ePortfolio
Prior to graduation, all students must complete the ePortfolio graduation examination requirement to demonstrate their understanding of library and information science student learning outcomes. Learn more about the ePortfolio.
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Delivery of this program’s courses is 100 percent online; no campus visits are required. A school library practicum will be required and can be completed at a location convenient to you.
If you are already a state-certified teacher: Successful completion of the program requires 39 credit hours of course work (27 credit hours of required courses, a 3-credit hour practicum and 9 credit hours of electives). Courses are 3 credit hours each, unless stated otherwise. Your plan of study will include IS_LT 7380 School Library Practicum (3 credit hours), which requires 100 clock hours spent in a school library or school libraries in your area.
If you are not already teacher-certified: Successful completion of this program includes 18 credit hours of teacher education courses, a one-semester student teaching experience in a school library and completion of the Missouri Content Area Test for Library Media Specialist, in addition to the MLIS master’s program requirements.
Some online courses are synchronous. This means class lectures occur at certain times of the day/week and require the student to attend via online collaborative tools. Please refer to myzou.missouri.edu for course availability and details — click on "Browse Course Catalog" or "Schedule of Classes" under Guest Access.
Course planner
Courses are entirely online with some synchronous meetings via Zoom. All required synchronous meetings are listed during registration. Some optional, in-person meetings and events may be offered, but the program has online options in almost all instances. Courses are mostly semester-based and some use 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.
Nondegree-seeking enrollment
Prior to acceptance into the program, you may enroll in up to 9 credit hours as a nondegree-seeking (in some cases, post-baccalaureate) student. Enrollment does not guarantee acceptance. Learn more about nondegree-seeking university student admissions.
State authorization
States require that the University of Missouri-Columbia be authorized to deliver university-level distance/online education to their residents. Each state handles this process differently.
Please see our state authorization page for more information.
Learn more about this program
This program is administered by the
School of Information Science and Learning Technologies