SLIS: MLIS

The Master of Library and Information Science degree is a program of basic professional education designed to prepare students for entry into positions in libraries and information centers in colleges, schools, communities, industries, and businesses.

The MLIS program provides students with a strong core of general knowledge of the profession and the opportunity to explore individual areas of interest as related to specific career preparation. See all MLIS Program Competencies >

Instruction is available to students in all areas through an extensive program of distributed learning. Distributed learning is an instructional model that involves various information technologies to help students learn. Over the past thirty years SLIS has offered high-quality instruction for distance and campus-based learners. All students have the option to take a course online or on campus. Most students complete their degree entirely online, while those closer to Columbia are able to take a small number of courses in person.

Admission to the School of Library and Information Science is selective and is based on the faculty's assessment of the applicant's aptitude for graduate study and potential contribution to the profession. The School of Library and Information Science takes a holistic approach to the admissions process. Consequently, all supporting documents along with the application are taken into consideration before a decision is made. The admission policies of the SLIS apply to every applicant, full-time and part-time, whether via distributed learning only, on campus, or a combination of both.

The School of Library and Information Science and the University of South Carolina provide equal opportunity and affirmative action in education and employment for all qualified persons regardless of race, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or veteran status. The University of South Carolina System has designated as the ADA Title II, Section 504 and Title IX coordinator the Executive Assistant to the President for Equal Opportunity Programs.

A USC Graduate School application and the non-refundable $50.00 application fee. Access the application at http://app.gradschool.sc.edu.

The School of Library and Information Science Supplemental Application which is accessible through the Graduate School application. The Supplemental Application includes an essay requirement. Applicants must respond to the statements provided on the application when writing the essay.

Official transcripts from all other colleges or universities attended.

Two letters of recommendation. The recommenders should be in a position to evaluate (a) your academic performance at the undergraduate or graduate level (e.g., faculty or instructors) or (b) your job performance (e.g., supervisors or administrators). Letters from friends and relatives which speak only of the applicant’s personal attributes will not be accepted. For guidance concerning this matter, please contact the SLIS Admissions Coordinator at 803-777-3887.

Standardized test score report for either the GRE or MAT:

Graduate Record Examination (GRE) Official score report for the GRE taken within the last five years must indicate a total score of 950 on the combined verbal and quantitative sections of exams taken before August 2011. The verbal section must have a score of at least 500. The combined score requirement for the new GRE (beginning August 2011) must be 294 with at least 153 on the verbal section. You may register online at www.ets.org/gre. USC institution code is 5818.
Miller Analogies Test (MAT) Official score report for tests taken within the last five years must indicate a score of at least 410. For MAT information and testing center locations go to www.milleranalogies.com.

For the Master of Library and Information Science degree, an approved program of at least 36 semester hours of graduate course work must be completed with a minimum grade point ratio of 3.00 (B) on all 700-800 level courses. Nine hours of required courses are designed to provide the student with an understanding of the information professions. Students and their advisors will choose a minimum of 27 hours of elective courses. Elective courses in the School of Library and Information Science and graduate departments in other institutions may be used to develop a specialization in one or more areas or to provide a broad, general preparation for the information professions. A minimum of 24 graduate hours must be completed within the School.

A student who receives grades below B on more than six hours of course work, or an F or U in any course, may not continue in the MLIS program. The student's admission to the MLIS program will be cancelled, and he or she will not be allowed to enroll in any further SLIS courses for at least one year. Additionally, a student's cumulative grade point average on all courses attempted for graduate credit at USC within the past six years, whether listed on the Program of Study or not, must be at least 3.00 (B) in order for the student to graduate with the Master of Library and Information Science degree.

A minimum of 24 graduate hours must be completed within SLIS. The remaining 12 hours may be taken in other related academic units of the University. Students also have the option of transferring up to six semester hours of graduate course work from colleges or universities other than the University of South Carolina. Transfer credit may be transferred under the following conditions:

The credit may not be more than six years old at the time the student will graduate
Courses, which have been used to earn another degree, will not be accepted
Course work in library science must be earned at an ALA accredited library school
the credit must be germane to the student's career objectives
in the case of a required course, the student will present sufficient evidence (such as a syllabus or similar material) to permit determination by the advisor that the course reasonably duplicates the USC equivalent course
the course must have been taken for graduate credit and must be recorded as such on an official transcript which has been sent from the granting institution to the USC Graduate School
the grade received must be a B or higher
the student must provide a course description comparable to that produced in the University catalog.

SLIS POLICY
A graduate student who receives grades of C+ or below on more than six hours of coursework, or a grade of F or U in any course, may not continue in a School of Library and Information Science (SLIS) graduate program. The student's admission to the SLIS program will be cancelled and he/she will not be allowed to enroll in any further SLIS courses for at least one year. Additionally, a student's cumulative grade point average on all courses attempted for graduate credit must be at least 3.00 (B) in order for the student to graduate from the SLIS program.

SLIS PROCEDURE
When a student earns grades of C+ or below on more than six hours of coursework, or a grade of F or U in any course, a reclassification action sheet will be sent to the Graduate School requesting that the student's admission to the SLIS graduate program be cancelled. A letter explaining the reasons for the request will accompany the action sheet.

A student who is dismissed from a SLIS program for academic reasons may request reinstatement to the program after one year. If three or more years have passed since dismissal, the student must re-apply. The student is disqualified from enrolling in any SLIS courses for a minimum of one year from the date of his/her dismissal from the SLIS program regardless of the student's status in another degree program of the University.

Students who receive grades of C+ or below in a course will be sent a letter from the Director advising the student of the dismissal or the possibility of dismissal from the SLIS program. A copy of the letter will be given to the advisor. These letters will be mailed at the end of each semester and each session of summer school.