School of Information Sciences - Department of Library and Information Science
The Department of Library and Information Science (DLIS) offers programs of graduate study leading to the Master of Library and Information Science degree (MLIS), the Certificate of Advanced Study, and the Doctor of Philosophy degree, as well as two certification programs for school library media specialists. Students enrolled in DLIS programs, under the mentorship of the program faculty, prepare for careers in the information professions as librarians, as archivists and records managers, as college and university faculty members, as supervisors in diverse information centers, and as information specialists. The basic professional program leads to the MLIS degree, which requires completion of 36 credits of course work. The core curriculum (12 credits) is enriched by advanced courses in management, technology, resources, organization of knowledge, and the behavioral aspects of information transfer. Upon award of the MLIS degree, graduates are prepared to make contributions to the profession at the local, national, and international levels.
Beyond curricular offerings, educational experiences available to students in the program include colloquia, workshops, participation in local conferences, and attendance at professional association meetings. DLIS sponsors the "Summer Institutes for Librarians and Teachers Who Serve Youth," and "Professional Development Opportunities," a series of professional development workshops offered each summer for school library media specialists and public librarians who serve young people.
Research Focus
All members of the DLIS faculty are active researchers, with records of funding from governmental agencies and private sources. While both master's and doctoral students have opportunities to work with faculty on research projects, doctoral students are most involved in the research process.
The major areas of research interest include archives and records management (including electronic record keeping); children's literature; continuing education; digital libraries; ethics; history of books, printing, and publishing; information policy; information retrieval; library automation; library management; organization of information; preservation of library materials; and school library media center management.
Contact Information
- Department of Library and Information Science
- 6th Floor IS Building
- 135 North Bellefield Avenue
- University of Pittsburgh
- Pittsburgh, PA 15260
- Phone: (412) 624-9435
- Fax: (412) 628-7001
- E-mail: callison@mail.sis.pitt.edu
- Web site: http://www.sis.pitt.edu/~dlis
Admissions
An applicant must be a graduate of an accredited college or university with a scholastic average of B or a minimum quality point average of 3.00 (on a scale where A=4.00). The final 50 percent of a student's undergraduate work, as well as any graduate courses taken, will be given more weight in determining achievement of this requirement.
Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS) Program
The MLIS Program is responsive to the information marketplace and encourages the development of creativity, professionalism, and a proactive attitude to the needs of various clienteles in library and information service environments.
Upon completion of the MLIS degree, graduates will be able to:
Draw upon a common body of professional knowledge that reflects the principles and procedures relevant to all types of libraries, archives, and information centers and their various clienteles
Define the scope of the information professions, emphasizing its interdisciplinary aspects and the global information environment
Communicate effectively in written, oral, and electronic formats, whether working independently or as members of a group or team
Articulate current professional issues and affirm a commitment to continuing professional development
Integrate theory and research findings with application and practice
Demonstrate professional attitudes and a philosophy of service that incorporate the ethical foundations of the information professions into professional practice and have an understanding of the social responsibilities of those professions
Apply basic principles of selection, acquisition, organization, retrieval, preservation, management, and use to all types and formats of information resources
Serve as intermediaries in the information-seeking process through their understanding of client needs and knowledge of a multiplicity of resources
Apply information technologies to various functions in library and information environments
Plan and evaluate information service in both traditional and innovative settings to meet current needs and future directions
Be able to serve as educators in the information-seeking process through user instruction on information literacy competency.
The MLIS degree program is accredited by the Committee on Accreditation of the American Library Association.
MLIS Degree Requirements
Students seeking the MLIS must complete the following requirements:
- Complete a minimum of 36 credits of graduate-level course work, of which at least 30 credits must be selected from courses offered at the 2000 level or above in SIS.
- Complete four core courses: LIS 2000, 2001, 2002, and any management course.
- Maintain a B (3.00) average for the required 36 credits of graduate-level course work.
Requirements for the MLIS degree must be completed within a period of four calendar years from the student's initial registration.
Doctor of Philosophy in Library and Information Science (PhD - LIS) Program
The Doctor of Philosophy in the Library and Information Science Program prepares students for advanced work in research, teaching, and administration. The primary purpose of the PhD Program is to develop an understanding of library and information science beyond the master's degree, with particular emphasis on the conduct of original research, the production of significant and generalizable research findings, and the contribution of such findings to public knowledge.
The advisor selected by the student for the period prior to the dissertation stage of the program is the Program Advisor; before the dissertation proposal is prepared, the student should select a Dissertation Advisor. The Program Advisor and the Dissertation Advisor may be the same person, but the student has the option to select a different advisor for the dissertation. The advisor must be a member of the graduate faculty in the Department of Library and Information Science who is able to spend the time and effort necessary for the advising role, be available for examinations, and with whom a productive and comfortable working relationship can be established.
For complete information on the PhD-LIS Program, consult Statement of Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy.
PhD - LIS Admission Requirements
In addition to those school-wide requirements for admission detailed at the start of SIS's section of this bulletin, the following are requirements for admission to the PhD - LIS Program:
- A master's degree from a program accredited by the American Library Association, a recognized international program, or the equivalent in a closely related field of study.
- Attainment in graduate work of a minimum quality point average of 3.50 (on a scale where A=4.00). An international student's quality point average will be calculated on the basis of equivalency from universities that use a different scale.
- Submission of scores from a predictor test, such as the Graduate Record Examination or the Miller Analogy Test, taken within the last five years.
- At least three references from persons in the professional and academic communities.
As evidence of the ability to undertake doctoral work, the student's application must be accompanied by:
- An essay (not exceeding 1,000 words) indicating, as specifically as possible, the student's academic and professional goals in relation to the Department of Library and Information Science doctoral program and identifying potential areas and/or topics in which the student expects to pursue dissertation research.
- A complete curriculum vitae that provides an overview of education, work, publication, and other professional activities.
- At least one example of scholarly research or professional writing in any format (print or electronic). The student should describe fully any published or unpublished research, thesis, contributions to the professional or scholarly literature, and other professional or academic experience relevant to an assessment of capacity to pursue doctoral study successfully.
- A brief description, if appropriate, of professional work experience in libraries, archives, information centers, publishing, the information industry, education, or similarly related areas of professional activity.
Applications from all individuals, regardless of citizenship, who have a degree from a non-U.S. institution, must be reviewed by the University Office of International Services (OIS). International students must submit evidence of competence in the English language. The status of English in the country of origin may constitute such evidence. A minimum score of 575 on the paper-based TOEFL (or equivalent score of 231 on the computer-based TOEFL) is required for international students.
Credentials of prospective students are reviewed by the Admissions and Review Committee and voted upon by the DLIS Committee on Doctoral Studies throughout the year. However, students who are applying for financial aid should be aware that they must be admitted and meet financial aid deadlines to ensure consideration for funding. See Financial Assistance for more detail. PhD students may begin their studies only in the Fall Term in order to ensure a coherent program of study.
PhD - LIS Degree Requirements
This PhD program requires a minimum of 54 credits beyond the master's degree. A minimum of 36 credits must be taken in advanced course work. The student must receive a letter grade in each course taken in this 36-credit requirement. An additional 18 credits are required, which must be applied to dissertation research and writing. However, regardless of the number of credits taken, no more than 18 credits for dissertation research and writing may be applied toward graduation.
The minimum of 36 credits of course work, all of which must be on the graduate level, must be distributed as follows:
- 3 credits: LIS 3000: Introduction to Doctoral Studies
- 9 credits: 3000 level doctoral seminars in SIS
- 6 credits: Courses in research methodology and statistics
- 6 credits: Courses in cognate field
- 9 credits: Which may be
- 2000 level courses in SIS (with the expectation that doctoral level work will be conducted)
- 3000 level independent studies or doctoral seminars in SIS
- Additional cognate courses
- Additional research methodology courses
Graduate degrees are conferred only on those students who have completed all courses required for the degree with at least a 3.50 QPA.
Doctoral students are required to devote some portion of their studies to work on other disciplines in order to broaden their perspectives and deepen their understanding of library and information science. To fulfill the cognate requirement, students are required to take a minimum of six credits and a maximum of 12 credits in some area of graduate study outside the field of library and information science. These credits may be from more than one department or school or from another institution.
The research methodology course requirement must be fulfilled prior to taking the Preliminary Examination. Research methodology courses may include courses in statistical analysis, general research methodology, and specific research methods or research methods used in specific fields of study such as historiography, ethnography, or case and field study.
Residence and Registration Requirements
Doctoral students must register for at least three credits in each term until they have achieved candidacy. To maintain active status, all doctoral candidates must be registered for a minimum of three credits in each 12-month period (three credits in one term or one credit in each of three terms) from the time of admission to candidacy until receipt of degree.
Language Requirement
Any language requirement relates to the student's need for proficiencies necessary for successful completion of doctoral research. Depending upon the student's program, proficiencies in modern languages, linguistics, and/or computer languages may be specified.
Colloquium Requirement
During the course of the PhD program, each student is required to present a colloquium to faculty and students in the school. This colloquium may be on a research project the student is engaged in, or on preliminary results of the dissertation project.
Preliminary Examination
Upon completion of 24 hours of course work each student submits for review a portfolio comprising the best representation of work completed thus far. The student presents this portfolio to the Doctoral Studies Committee as a whole, which votes on its acceptability. The preliminary evaluation is based on the breadth and depth of knowledge as addressed through course work, as well as whether the course work taken will support the research plan of the student.
Comprehensive Examination
The Comprehensive Examination is conducted by the student's advisor, one faculty member chosen by the student with agreement of the faculty member, and one faculty member chosen by the Chair of Doctoral Studies Committee. The examination consists of a written take-home exam over two weeks and an oral examination conducted by the student's committee. The take-home exam has two parts: a broad perspective on current issues in the field of library science, information science, or archives, depending on the student's general area; and the area of the student's research specialization.
Candidacy and Dissertation
For admission to formal candidacy for the PhD degree, a student must have:
- Passed the preliminary examination
- Completed a minimum of 36 credits beyond the master's degree with a QPA of 3.50 or higher
- Passed the comprehensive examination
- Successfully defended the dissertation proposal and received permission from the Dissertation Committee to begin research.
Students demonstrate their ability to complete a sound project of original research by presenting and defending the dissertation proposal to their Dissertation Committee. The Dissertation Committee must unanimously approve the dissertation topic and research plan before the student may be admitted to candidacy for the doctoral degree.
Statute of Limitations
All requirements for the PhD degree must be completed in not more than six calendar years from the time of first registration. Students may, in extenuating circumstances, submit a formal request for extension of their statute of limitations or for a leave of absence from the program.
School Library Certification Program (SLCP)
The School Library Certification Program fulfills requirements for certification established by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania through two options:
Endorsement Option—Fulfills the requirements for the MLIS degree as well as for Commonwealth of Pennsylvania certification in Library Science, K-12. Students who enter this program already possess a teaching certificate from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and receive an endorsement of their Instructional I or Instructional II certificates upon completion of the program.
Intern Option—Designed for students who have not fulfilled the requirements for an Instructional I teaching certificate established by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Students completing this program receive an Instructional I teaching certificate in Library Science, K12, from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania as well as their MLIS degree.
SLCP Admission Requirements
For both options of the School Library Certification Program (SLCP), admission requirements are the same as those for admission to the MLIS program. Applicants who do not hold a valid teaching certificate must apply for the Intern Option.
SLCP Certification Requirements
Certification requirements for the School Library Certification Program, with the MLIS degree, are completion of 36 credits (Endorsement Option) or 57 credits (Intern Option) in required courses in a competency-based course of study leading to the MLIS degree and School Library Certification concurrently. Students who have demonstrated competency in areas covered by specific courses may have those courses waived as requirements but must complete the number of credits required for the degree and for certification.
Supervisor of Library Science Certification (SLSC) Program
Candidates for the Supervisor of Library Science Certification (SLSC) Program have demonstrated leadership in school librarianship and enter the program to update and upgrade their skills in preparation for a position of additional responsibility in district-level school library media management and/or curriculum development. The SLSC program may be used as the course work required for the Certificate of Advanced Study (see details on certificate below) or as part of the 36 credits of course work required for the PhD degree. Students who have demonstrated their competency in the areas identified will receive their supervisor's certificate from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
SLSC Program Admission Requirements
Requirements for admission to the Supervisor of Library Science Certification (SLSC) program are the same as those for the Certificate of Advanced Study, with the following additions:
Applicants must hold a valid school library teaching certificate issued by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, a copy of which must be submitted with the application for admission.
Applicants must have five years of school library teaching experience.
SLSC Program Requirements
Candidates complete 24 credits selected from a competency-based course of study leading to the Certificate of Advanced Study and Supervisor of Library Science Certification concurrently.
Certificate of Advanced Study in Library and Information Science (CAS/LIS) Program
Students enrolled in the Certificate of Advanced Study in Library and Information Science (CAS/LIS) program are, in most cases, experienced professionals who have advanced in their careers in librarianship and information management and wish to update their skills and knowledge and enhance their professional development through a planned program of individualized study beyond the MLIS degree. The CAS/LIS program leads to a certificate rather than a degree and is designed specifically for those who do not wish to pursue the PhD degree but who wish to continue their education in an area of special interest.
For admission to the Certificate of Advanced Study in Library and Information Science (CAS/LIS) program, applicants must:
Possess a master's degree from a program accredited by the American Library Association or a master's degree in information science, with a quality point average of 3.00 (on a scale where A=4.00), or equivalent qualification.
Submit three letters of recommendation that attest to the applicant's aptitude and motivation to pursue professional studies at a level beyond the master's degree.
Choose a DLIS advisor who agrees to direct the student's work in the CAS/LIS program.
To receive the CAS/LIS, the student must complete a total of 24 credits of course work acceptable to the advisor with a grade of B or better. Requirements for the CAS/LIS must be completed within a period of four calendar years from the student's initial registration in the program.
DLIS Course Listings
Note: All courses are 3 credits unless otherwise specified. When * appears, course may be taken concurrently with prerequisite.
2000 - 2099 CORE
- LIS 2000 Understanding Information
- (Required Course for MLIS Degree)
- LIS 2001 Organizing Information
- (Required Course for MLIS Degree)
- LIS 2002 Retrieving Information
- (Required Course for MLIS Degree)
- Core Requirement in Management—Select one of following (nine) management courses: LIS 2700, 2771, 2772, 2773, 2774 - (Management Course List Series), LIS 2810, LIS 2215, LIS 2220, or LIS 2221. These courses are marked with a "#".
2100 - 2199 GENERAL
- LIS 2110 Action Research: Methods and Applications
- LIS 2184 Legal Issues in Information Handling
- LIS 2194 Information Ethics
2200 - 2299 BOOK ARTS, PRESERVATION, ARCHIVES
- LIS 2214 Library and Archival Preservation
- #LIS 2215 Preservation Management
- LIS 2218 Oral History/Oral Tradition
- #LIS 2220 Records and Information Resources Management
- #LIS 2221 Archives and Manuscripts Management
- LIS 2222 Archival Appraisal
- LIS 2223 Archival Access and Advocacy
- LIS 2224 Archival Representation
- LIS 2280 History of Books, Printing, and Publishing
- LIS 2281 Introduction to Bibliography
2300 - 2399 RESOURCES AND SERVICES FOR SPECIFIC PATRON GROUPS
- LIS 2322 Resources for Children
- LIS 2323 Resources for Young Adults
- LIS 2324 History of Children's Literature
- LIS 2325 Curriculum Resources and Services in the School Library Media Center
- LIS 2326 Storytelling
- LIS 2327 Library Services for Children and Young Adults
- LIS 2332 Resources and Services for Adults
- LIS 2333 Resources and Services for Special Populations
2400 - 2499 ORGANIZATION OF INFORMATION
- LIS 2405 Descriptive Cataloging
- LIS 2406 Subject Analysis
- LIS 2452 Indexing and Abstracting
2500 - 2599 SUBJECT AREA RESOURCES AND SERVICES
- LIS 2500 Reference Sources and Services
- LIS 2537 Government Information Resources and Services
- LIS 2543 Humanities Resources and Services
- LIS 2544 Social Sciences Resources and Services
- LIS 2545 Science and Technology Resources and Services
- LIS 2546 Business and Economics Resources and Services
- LIS 2555 Law Resources and Services
- LIS 2568 Multicultural Resources and Services
- LIS 2586 Health Sciences Resources and Services
- LIS 2588 Introduction to Medical Informatics
2600 - 2699 INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
- LIS 2600 Applications of Microcomputer Software
- LIS 2653 Computer Based Management of Image Collections
- LIS 2657 Automation of Library Systems and Services
- LIS 2658 Advanced Topics in Information Storage and Retrieval
- LIS 2663 Technologies for Information Management
- LIS 2664 Library Cooperation and Networking
- LIS 2670 Digital Libraries
2700 - 2799 MANAGEMENT
- (NOTE: All of the following courses marked with "#" will fulfill the Core requirement in Management)
- #LIS 2700 Management of Libraries and Information Systems and Services
- LIS 2727 Personnel Issues in Library and Information Centers
- #LIS 2771 Academic Library Management
- #LIS 2772 Public Library Management
- #LIS 2773 Special Library and Information Center Management
- #LIS 2774 School Library Media Center Management
- LIS 2775 School District Library Media Center Management
2800 - 2899 ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOR
- LIS 2800 Behavioral Perspectives
- #LIS 2810 Managing Change in Information Environments
- LIS 2830 Marketing and Public Relations for Libraries
- LIS 2840 Outreach and Community Programs
- LIS 2842 Organizational Behavior and Change
2900 - 2999 INDIVIDUAL OPTIONS
- LIS 2901 Individual Research 1 (1-3 credits)
- LIS 2902 Individual Research 2 (1-3 credits)
- LIS 2921 Field Experience
- LIS 2922 Practicum in School Library Media Programs
- LIS 2923 Practicum in School District Library Media Center Programs
- LIS 2960 Continuing Education
- LIS 2963 Update for School Library Media Specialists
- LIS 2965 Update in Health and Biomedical Information
- LIS 2970 Special Topics
- LIS 2990 Colloquium (no credit)
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