Throughout this curriculum accredited by the American Library Association (ALA), you will expand your knowledge and apply technical skills by building your professional portfolio, which will be built to meet eight program goals aligned with the eight ALA core competencies.
The online program consists of 36 credits of library science courses, including:
- Core courses: 12 credit hours
- Management course: 3 credit hours
- Elective courses: 21 credit hours
Students may choose from one of six specializations. Read the specific courses below or click on a specialization title to learn more:
Core Courses
LIS 203 Information Organization (3 credit hours)
Theories, systems, and practices of information organization. Emphasis is on understanding the basic function of library catalogs, indexes, metadata, finding aids and internet search engines.
LIS 204 Introduction to Library & Information Science (3 credit hours)
A survey of the field including theory and practice, historical trends/developments, computer-based and other information systems and societal concerns. Must be taken as one of the first two courses.
LIS 205 Information Sources & Services (3 credit hours)
Scope, organization and evaluation of reference sources and services, with emphasis on information use and retrieval in a virtual environment and contemporary models of service delivery.
LIS 239 Research & Evaluation Methods (3 credit hours)
Social science research methods applicable to program evaluation and library and information science research; topics include research ethics, research design, literature reviews, data analysis, and reporting research to general and specialized users.
Management Required Course
LIS 240 Management of Libraries & Information Centers (3 credit hours)
Leadership and management principles relating to the operation of libraries and other information enterprises. Leading, planning, evaluating, staffing, housing, equipping, and financing.
Academic Librarianship Specialization (Choose 4)
LIS 221 Planning and Delivering Information Literacy Programs (3 credit hours)
Theory and practice of user education with emphasis on developing information literacy programs. Standards, guidelines, instructional models, effective pedagogical techniques, collaboration, and assessment. Planning, delivering and evaluation of instruction.
LIS 231 College & University Libraries (3 credit hours)
Academic library administration, planning, staffing, and evaluation. The history of higher education and the college library in the U.S. The impact of demographic and social changes on the provision of service.
LIS 230 Introduction to Digital Libraries (3 credit hours)
The contextual framework for digital libraries, including the creation, structure, access, and use of digital information. Analysis of digital library projects.
LIS 238 Web Design for Libraries & Information Centers (3 credit hours)
An information architecture approach to the design of web sites for large enterprises. Topics include information content, organization, labeling, navigation, searching, usability, and accessibility.
LIS 260 Information Use and Users (3 credit hours)
Survey/seminar on how LIS practitioners and researchers seek to understand user information needs/behaviors. Emphasis on theories of user needs and information use. Populations include children, business managers, attorneys, scientists, and university students.
Archival Studies Specialization (Choose 4)
LIS 238 Web Design for Libraries & Information Centers (3 credit hours)
An information architecture approach to the design of web sites for large enterprises. Topics include information content, organization, labeling, navigation, searching, usability, and accessibility.
LIS 253 Oral History (3 credit hours)
Introduction to the theory and practice of oral history. Major topics include the ideological content of speech and storytelling, the role of class and ethnicity, the ethics of scholarly intrusion, and the use of technology.
LIS 249 Archives & Manuscripts: Basic Functions & Current Issues (3 credit hours)
Management of archives and manuscript repositories, including basic functions and skills required of an archivist or curator of manuscripts, as well as current issues and topics.
LIS 257 Archival Representation (3 credit hours)
This course covers the history and principles of archival materials and examines the administrative decisions entailed in the management of an archival institution’s representation program.
LIS 302 Genealogical Sources & Services (3 credit hours)
Sources and services to assist patrons with genealogical research. Research methodology, conducting the reference interview, and the use and evaluation of print and electronic resources.
Management for Information Professionals Specialization
LIS 262 Project Management in Information Organizations (3 credit hours)
This course provides students with an overview of project management and guides them through many of project management tools and skills required in information organizations.
LIS 263 Marketing and Advocacy in Information Organizations (3 credit hours)
This course prepares students to design, implement, and evaluate marketing, communications, and advocacy plans in order to improve service experiences of information users.
LIS 264 Project Leadership for Information Professionals Capstone (3 credit hours)
Students will demonstrate through a series of major projects their leadership potential and the skills they have developed as a result of this program.
LIS 282 Knowledge Management (3 credit hours)
The process and practice of facilitating the operation, sharing, acquisition and application of knowledge in an organization; dissemination according to needs and preferences of stakeholders.
Public Librarianship Specialization (Choose 4)
LIS 221 Planning and Delivering Information Literacy Programs (3 credit hours)
Theory and practice of user education with emphasis on developing information literacy programs. Standards, guidelines, instructional models, effective pedagogical techniques, collaboration, and assessment. Planning, delivering and evaluation of instruction.
LIS 222 Materials & Services to Diverse Populations (3 credit hours)
Information needs of diverse populations, including the aged, illiterate, individuals with disabilities, and racial, ethnic, and linguistic minorities.
LIS 233 Public Libraries & Community Information Centers (3 credit hours)
The objectives, organization, and services of the contemporary public library, including the ways in which they serve diverse communities and reach underserved populations. Field trips may be required.
LIS 238 Web Design for Libraries & Information Centers (3 credit hours)
An information architecture approach to the design of web sites for large enterprises. Topics include information content, organization, labeling, navigation, searching, usability, and accessibility.
LIS 260 Information Use and Users (3 credit hours)
Survey/seminar on how LIS practitioners and researchers seek to understand user information needs/behaviors. Emphasis on theories of user needs and information use. Populations include children, business managers, attorneys, scientists, and university students.
LIS 302 Genealogical Sources & Services (3 credit hours)
Sources and services to assist patrons with genealogical research. Research methodology, conducting the reference interview, and the use and evaluation of print and electronic resources.
Special Libraries Specialization (Choose 4)
LIS 232 Special Libraries & Information Centers (3 credit hours)
Theory and practice of user education with emphasis on developing information literacy programs. Standards, guidelines, instructional models, effective pedagogical techniques, collaboration and assessment. Planning, delivering and evaluation of instruction.
LIS 245 Special Collections Librarianship and History of the Book: Principles and Practices (3 credit hours)
The organization, administration, service, and care of special collections, with an emphasis on rare books. The history of books and printing, non-book formats, donor relations and collecting, conservation and preservation, ethics, access, security, exhibitions and digitization. Requires fieldwork.
LIS 237 Metadata for Information Professionals (3 credit hours)
Metadata applications in a variety of information environments, libraries, archives, museums and information centers. Major metadata schemes, encoding standards, and structures.
LIS 263 Marketing and Advocacy in Information Organizations (3 credit hours)
This course prepares students to design, implement, and evaluate marketing, communications, and advocacy plans in order to improve service experiences of information users.
LIS 248 Database Modeling & Design (3 credit hours)
The fundamental concepts and issues of database management systems. Topics include entity and relationship modeling, SQL, relational database design, data integrity, and XML.
LIS 282 Knowledge Management (3 credit hours)
The process and practice of facilitating the operation, sharing, acquisition and application of knowledge in an organization; dissemination according to needs and preferences of stakeholders.
Youth Services Specialization (Choose 4)
LIS 121 Literature & Related Resources for Children (3 credit hours)
A survey of books and other materials for children, with emphasis on selection criteria, developing evaluation skills, familiarity with award-winning titles and book presentation. Requires fieldwork.
LIS 125 Library Materials & Services for Young Children (3 credit hours)
Materials and services for the young child (infant through preschool). Theories underlying services. Selection, analysis and presentation of books, and other appropriate materials. Requires fieldwork.
LIS 126 Literature & Related Resources for Young Adults (3 credit hours)
A survey of books and other materials for young adults, with emphasis on selection criteria, developing evaluation skills, familiarity with award-winning titles and book presentation. Requires fieldwork.
LIS 127 Library Services for Children & Young Adults (3 credit hours)
Serving children in the public library, with emphasis on user needs, storytelling and book talk skills, programming, information services, policies and guidelines, and maintaining collections. Requires fieldwork.
LIS 213 Popular Culture & the Young Adult (3 credit hours)
An exploration of contemporary, popular entertainment media oriented toward and accepted by adolescents, with emphasis on film, television, music, magazines, and the Internet.
LIS 261 Information Sources & Services for Children & Young Adults (3 credit hours)
Non-fiction and reference sources and services in school and public libraries as they relate to curriculum support and information literacy. Focus on the child as reference interview participant/learner.
Additional Courses
LIS 211 Collection Development (3 credit hours)
Philosophy and methods of managing collections in physical and virtual libraries, with emphasis on assessing and meeting information needs. May include service learning requirement.
LIS 237 Metadata for Information Professionals (3 credit hours)
Metadata applications in a variety of information environments, libraries, archives, museums and information centers. Major metadata schemes, encoding standards, and structures.
LIS 248 Database Modeling & Design (3 credit hours)
The fundamental concepts and issues of database management systems. Topics include entity and relationship modeling, SQL, relational database design, data integrity, and XML.
LIS 283 Social Justice and the Information Profession (3 credit hours)
Graduate seminar. Topics focus on the relationship between information access and human development. Emphasis placed on critically examining information policies and services (i.e., reference, cataloging, collection development, information access, user studies, e-citizenship, evaluation) in light of relevant elements of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (United Nations, 1948), multiple social justice theories, and social activism trends in the information professions.
Advance your information science career with an online M.S.L.I.S. from St. John’s University. Contact us at 844-393-1677 or Request More Information today!