Program Description

The Specialist program (SLIS) is a post-masters program for librarians, information managers and other related professionals who have worked in the field for at least two years to enhance their knowledge in selected areas of study.

Learning Outcomes

1. Students will demonstrate an understanding of their professional development goals. 
2. Students will demonstrate an understanding of what specialized knowledge and/or skills are needed to meet their professional development goals. 
3. Students will demonstrate specialized knowledge and/or skills in a specific chosen area of the field.  

Academic Progress

Students must present a grade point average of at least 3.0 (B average) on all courses taken in the program at the time of graduation. Students who earn a grade below B on more than six hours of course work or a grade of D, F, WF, or U in any course will not be allowed to continue in the program. Students who receive a grade below a C in a course cannot apply the course toward graduation. Students who receive a grade of D+ or D in a required course (i.e. joint program requirements or NCATE requirements) must retake the course to attain a grade of at least C.

Additionally, Graduate School policy states that graduate students whose cumulative grade point average (GPA) drops below a 3.0 will be placed on academic probation and allowed one calendar year to raise the GPA to at least 3.00. Students who do not reach a cumulative 3.00 GPA during this grace period will not be permitted to enroll in further graduate work.

Admissions Requirements

Admission to SLIS program is selective and based on the faculty’s assessment of the applicant’s aptitude for graduate study and potential contribution to the profession.  The faculty take a holistic approach to the admissions process.  Consequently, an applicant’s entire file and interview are taken into consideration before an admission decision is made.  The following materials are required for full consideration: 

1. The School of Library and Information Science Supplemental Application (accessible through the Graduate School application), where applicants respond to statement provided;
2. Official transcripts from all other colleges or universities attended (whether or not a degree was earned) indicating an earned MLIS degree; 
3. Two letters of recommendation attending to your academic performance and/or job performance—letters from friends and relatives addressing personal attributes do not qualify;
4. If appropriate for applicants whose native language is not English, a qualifying score on a test of English as another language and appropriate immigration documentation.

Degree Requirements (30 Hours)

For the Specialist Degree in Library and Information Science degree, an approved Program of Study with 30 semester hours of graduate course work must be completed with a minimum grade point ration of 3.00 (B) overall. In partial fulfillment of the requirements for graduation, each student will submit an electronic portfolio documenting learning and professional growth during the Specialist program.

Course Requirements

Course List

Course	Title	Credits
ISCI 794	Internship in Library and Information Science	3
ISCI 796	Independent Study in Library and Information Science	3
Select 24 hours of electives		24
Total Credit Hours		30

• Any student who has not taken ISCI 705  or shown evidence of having completed its equivalent, will be required to satisfactorily complete it (with a grade of B or better) as an elective. (A research methods course satisfactorily completed (with a grade of B or better) in another discipline may be substituted for ISCI 705 at the discretion of the advisor.)

End-of-Program Portfolio

Program of Study

A student may take up to 12 hours of course work in other colleges of the University upon approval by the advisor. No more than 9 of the total 30 hours of course work may be taken at another institution. Each student has the option of working with an advisor to complete a project adequate to the student’s program of study that demonstrates the capacity ro conduct, synthesize, and utilize research methodology in library and information science. The research project must be approved by the advisor. A maximum of 9 hours of ISCI 796 and ISCI 798 may be taken for the Specialist Degree. No more than 6 of these hours may be directly related to the optional research project. At the discretion of the Advisor up to six hours of graduate work taken prior to admission to the program may be included in the Specialist Degree provided the following: 

1. none of the courses exceed the six year limitation noted above;
2. any course work in library and information science must be taken at a school accredited by ALA or approved by NCATE;
3. course work must be germane to the student’s program and make a direct contribution to it;
4. course(s) must show on an official transcript (and a copy of the official course description and/or syllabus provided) and not have been used to earn another degree;
5. grades for the course(s) must be a B or higher.

Courses which will be more than six years old at the time the Specialist Degree is awarded may not be included in the student’s Program of Study.