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Library Science and Information Services

Are you passionate about reading and learning? Do you want to share your passion with children and adults throughout your community? Earning a degree from one of the University of Central Missouri’s Library Science and Information Services programs can lead to a rewarding career connecting people with the resources they need to increase their information and digital literacy. Whether you are currently a librarian looking to expand your skill set and career potential or you’re just starting your professional journey, we have the program to set you on the path to lifelong success.

Library Science and Information Services prepares you for exciting career options

School librarian: Our fully online graduate programs provide you with the experience and knowledge to become an inspirational librarian working with children in grades K–12. As the only institution in Missouri to be nationally recognized by the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) and accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), we offer degrees that will help you stand out from your colleagues and other job candidates.
Library leader: Interested in enhancing your research and leadership skills? Would you like to become a scholar of librarianship and make a larger impact on your profession? We offer professional leadership programs that can help you increase your career potential and take on more responsibilities within your current library or school.
Public librarian: Whether you live in a big city or a small town, you can make a positive difference in the lives of those around you as a public librarian. From helping people find information or books to read for pleasure to teaching patrons to access resources or learn how to use technology, librarians touch the lives of everyone in their communities.

Contact

Dr. Jenna Kammer
Associate Professor
Lovinger 4112
Tel: 660-543-8879
jkammer@ucmo.edu

College of Education

Department of Educational Technology and Library Science

College of Education Blog

Library Science and Information Services Events

CAEP-accredited/AASL-recognized

Fully online programs

Engaged faculty mentors

High job placement rates

Several degree options

Find your Library Science and Information Services future at UCM

Earn an accessible and student-focused degree from one of our highly respected programs and experience the many benefits of being a UCM student:

Career preparation: Located within UCM's top-ranked College of Education, we offer Library Science and Information Services programs that emphasize the role of the librarian in lifelong learning and information access. You’ll master the information literacy skills to work with both children and adults and learn to promote a lifelong love of reading and staying informed. The success of our training is evident: Our graduates enjoy a 94% job placement rate.
Real-world experience: Most of our courses integrate project-based learning, so you can gain hands-on experience without leaving your community. For example, you’ll be able to conduct a needs assessment of your community and find ways to support the information needs of those within your town or city.
Active faculty researchers: Our faculty members hold doctoral degrees in library science and are active scholars in their fields, researching topics such as school librarianship, information access and cross-cultural librarianship. They bring their years of experience into every class, so you can learn firsthand what it means to be a thought leader in your field.

What can you do with a degree in one of UCM’s Library Science and Information Services programs?

We design and update our courses and programs to align with professional standards and guidelines within the field of library science. This means that when you graduate from UCM, you’ll have the specialized knowledge and skills to meet the demands of twenty-first-century librarianship. Wherever you end up, you’ll be prepared to excel in curation, inclusion, scholarly inquiry, collaboration, leadership and community engagement.

A degree from one of our Library Science and Information Services programs can prepare you for a career in:

K–12 school librarianship
Public librarianship
Academic librarianship

A librarian at a book shelf

Undergraduate Majors and Minors

Instructional Technology, Minor

A teacher and student with a computer

Graduate Programs

A librarian in a library

Certificates

ALA accreditation – candidacy status

The University of Central Missouri has been granted candidacy status by the Committee on Accreditation of the American Library Association (ALA) as of July 2024. Candidacy status is an indication that the Master of Library Science at UCM has voluntarily committed to participate in the ALA accreditation process and is actively seeking accreditation. Candidacy does not indicate that the program is accredited, nor does it guarantee eventual accreditation of the program by the ALA. Graduating with a combination of CAEP, AASL and ALA accreditation can greatly increase your chances of finding your dream career or achieving new levels of responsibility in your current library.

LSIS Program Accolates

Be Among the Best

Top 5 Reasons to Choose Library Science and Information Services (LIS) at UCM

UCM LIS students get jobs.
UCM is affordable.
Gain real-world experiences in libraries as you learn.
Knowledgeable, approachable, and experienced faculty.
Current and relevant curriculum updated to include all competencies of librarianship.

The LIS program at UCM consistently ranks among the highest in the nation for affordability and quality. See for yourself:

TheBestSchools.org, Intelligent.com, Study.com, Learn.org

Lovinger Education Building

Paired Advising

Each LIS student is paired with an academic advisor and financial aid advisor as they work through the program. The student’s academic advisor will initiate contact with new students and work with them to develop a plan of study at the beginning of the program. Advisors may also write letters of reference and provide guidance on the program and university.

Library Science Program Associations

Connection with Professional Associations

UCM LIS faculty are active in state and national library professional associations and help students to enter the profession through scholarships, service and networking opportunities.

Admissions

Acceptance into the program requires:

undergraduate degree from an accredited institution
2.75 or higher cumulative undergraduate GPA
completion of an online application through the Office of Graduate Studies
a résumé
a letter of intent

Conditional Admission

If you do not meet the overall grade point average, you may be classified as “a non-degree seeking student” until you achieve a minimum 3.50 graduate GPA after completing the following courses:

LIS 5100 - Foundations of Librarianship (3)
LIS 5250 - Developing and Managing Collections (3)
LIS 5622 - Library Administration and Leadership (3)
LIS 5322 - Information Sources and Services (3)

These courses must be taken and grades received prior to enrolling in other courses required for the degree or reapplying for admission.

Application Dates and Deadlines

Fall Semester Start - applications due July 31
Spring Semester Start - applications due December 1
Summer Semester Start - applications due April 15

Costs

The UCM library science program has been consistently ranked one of the most affordable LIS degrees in the United States by Learn.org.

Full information on tuition and costs for UCM Graduate Students is available on the Student Financial Assistance page. You can use the UCM Cost Calculator to estimate the total tuition for your degree.

UCM supports students as they fund their degree. Each student is paired with a Financial Aid advisor to work with throughout their program. Access the UCM Financial Aid page to learn more about financing your degree.

Scholarships

UCM offers several scholarships specifically for students in the library science program:

Suzanne Foster Scholarship in Library Science

The Suzanne Foster Scholarship in Library Science is available through the University of Central Missouri Alumni Foundation for a graduate student pursuing a degree in library science at UCM. This scholarship is made possible by way of gifts from family, friends and royalties earned from the sale of the University of Central Missouri (UCM) General Education course LIS 1600 University Library & Research Skills textbook: Information Literacy for Undergraduates by Sandra Jenkins, UCM faculty member.

Beatrice Ricks Library Scholarship

The Beatrice Ricks Library Scholarship is available through the University of Central Missouri Alumni Foundation for a graduate student pursuing a degree in library science. This scholarship is made possible by way of a gift from Dr. Beatrice Ricks.

Dr. Aileen Helmick Memorial Scholarship in Library Science

The Dr. Aileen Helmick Scholarship in Library Science is available through the University of Central Missouri Alumni Foundation for a graduate student pursuing a degree in Library Science. This scholarship is made possible by way of a gift from family and friends of Aileen Helmick, ‘76.

Use the UCM Scholarship Finder to learn more about and apply for scholarship opportunities.

The library science program offers five exciting options for students who are interested in earning a graduate degree in the area of Library Science and Information Services.

Master of Library Science Options

Master of Library Science, MLS

24 semester hours of required library science courses
12 semester hours of elective courses within your choice of specializations:
- School Librarianship
- Public Librarianship
- Academic Librarianship

Master of Library Science, MLS with a specialization in School Library + Education Specialist (EdS) in Initial Teacher Certification:

Approximately 17 semester hours of education courses (depending on previous coursework)
24 semester hours of required library science courses
12 semester hours within the school library specialization, including 4 semester hours of practicum requirements
8 semester hours of internship experience (also referred to as “student teaching”)
1+ additional credit of the student's choice (as needed to complete the 30 credit requirement of the EdS)

Education Specialist Options

Professional Leadership, EdS - Librarianship Option

27 semester hours of electives
3 semester hours of a research capstone project (LIS 6900)

Cooperative Bridge Program

This is a collaborative program in Library Science and Information Services between the University of Central Missouri and Murray State University. Students can earn an Education Specialist (EdS) and a Doctorate in Education (EdD). Admitted students must complete:

EdS requirements at UCM: 30 credit hours
- 18 credits in LIS coursework
- 12 credits of research
EdD requirements at Murray State: 30 credits
- 18 credits in core courses
- 12 credits of dissertation courses

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