Nov 24, 2024

Graduate Catalog 2024-2025

Library and Information Science, M.S.

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Graduate Program Advisor: Rae-Anne Montague

Graduate Faculty: Kimberly Black-Parker, Gabriel Gomez, Rae-Anne Montague, Chi Young Oh

The Master of Science in Library and Information Science (MSLIS) program at Chicago State University is accredited by the American Library Association Committee on Accreditation, with the status of initial accreditation. The next comprehensive review visit is scheduled for Spring 2026.

Content Designations

The MSLIS prepares professionals to design and manage library and information services in a variety of settings. The field of library and information science is concerned with the management and use of information resources, services, and technologies. The field encompasses “information and knowledge creation, communication, identification, selection, acquisition, organization and description, storage and retrieval, preservation and curation, analysis, interpretation, evaluation, synthesis, dissemination, use and users, and management of human and information resources.”

The program is designed to reflect an urban focus with the following specializations:

School Libraries (licensure or endorsement to become a School Library Information Specialist)
Archives and Records Management
Academic Libraries
Public Libraries

General Admission Requirements for all MSLIS Degree Applicants

Applicants interested in applying to the MSLIS must:
Fulfill the general university requirements for admission to a graduate program.
Have a grade point average of 2.75 or greater (on a 4.00 scale) for the final 60 semester credit hours of undergraduate and/or graduate courses.

Complete departmental admission requirements, including providing a writing sample, a resume, and transcripts.

General Requirements for all MSLIS Candidates

All requirements for the master’s degree must be completed within six years.
Completion of all credit hours at the graduate level as directed below to fulfill program requirements, with no more than two courses with a grade of a C.
Students must maintain a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA in the program to demonstrate satisfactory academic progress and good academic standing. A student is placed on probation if the cumulative GPA falls below 3.0 for any term. After being placed on probation, a student must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA in the program of 3.0 within the next two terms or will be dismissed from the program.
Completion of the university research requirement, which culminates in the creation of a graduate project or thesis.
Submission of an electronic graduate portfolio completed during the Capstone course.
Adherence to all College policies, unless exceptions or higher expectations are noted in program documentation.

MSLIS Specific Requirements (35 - 44 Credit Hours)

Required Courses (15 Credit Hours)

The following five required courses are to be taken as early as possible in the MSLIS program:

LIS 5050 - Foundations of the Information Professions Credit Hours: 3
LIS 5060 - Organization of Information Credit Hours: 3
LIS 5070 - Introduction to Reference Services Credit Hours: 3
LIS 5080 - Information Technology for Library and Information Agencies Credit Hours: 3
LIS 5090 - Research Methods in Library and Information Science Credit Hours: 3

Directed Elective Courses (15 - 43 Credit Hours)

Students will select one of the following specializations and complete the courses listed or advisor approved substitutions:

School Libraries

Professional Education Coursework Sequence (approx. 18 credit hours) - FOR OPTION 3 CANDIDATES ONLY
LIS 5710 - Literature and Information Services for the Young Adult Credit Hours: 3
LIS 5720 - Literature and Information Services for Children Credit Hours: 3
LIS 5520 - Cataloging & Classification Credit Hours: 3
LIS 5120 - Admininistration of Media Centers Credit Hours: 3
LIS 5130 - The Curriculum and the Media Center Credit Hours: 3
LIS 5180 - Practicum in Primary and Secondary School Library Media Centers Credit Hours: 1 to 2
LIS 5185 - Library Information Specialist Certification Review Credit Hours: 1 (optional/not counted towards degree)
LIS 5190 - Student Teaching and Seminar Credit Hours: 6 (initial licensure only)

Archives and Records Management

LIS 5200 - Archives and Records Administration Credit Hours: 3
LIS 5970 - Field Practicum Credit Hours: 1 to 3
Four electives selected with an advisor (two may be taken outside of the department)

Academic Libraries

LIS 5300 - The Academic Library Credit Hours: 3
LIS 5390 - Management and Organization Credit Hours: 3
LIS 5510 - Database Design for Information Storage and Retrieval Credit Hours: 3
LIS 5970 - Field Practicum Credit Hours: 1 to 3
Two electives selected with an advisor

Public Libraries

LIS 5350 - The Public Library Credit Hours: 3
LIS 5390 - Management and Organization Credit Hours: 3
LIS 5510 - Database Design for Information Storage and Retrieval Credit Hours: 3
LIS 5970 - Field Practicum Credit Hours: 1 to 3
Two electives selected with an advisor

Concluding Courses (4 to 7 Credit Hours)

The following two concluding courses are to be taken at the end of the student’s master’s program

LIS 5980 - Project Seminar Credit Hours: 1 to 6 (At least 3 credit hours - project or thesis course)
LIS 5990 - MSLS Capstone Credit Hours: 1

MSLIS with a School Library Specialization

Completion of the MSLIS alone does not satisfy the requirements for an Illinois Professional Educator License in Library Information Specialist. In order to be licensed, the student must also complete the requirements listed below in the section - Additional Requirements for School Library Candidates Seeking to Endorse a Professional Educators License with a Teaching Endorsement (options 1 & 2) or earn a Professional Educators License (option 3).

An option is available to students interested in adding an endorsement to their Professional Educators License as a Library Information Specialist.

The department currently has three avenues to becoming a Library Information Specialist recognized by the state of Illinois to work in school libraries.

Option 1. Current holders of an Illinois Professional Educator License with a teaching endorsement can earn an MSLIS with a Library Information Specialist endorsement valid for grades PK -12 through our school library concentration.

Option 2. Current holders of an Illinois Professional Educator License with a teaching endorsement can earn the Library Information Specialist Endorsement through our school library endorsement-only sequence. This is a non-master’s degree option that allows you to teach in a school library for the grade range PK-12.

Option 3. Applicants without an Illinois Professional Educator License can earn their Illinois Professional Educator License with a Library Information Specialist Endorsement through our MSLIS concentration in School Libraries. This requires an additional professional education sequence including student teaching.

Additional Admission Requirements for Teaching in Illinois School Libraries (Professional Educators License - PEL) with a Teaching Endorsement

Applicants for Options 1 and 2 (MSLIS with Library Information Specialist Endorsement; or Endorsement only/non-degree)
Provide evidence of a current State of Illinois Professional Educators License with a teaching endorsement.
Applicants for Option 3, a Professional Educator License, an MSLIS and a Library Information Specialist Endorsement must also follow these steps:
Contact the Licensure Services Office to have their transcripts evaluated in order to determine eligibility into the MSLIS Professional Educator Licensure program.
Be fully admitted and complete all general education coursework required for licensure.

Additional Requirements for School Library Candidates Seeking to Endorse a Professional Educators License with a Teaching Endorsement (Options 1 & 2) or earn a Professional Educators License (Option 3)

Option 1: Candidates seeking a MSLIS, and an Endorsement of a Professional Educators License must also:

Provide evidence of passing the Content Area Test.

Option 2: Candidates seeking an Endorsement of a Professional Educators License must also:

Provide evidence of passing the Content Area Test.

Option 3: Candidates seeking an initial Professional Educators License, and endorsement in LIS, and a MSLIS must also:

Meet the program and College requirements in effect at the time they officially are accepted in a program leading to licensure at CSU, regardless of when they were admitted to the university.
Provide evidence of passing the Content Area Test and any other required tests.
Maintain an acceptable background check for work in schools with children.

Non-Degree Endorsement in School Library Media for Licensed Teachers (18 Credit Hours)

Specific Coursework (18 Credit Hours)

Students who are already have an Illinois PEL and would like to add an endorsement for School Library Information Specialist can take the following suggested sequence of courses to satisfy the State of Illinois credit hour requirements.