Online Master of Library and Information Studies

The following courses are required for both the thesis and course-based routes of the MLIS program:

• LIS 501 – Foundations of Library and Information Studies
• LIS 502 – Organization of Information
• LIS 503 – Reference and Information Services
• LIS 504 – Leadership and Management Principles for Libraries and Information Services 
• LIS 505 – Introduction to Research in Library and Information Studies
• Two (2) designated Information Technology (IT) courses.

All students must take LIS 501 in the first semester of their program. LIS 501 is intended to provide the broad context for all of the other courses in the program, and is a prerequisite or corequisite for the other required courses.

The MLIS program is a technology intensive program, which prepares students for positions of responsibility across the information professions. MLIS students must complete two IT- designated courses during their program.

• LIS 530 – Technology, Information, and Society
• LIS 533 – Database Design for Information Management 
• LIS 534 – Information Architecture: Web Design for Usability
• LIS 538 – Digital Libraries
• LIS 539 – Emerging and Evolving Technologies
• LIS 598 – Special Topics

Students also have the option of taking one of their two IT courses outside of SLIS, such from those offered by the Digital Humanities program (e.g. DH 520 – Topics in Technical Concepts and Approaches). Make sure to consult with your advisor about any external IT courses that you may want to take.

Students may, with approval, include up to ★9 (three courses) in external courses offered by a department other than the School of Library and Information Studies.

MLIS students fulfill this requirement through their program. No additional activities are required.

Each student is assigned a Program Advisor who will provide advice and counselling in adapting the program to match career goals and objectives. Those students wishing to pursue the thesis option are also required to obtain a Supervisor to oversee their work.

Students should also consult the Faculty of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies Graduate Program Manual and the University Calendar for additional information.

The Ethics and Academic Citizenship Requirement provides foundational ethics education for all graduate students. The requirement for masters students consists of one zero- credit, self-paced online course: INT D 710: Ethics and Academic Citizenship. There is no additional tuition or fees for the course, and it does not impact full-time or part-time status.

The timeline for completion of the Ethics and Academic Citizenship Requirement will depend on several factors, including when the student began their program and when they expect to complete their program.

Online and on-campus students in the course-based MLIS must have completed all the requirements within six (6) years of the time they are first registered as a probationary graduate student or candidate in the Master's program. Thesis- based students must complete all requirements within four (4) years.

A student who is registered full-time (i.e. carries at least 9 units of course weight during one term) in the MLIS program will normally be able to complete the degree requirements in two (2) years.

Some graduate courses taken before admission may be granted as transfer credit by the Faculty of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies, on the recommendation of the School of Library and Information Studies, provided that the courses have not been counted towards a previous degree or diploma or to qualify for admission to the MLIS program. No more than three courses may be given transfer credit. Applicants with graduate courses from a program accredited by the American Library Association should consult the School for information regarding transfer credits and course requirements. Transfer credits requests from applicants will be reviewed after they are admitted in the MLIS program and they have accepted the admission offer. Please contact SLIS for more details, including document requirements, after you have accepted the admission offer.