Specialist in Library and Information Science
The specialist in library and information science program is a flexible post-master's degree which allows students to focus in depth on a subject of particular interest. The specialist degree can be a means of updating knowledge in a given area or of repositioning oneself in the labor market. SLIS welcomes both full-time and part-time students.
Admission Criteria
A student holding a master's degree in librarianship and/or information science from an accredited university may apply for admission to the Specialist Degree Program. SLIS admits students for the Fall, Spring, and Second Summer sessions. Application deadlines and requirements are the same as for the MLS and MIS degree programs. Additional criteria for admission include the following:
- A minimum grade point average of 3.2 (on a scale of 4.0) in previous graduate course work.
- A minimum of two years' successful experience in a library, media, or information professional position following award of the master's degree. (This requirement may be waived when it is deemed advantageous to the student and acceptable to the school for the student to enter the specialist program directly from the master's level of study.)
- Three letters of recommendation.
- Transcripts.
- A description of the applicant's area of interest and career plan. (Note: This should be written as a goal's essay with a minimum of 500 words. The essay should demonstrate a clear research focus for this post-masters degree.)
Degree Requirements
The candidate for the specialist degree must complete 30 credit hours of graduate course work, of which at least 15 must be taken from the SLIS curriculum. The additional 15 credit hours may be taken in another school or department of Indiana University. The student's entire program must be planned in consultation with the SLIS advisor to meet the student's academic and professional goals. Students must complete the degree requirements within a period of five years.
A maximum of 6 graduate credit hours from another accredited university may, in certain limited circumstances and with the permission of the dean, be applied to the Specialist degree. Outside courses are warranted only when they are relevant to the student's career objectives. Ordinarily, permission for such outside course work must be obtained before enrolling in the course. "Outside Course Approval" forms must be completed to have credits applied. The course must be completed with a grade of "B" or better, must not be applied to another degree, and must be taken within the five-year time frame allowed for completion of the degree.
A research project or thesis is not required, but students may receive up to 6 hours of credit by completing such work. An average grade of at least B (3.0) must be achieved in all graduate work taken. Application for degree must be submitted early in the Fall semester for December graduation, and early in the Spring semester for May, June or August graduation. SLIS S401, Computer-Based Information Tools, is a pre-requisite for many of our courses.
