The Joint M.A./M.L.I.S. degree program in Public History and Library and Information Science at the University of South Carolina is designed for persons who wish to pursue careers combining studies in history and information management leading to positions with historical agencies, archives and manuscript administrative units, museums, and libraries for special collections, reference, or rare books. Developed in consultation with professional archivists, records managers, librarians, historians, and information managers, this comprehensive interdisciplinary program offers a course of study leading to master's degrees in Public History and Library and Information Science. Students wishing to study archival applications in a museum setting have the opportunity to work with McKissick Museum and also obtain a Certificate of Graduate Study in Museum Management in addition to their Joint Program degrees.

Currently the University of South Carolina's joint degree program in Public History and Library and Information Science is the only one of its kind in the Southeast with similar programs offered at only a few other institutions in the United States. The program is jointly administered by the Department of History and the College of Library and Information Science at the University.

The Public History Program, part of the University's History Department, was established in 1975 for the purpose of training graduate students in a variety of fields in public history. The program has trained over 100 students, and many other students at the master's and doctoral level have taken public history as their minor area. Teaching responsibilities in the program are shared among faculty in several departments as well as with adjunct faculty.


COLLEGE OF LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SCIENCE

The College of Library and Information Science was established in 1970 and has graduated approximately 1,000 students with the M.L. degree. It has ten full-time faculty members and several adjunct faculty in various specialized areas of study. The focus of the College is on the preparation of information professionals in academic libraries, special libraries, public libraries, school media centers, and information management in specialized areas. The master's program is fully accredited by the American Library Association, the library profession's standard accrediting agency.

The University also offers comprehensive computer resources through college and departmental laboratories. Facilities in the Department of History, College of Library and Information Science, and Thomas Cooper Library include main frame, on-line, and microcomputer units.


To see what you can do with a joint degree in Public History and Library and Information Science check out our Alumni Page and see what some of our alumni are doing today.

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