Program Overview

Introduction to the Master of Library and Information Studies (MLIS) Program

The Master of Library and Information Studies (MLIS) program at the University of Oklahoma is designed to provide students with a comprehensive education in library and information studies. The program is available in thesis and non-thesis options, both of which include six required courses and six elective courses. Electives are chosen by the student in consultation with their faculty advisor.

Program Requirements

• The required courses are the foundation for all other courses in the curriculum and should be taken as soon as possible, preferably in the first eighteen hours of enrollment.
• The MLIS degree program requires thirty-six hours of graduate credit and successful completion of one of the following end-of-program assessments:
  • A written comprehensive examination (only for students who started prior to Fall 2021)
  • Defense of a thesis
  • Defense of a portfolio (only for students who started prior to Fall 2021)
  • ePortfolio
• All incoming students will take the ePortfolio examination. Those wishing to do a thesis must consult with their advisor prior to thesis declaration.

Admissions Policies and Procedures

Admissions Policy

The admissions policy of the School of Library and Information Studies aims to select persons who are academically well-qualified and exhibit potential for contribution in the areas of library and information services. The School encourages applications from students with diverse educational, geographical, and intellectual backgrounds.

Application Requirements

• A completed application to the School of Library and Information Studies
• A statement of purpose and goals
• Three reference forms completed by persons familiar with the applicant’s scholastic or employment record
• A professional resume

Conditional Admission

A graduate of an accredited four-year institution whose grade point average is below 3.0 and who has met all other requirements for admission to full graduate standing may be admitted conditionally. Students admitted in a conditional admission status must meet specific requirements dictated by the Graduate College and the School.

Criteria for Evaluating Student Performance

MLIS courses are letter-graded with A, B, C, D, and F grades. Independent study courses, including internships, receive an S (satisfactory) or U (unsatisfactory) grade.

Retention Standards and Time Limits

Students enrolled in the School of Library and Information Studies must maintain acceptable academic standards in order to remain in the School. Students admitted to full graduate standing must maintain an overall B average in all courses attempted.

Advisement and Program Planning

Each student admitted to the program is assigned a faculty advisor based on the student's interests expressed in the application materials. Upon entry to the program and prior to the completion of 12 hours at the latest, any student in the MLIS program must file with the School a program plan that shows which courses are to constitute the 36 hours to be taken for the degree.

Registration and Enrollment

Full-time enrollment for graduate students is nine or more credit hours during the fall and spring semesters and three or more credit hours during the summer session.

Special Requirements for Independent Courses

Special note should be taken before enrollment in directed readings, directed research, directed projects, and internships. Each of these courses requires close work between the student and the instructor, and the course must be included on the student's Program Planning Form.

Dual Degrees

Dual degree programs allow students to pursue degrees simultaneously in two fields of study. To obtain a dual degree, the student must satisfy the admission, course, and examination requirements of both programs.

Transfer Credit

Students who have taken or will take graduate courses outside the University must transfer the credit if it is to be counted towards their master’s degree. All transfer credit from outside the University must be approved by the School’s Graduate Studies Committee and the University's Office of Admissions.

End of Program Assessments

The University of Oklahoma requires an end-of-program assessment for all master’s degree candidates. Options for students in the MLIS program are:

• Portfolio/ePortfolio
• Master's Thesis
• Comprehensive Exam (discontinued for students starting the program in fall 2021 and later)

Scholarships and Graduate Assistantships

Several merit-based financial awards are offered through the School. Applications for SLIS scholarships are to be made through OU’s online scholarship application database. Graduate assistantships include a monthly stipend, tuition waiver, and health insurance.

Exit Survey

The School of Library and Information Studies is required to engage in ongoing assessment of the various aspects of the School's activities for the purposes of improvement of teaching, research, and service to the profession. As part of the School's efforts, an exit survey is instituted to gather data that provides specific direction to the School in improving the delivery of the master's program.

Communicating with Students and Faculty

All communication from SLIS is sent to students through their OU email accounts. Faculty members keep their own calendars, and appointments should be scheduled directly with a faculty member.

Student and Professional Organizations

• Oklahoma Library Association (OLA)
• Oklahoma Library and Information Studies Student Association (OLISSA)
• Graduate Student Senate (GSS)
• Beta Phi Mu, the international honor society for the library and information science profession.