• ACADEMIC RULES & PROCEDURES
• ADVISING & STUDENT PROGRESS
• APPEALS
• COMPUTER LITERACY REQUIREMENTS
• DEGREE CONCENTRATIONS
• DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
  • Comps
  • Thesis
• CORE CURRICULUM CHANGE
• COURSE RECOMMENDATIONS
• EXEMPTION FROM COURSES
• FIELDWORK EXPERIENCE
• FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
• GRADUATION
• PROBATION & GRADE MAINTENANCE
• TRANSFER OF CREDIT

LIS Suggested Courses

( PDF version of this listing)
Careers within the information professions vary and sometimes require specialized preparation and experience.  The MLIS is designed to provide 1) a general introduction that crosses all specialties (the four core courses), 2) exposure to a range of knowledge and skill sets in the form of strongly-recommended general courses, and 3) opportunities for students to focus on specialized topics, according to their career aspirations.  Additional opportunities exist for coordinated graduate programs with several other academic disciplines, which could benefit students interested in specialized careers in healthcare institutions, music libraries, and others (http://www.uwm.edu/Dept/SOIS/academics/coordinatedMLIS/index.htm).  Students should use the following section as a guide for choosing courses and consult with academic advisors or faculty for guidance.  Course numbers in parentheses correspond to the old numbering system and are included here only for reference.

Core Courses for the MLIS

The four core courses are designed to prepare students with general and specialized career interests.

Strongly recommended Courses for all Specializations

The profession is traditionally divided into four major areas: academic libraries, public libraries, school library media centers, and special libraries and information centers.  Some specializations, such as archives or digital libraries, can cross library types, which means that the specialties below are not mutually exclusive.

Recommended for Academic Libraries

Appropriate preparation for most careers in academic librarianship consists of the core courses, a selection of the strongly-recommended courses above, practical experience, and a selection of specialized courses from the following list.  Because some academic positions require extensive disciplinary knowledge (selector for geography or other academic discipline, law librarian, music librarian, etc.), they may require graduate degrees in those fields in addition to an MLIS.  Specialized disciplinary courses related to sources and services in music, law, and cartographic collections, among others can also be beneficial.  Information literacy programs are central to the services of many academic libraries and some coursework or experience in instruction would be desirable.

Public Libraries:

Appropriate preparation for most careers in public librarianship consists of the core courses, a selection of the strongly-recommended courses above, practical experience, and a selection of specialized courses from the following list.  Because some academic positions require extensive disciplinary knowledge (selector for History, law librarian, music librarian, etc.), they may require graduate degrees in those fields in addition to an MLIS.  Specialized disciplinary courses related to sources and services in music, law, and cartographic collections, among others can also be beneficial.

School Library Media Centers

Careers in School Library Media Centers usually require state certification.  Students should inform themselves about regulations in their own states and consult with an appropriate SOIS advisor before selecting courses because of the sometimes very specific educational requirements.

Special Libraries

Special Libraries are libraries or information centers in corporations, law firms, trade associations, government agencies, research institutions, and other organizations.  Careers in such settings can benefit from disciplinary education or experience (degrees in law or health sciences, for example) and from courses such as the following. 

Archives

Archives, records management, and special collections comprise a formal MLIS concentration and a Certificate of Advanced Study.  Students interested in this concentration should seek the advice of the SOIS Coordinator of Archival Studies.

Digital Libraries

Sufficiently specialized to have become a career track, this area of practice may be found in and out of library settings.  Education or experience related to library settings may beneficially supplement the following courses.

Organization of Information

This specialty, which may be found in a variety of settings, includes cataloging, classification, indexing, and aspects of information architecture

Information Law, Policy and Ethics

The following list summarizes offerings within the MLIS that support a thorough understanding of legal, ethical, and policy issues related to information, regardless of setting.

Information Technology (IT)

A technical specialization within the MLIS would prepare students for careers in library automation, database design and development, web resource management, and for certain positions in the private sector.

Information Literacy

Academic libraries and school library media centers promote information literacy using various methods of instruction.  Coursework and experience in specific library settings in addition to the following would be reasonable preparation for a career in information literacy.

Recommended courses of general interest

The MLIS program offers many additional courses that are recommended for generalists or for those pursuing careers in non-library settings, including publishing, database design and development, consulting, and indexing.  These careers would be supported by the core and other general courses, including especially those related to information technology.  Students should seek advice about the suitability of courses for specific career specialties.