students gain hands-on experience through a required field practicum and can pursue optional specializations in strategic innovation, leadership, double degrees, or a School Library Media Specialist License. Graduates are equipped for a wide range of careers in libraries, archives, information management, user experience design, and other fields.
Program Outline
Degree Overview:
The M.A. in Library and Information Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison prepares graduates to develop, provide, and assess information services in a technological and global society. The program offers five broad areas of specialization:
- Librarianship: Graduates work in college and university libraries, public libraries, youth and young adult libraries, electronic collections management, science and health libraries, research data management, and school library media centers.
- Archives in a Digital Age (on-campus program only): Graduates work in digital asset management, digital preservation and curation, digital archives, corporate archives, government archives, special collections, and tribal libraries archives and museums.
- Data/Information Management and Analytics: Graduates work in information analysis and visualization, knowledge management, prospect research, systems analysis, digital asset management, data and information governance, records management and compliance, research data management, and project management.
- Organization of Information: Graduates work in metadata management, taxonomy and ontology development and implementation, digital asset management, cataloging, XML and linked data, and database management.
- User Experience Design and Information Technologies: Graduates work in user experience design, interaction design, systems analysis and project management, IT training, educational technology support, digital asset management and curation, content management, and database development and management. Full-time students typically complete the program in two academic years with summer work, while part-time students complete it in three to four years. All students gain hands-on experience through a required field practicum, which can be tailored to their career goals.
Optional Specializations:
In addition to the five core areas of specialization, the Information School offers several optional specializations:
- Business School Graduate/Professional Certificate in Strategic Innovation: Students can earn this specialization in conjunction with the school's graduate/professional certificate in strategic innovation (on-campus program only).
- Certificate in Leadership: iSchool students can earn the UW–Madison Certificate in Leadership as part of their M.A. degree (on-campus and online programs).
- Double degrees: The iSchool offers double degrees with the UW Law School, the School of Music, and the Department of Art History. These require separate admissions and additional coursework (on-campus program only).
- School Library Media Specialist License: The School Library Media Specialist License in the State of Wisconsin is a stand-alone teaching license. The iSchool M.A. program can be modified to provide candidates with the educational requirements for the license, which can be taken in addition to the M.A. courses. Candidates already holding a valid Wisconsin teaching license can be endorsed for the School Library Media Specialist through the iSchool MA program. UW–Madison is part of the UW System School Library Education Consortium (UWSSLEC), which is a certification-only program. This specialization is available only to Wisconsin residents or those who will be working in Wisconsin schools.
Careers:
Graduates of the Library and Information Studies program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison are prepared for a wide range of careers in the information professions, including:
- Librarianship: Graduates work in a variety of library settings, including public libraries, academic libraries, school libraries, and special libraries. They may work as reference librarians, catalogers, collection development librarians, or library directors.
- Archives: Graduates work in archives and museums, where they are responsible for preserving and providing access to historical documents and artifacts. They may work as archivists, curators, or preservation specialists.
- Information management: Graduates work in a variety of settings, including businesses, government agencies, and non-profit organizations. They are responsible for managing and organizing information, ensuring its accuracy and accessibility. They may work as information managers, knowledge managers, or records managers.
- User experience design: Graduates work in a variety of settings, including technology companies, design firms, and marketing agencies. They are responsible for designing and evaluating the user experience of websites, products, and services. They may work as user experience designers, interaction designers, or usability engineers.
- Other: Graduates may also pursue careers in other fields, such as law, education, or business. The skills they develop in the program, such as critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication, are valuable in a wide range of professions.
