Programs & Degrees Questions

What degrees are offered at SLIS Indianapolis?

The primary program at SLIS Indianapolis is the Masters in Library Science accredited by the American Library Association. Once the student has been admitted to the MLS degree program, graduate courses from SLIS count toward that degree and may also count toward several certification programs.

Specialization. The Specialization in Library Technology Management may be added to the MLS at Indianapolis. This involves nine additional credits which deal with advanced applications of technology to information management.

Specialist Degree. Admission to the Specialist in Library and Information Science program is handled by SLIS Bloomington, where the degree is conferred. Course work may be completed at IUPUI; the student's advisor must be a full time faculty at either SLIS Bloomington or SLIS IUPUI. Contact Marilyn Irwin for more information.

Certification. There are two library certification programs. One in public librarianship and the other in school librarianship. Both are designed to meet state requirements and both are offered at the graduate level as a part of the MLS degree. Because our program is graduate level only, the student must meet admission requirements for the MLS in order to pursue certification in either public librarianship or school librarianship. Those seeking school library media certification must hold a teaching license or complete courses for a license in teaching of school media. Contact Marilyn Irwin.

Is all the coursework for my degree available on the Indianapolis Campus?

Yes, SLIS at Indianapolis schedules all classes necessary to complete the MLS, Post-Masters Degrees, as well as the Library Technology Management Certification and the Public Library and School Librarianship.

Will I be awarded an Indiana University Degree even if I am admitted to the IUPUI campus?

Yes. SLIS at Indianapolis is an Indiana University School and so your degree will be from Indiana University. The MLS degree is from Indiana University regardless of the number of credits earned from other distance education receiving campuses such as South Bend, Fort Wayne, New Albany and Gary.

Can I complete my MLS degree entirely taking classes on the Indianapolis Campus?

Yes. All classes needed to successfully earn your MLS degree or Media Specialist certification will be offered on the Indianapolis campus.

How long will it take to finish my degree?

A large selection of MLS courses is offered each semester and summer session at IUPUI. A student who is able to attend full-time can complete the degree within a year to 18 months. 9-12 credits per semester can be taken by a full-time student with approval. Most students at IUPUI are working either part-time or full-time and therefore complete one or two courses a semester. Courses for the MLS are to be completed within a five year period.

For more information, please visit our Programs page and the SLIS Indianapolis Bulletin.

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