Online Master of Science in Library and Information Science

Apply by the November 13 Final Deadline to Start in January

What Is a Master’s in Library and Information Science Degree?

A master’s in library and information science (MLIS) degree provides a thorough grounding in the knowledge, skills and values of librarianship in an interdisciplinary context. Syracuse University’s iSchool offers an online MLIS degree that bridges the gap between people, information and technology. In times of uncertainty, librarians and researchers bring communities together, offering fair and equitable access to resources and information to individuals of all backgrounds.

"Library and information science professionals serve diverse communities as advocates for evolving information services, equitable access and ethical use of information in cultural institutions such as libraries, archives and museums.”

Jian Qin,

Director, M.S. in Library and Information Science (LIS) and M.S. in LIS With School Media Specialization Programs

The Top-Ranked iSchool's Online M.S. in Library and Information Science

At the iSchool, your education extends far beyond your coursework. You’ll connect one-on-one with faculty, gain firsthand library experience and meet industry leaders and experts. That’s how we earned our #4 ranking by U.S. News & World Report—by ensuring your time at the iSchool serves as a launchpad to reaching your career goals.1

A Trusted ALA-Accredited Program

ALA Accredited Badge

Accredited by the American Library Association (ALA) since 1928, the iSchool provides flexibility in the types of libraries and jobs for which you can apply and further enhance your career mobility.2 In fact, many employers require an ALA-accredited master’s degree for professional-level positions.

#4
Best Library and Information Studies Program1
#2
in School Library Media
#4
in Digital Librarianship
#2
in Information Systems

What You Can Do With a Master’s in Library and Information Science

The iSchool’s master’s degree in library science online prepares you to fine-tune your skills in both theory and practice and gives you the tools to make a positive impact on your community. After completing the program, you will be prepared to work across a broad range of settings, including academic institutions, public libraries, corporations, government agencies and cultural institutions.

You’ll also graduate prepared to assume leadership roles in libraries, information centers and the broader information environment, leading to rewarding career opportunities in positions such as academic librarian, data scientist, archivist, school media specialist and many others.

MLIS graduates have gone on to secure positions at organizations including:

  • AmeriCorps
  • NYC Department of Education
  • Penguin Random House
  • National Gallery of Art
  • PepsiCo

Why Earn an MLIS Online From Syracuse?

Employers that look to hire MLIS graduates require a range of technical and managerial skills. At the iSchool, we bridge technology and business to drive innovation in the digital information age. Our online MLIS students graduate with a unique combination of skills, including experience in statistical reporting and data management as well as knowledge of project management, to name a few. Here is a full breakdown of the skills students can expect to acquire in our program.

Technical skills:

  • data management
  • information architecture
  • information literacy
  • information systems management
  • library programming
  • metadata
  • statistical reporting

Business and Managerial skills:

  • budgeting
  • communication and marketing management
  • ethical use of information
  • project management
  • risk management and contingency planning
  • scheduling
  • staff management
  • supervisory skills

Explore How an MLIS Degree Can Propel Your Career

Earn your master’s degree in library science online from Syracuse University.

Request Information Today

Curriculum and Learning Outcomes

The forward-thinking MLIS curriculum prepares students to have a positive impact on how communities access and use information. Uniquely designed to prepare effective library and information science leaders, the program offers opportunities for students to customize their education and gain hands-on experience.

By emphasizing both theory and practice, the curriculum encompasses each sector of the profession, teaching students to adopt a user-friendly mentality in librarianship. Students explore the importance of technology in providing quality service and why 21st-century librarians must be skilled managers of information.


36 Credit Hours

Complete in as Few as 18 Months

What You’ll Learn

To ensure our MLIS online graduates emerge fully prepared to succeed as library and information science professionals, faculty focus on learning outcomes that help students to:

  • apply the skills and attitudes of visioning, entrepreneurship, advocacy, planning and management to leadership in the information field;
  • manage information resources and the information life cycle through the processes of collection development, representation, organization, preservation, curation, access and dissemination in accordance with physical, virtual and technical infrastructure and needs;
  • apply appropriate pedagogical and learning theory principles in the design, development, implementation and assessment of library instruction and learning that contribute toward an information and technology literate society;
  • design and employ policies essential for creating and providing information services and resources guided by the values of patron privacy, equitable access, intellectual freedom and ethical use of information;
  • possess the skills to respect, engage and collaborate with a diverse community in order to advocate for and construct inclusive, meaningful and participatory library services, programs and resources; and
  • perform and assess research-based practices through the application of information literacy, inquiry and research methods including data discovery, analytics and qualitative measures.

The curriculum is composed of 18 credits of primary core coursework and 15 electives.

Develop Specialized Skills

The iSchool offers an MLIS program specialization in School Media. This specialization teaches students how to provide an active curriculum support service and library and information skills instruction within elementary and secondary school settings.

The iSchool also offers Certificates of Advanced Study, or CAS, requiring no additional coursework, allowing students to develop specialized skills for career advancement.

Take the Next Step

Earn your MLIS online in as few as 18 months.

Request Information Today

Admissions Overview

Syracuse’s iSchool seeks students who are passionate about harnessing the power of information. Our admissions team reviews and carefully considers each application, determining who could best contribute their knowledge and experiences to the iSchool community.

Review the application requirements.

Upcoming Deadlines

Syracuse offers four cohort start dates each year. See the upcoming deadlines for the January 2021 cohort:

Early Priority Deadline
Closed
Priority Deadline
Closed
Application Deadline
November 13, 2020

Unmatched Online Learning at the Syracuse iSchool

Immerse yourself in the Syracuse community, and gain access to the same resources and services as on-campus students. Using advanced technology, we ensure you get the same high-quality Syracuse education, online.


live, online class sessions offered six days a week

a flexible online platform with features such as dark mode and adjustable video speeds

engaging coursework from world-class faculty

Meet Our Library and Information Science Students

Here, you’ll join a diverse network of alumni who come from a wide variety of professional backgrounds. Like Nick Abrahamson, who entered the MLIS program in hopes of advancing his career after working in libraries for just over a decade.

"Before I applied for the Syracuse LIS program, I had reached my ceiling at my job with the level of education I previously had. But even before I’ve graduated, I have been able to leverage my experience and the new insight I learned through the program into a professional librarian position.”

Nick Abrahamson,

MLIS Program, Class of 2019, Research Librarian, Henderson County Public Library

Visit our student and alumni page to read more stories about our Orange community.

Make a Positive Impact Through Information Science

1U.S. News & World Report, Top Library and Information Science Programs (Accessed June 2020) Return to footnote reference
2American Library Association, ALA Accredited Programs (Accessed June 2020) Return to footnote reference