NCCU School of Library and Information Sciences -- MLS Overview

NCCU School of Library and Information Sciences

General Overview of the MLS Program

Master of Library Science Program

Students, in consultation with faculty, adopt an individualized program that is based on their needs and the competencies expected of librarians.

Following are the student learning outcomes of the Master of Library Science program:

Students will describe the field of librarianship in terms of the breadth and depth of its theoretical framework, managerial functions/operations, and principles and ethics.
Students will be able to develop viable research proposals that contribute to the professional knowledge base.
Students will articulate the role of library and information services in a diverse global society, including the role of serving the needs of underserved groups.
Students will actively participate in scholarly and creative activities that contribute to their professional development.
Students will design and implement programming to meet identified informational needs of constituents.
Students will organize information in both digital and traditional formats to ensure maximum accesss for all users.

There is a core of basic courses that is ordinarily required of all MLS students. This includes the following courses (taken in the order listed or concurrently):

LSIS 5000, Foundations of Librarianship and Information Services.
LSIS 5225, Selection and Use of Information Sources.
LSIS 5120, Management and Systems Analysis.

LSIS 5425, Organization of Information.
LSIS 5325, Uses and Users of Information

LSIS 5810, Research Methods. (Should not be taken until the student is near the end of the MLS program)

Plus one specialized administration course and two materials courses. For the remaining hours, students need to develop their academic programs individually in consultation with their advisors.

The general requirements for the degree of Master of Library Science are as follows:

Successful completion of 36 hours of course work approved by the Dean. In addition, a candidate must have a minimum cumulative average of B (3.0) for graduation.
Matriculation for a minimum period of two semesters or four summer sessions. All work credited toward a Master's degree must be completed within a period of six years.

Language requirement
Students are also required to demonstrate knowledge of a foreign language, sign language, statistics, or a computer language. This requirement may be fulfilled by two semesters of course work (6 hrs credit) in a foreign language, sign language, statistics, or a computer language at the undergraduate or graduate level. Original transcripts showing the pertinent courses must be provided as evidence prior to the application for graduation. Alternatively, the requirement may be fulfilled (a) if the student passes a modern language examination administered for this purpose by the Modern Foreign Language Department at North Carolina Central University in French, German, or Spanish, or (b) if the student has a currently valid professional IT certification. No courses taken for this purpose may be counted for course credit toward the master's degree.

The 36-semester hour program is approved by the American Library Association and leads to the master of library science degree. The program consists of (1) a six-course core curriculum of 18 semester hours required for all types of library and information work, (2) courses having relevance for specialization, and (3) elective courses appropriate for a variety of career objectives.