Master of Library Science

The Master of Library Science curriculum is a dynamic mix of theory, tools, and application courses built around the belief that core knowledge for information professionals must include the following:

• A professional philosophy and service ethic,
• An understanding of information seeking behavior and social interaction,
• An understanding of the information transfer process by which information is created, recorded, disseminated, organized, diffused, utilized, preserved, and destroyed,
• Comprehension of information engineering theories, which support the organization of information for effective use,
• A working knowledge of management theory for leadership of an information agency, and
• Knowledge of the global information infrastructure.

This core knowledge establishes a theory base from which the student learns the skill sets necessary for the library and information management profession. Tools courses provide instruction on how to catalog and classify information, retrieve and repackage information, diagnose information needs, plan and evaluate information services, and use print and electronic information sources. Applications courses amplify and extend the themes identified in the theory courses and focus on information transfer, global information infrastructure, management, and technology. Elective courses are devoted to current issues in the profession and a capstone experience provides an opportunity to synthesize the educational experience in preparation for entering the field.

The Master of Library Science program is designed for non-traditional students. The typical SLIM student is thirty-six years old, working full-time, lives at least fifty miles from Emporia, would be unable to attend traditional weekly classes, and takes four to six hours of coursework per semester. Therefore, SLIM offers most all of its courses on weekends with each course meeting for two weekends about a month apart. Most students are in class four to six weekends per semester. A weekend class consists of Friday evening from 6 to 9 p.m., Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday morning from 8 a.m. to 12 noon. Online classes are also available as is independent study.

Of course, students may also work through the program on a full-time basis. Four semesters is the minimum amount of time allowed to complete the MLS degree, which is about one year and four months and includes at least one summer semester.

Students can take courses toward completion of the Master of Library Science degree at a number of different locations in the western half of the country. SLIM operates satellite campuses in Denver, Salt Lake City, and Portland. The program is available on an infrequent basis in additional locations such as Albuquerque, Boise, and Fargo. SLIM faculty travel from Emporia to teach in these locations on weekends in just the same way as they teach in Emporia. Local directors in each of these locations provide student-advising services and provide a high level of support to all students.