Library and information science

Overview

The online master's degree in library and information science from MU will help you develop the knowledge and skills you need to be an information expert in the information age. If you want to advance your career providing relevant and meaningful services to library users, this may be the degree for you.

The School of Information Science and Learning Technologies (SISLT) is a proud member of the iSchools consortium, an international coalition of leading information schools.

Quick facts

Official name

Master of library and information science

Campus

University of Missouri

Program type

Master's degree

Academic home

College of Education & Human Development | School of Information Science and Learning Technologies

Delivery mode

100% online

Accreditation

Higher Learning Commission, Teacher Education Accreditation Council, American Library Association

Credit hours

39

Estimated cost

$18,973.50

*This cost is for illustrative purposes only. Your hours and costs will differ, depending on your transfer hours, your course choices and your academic progress. See more about tuition and financial aid.

Career prospects

Positions our graduates have taken

Archives specialist
Children’s librarian
Electronic resources coordinator
Emerging technologies librarian
Library acquisition and e-resource specialist
Medical reference librarian
Research analyst

Discover career possibilities

Burning Glass Technologies. 2021. Salary numbers and employment growth numbers are based on models that consider advertised job posting salary, Bureau of Labor Statistics data and other proprietary and public sources of information for multiple occupations.

8.68%

Employment growth

Burning Glass Technologies. 2021. Salary numbers and employment growth numbers are based on models that consider advertised job posting salary, Bureau of Labor Statistics data and other proprietary and public sources of information for multiple occupations.

$50,000

median salary

Program structure

You can complete this program entirely online. Occasional face-to-face courses and events may be offered.

Courses are semester-based, though some courses are in an eight-week format. Students typically take one or two classes each semester and finish the program in two to four years. Students who attend full-time typically finish in two years.

Most library and information science faculty are based in Columbia, MO with faculty in Kansas City.

Course work includes

Information services, systems, and technologies
Organization of information, cataloging, and classification
Digital libraries and media
E-Learning information services
Community and diversity leadership
Management of information collections and agencies
Archival sciences
Digital humanities
School librarianship

Delivery

100% online

Calendar system

Semester-based

Typical program length

2-4 years

Typical course load

1 or 2 classes each semester

Earn a dual master’s degree

With this program, you can concurrently earn a master of public affairs.

The programs have separate applications and require a minimum of 12 hours of shared 8000-level or above graduate credit. Learn more about the academic process for dual master’s degree students at the Mizzou Graduate School website.

Accreditation

The University of Missouri is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, one of six regional institutional accreditors in the United States. The College of Education and Human Development is a member of the Teacher Education Accreditation Council. The library and information science master’s program is accredited by the American Library Association.