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Guide to the Masters Program

The master's degree program provides the basic graduate preparation required for the first professional degree. The Master of Science is one of the 58 degree programs in the United States and Canada that are accredited by the American Library Association.

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1. Objectives of the Program
2. Admission Requirements
3. Procedure for Applying
4. Program Requirements
   • Core Courses
   • Programs of Study
   • Minimum Academic Standards
   • Satisfactory Progress
5. Graduation Requirements
6. Health Sciences Informatics
7. Certificate of Advanced Study (Post-Master's Certificate)

Objectives

The Master's Program objective is to prepare students to:

Understand the principles, analyze the problems, and design and implement practices related to recordable information, including its creation, communication, identification, selection, acquisition, organization, description, storage, retrieval, preservation, analysis, interpretation, evaluation, synthesis, dissemination and management.

Specifically, students should:

1. Understand the critical impact of electronic technology and networks on information practices.
2. Be able to manage change in a technology-driven and knowledge-based environment.
3. Plan, manage, and implement information systems in the networked environment for the creation, organization and dissemination of information.
4. Develop and implement conceptual and technological systems and structures for the organization of information in any format for effective access.
5. Understand human information behavior in order to design and implement information systems and services that meet user needs.
6. Evaluate, synthesize and present information for client use.
7. Demonstrate effective oral and written communication skills.
8. Manifest a commitment to the philosophy, principles and legal and ethical responsibilities of the field.
9. Recognize the role of information and its provision and dissemination in a multicultural, multiethnic, multilingual, technological and global society.
10. Demonstrate additional knowledge and competencies appropriate to their individual interests, specializations and career goals.
11. Understand the importance of professional development, continuing education and participation in professional organizations.
12. Relate the methodologies and content of other disciplines to the information field and understand the contribution of the information field to other disciplines. 

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Admission Requirements

Please also see Master's Admission Checklist

Applicants for admission to degree status and candidacy in the master's program must meet the following requirements:

1. a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution that includes a strong concentration in at least one area;
2. an overall undergraduate grade point average of at least 2.8 (4.0 scale) on prior academic work (special consideration is given to the student's grade point average in the last 60 hours of undergraduate work and to the average earned in any post-baccalaureate study completed by the applicant);
3. a score of at least 421 Verbal and either 400 Quantitative or 3.5 Writing (429 Analytical for tests taken before 10/01/2002) on the Graduate Record Examination or a score of 30 (or 380) on the Miller Analogies Test or a combined score of 450 on the GMAT.
4. three satisfactory letters of recommendation from former professors, employers or others who can give evidence of personal aptitude for, as well as interest in, a career in the information field; and
5. a personal statement of career objectives providing additional information concerning motivation for professional service and areas of special interest.

Proficiency in reading, writing and speaking English is expected of all students; if English is not a native language, a satisfactory score of at least 550 is required on the Test of English as a Foreign Language.

Applicants meeting the stated minimum grade point average and Graduate Record Examination scores are not guaranteed admission. Should additional information be needed to evaluate the admissibility of an applicant, an interview may be required. All prospective students are invited to visit the campus and the school and are encouraged to schedule an appointment to meet with a member of the faculty.

In exceptional cases, applicants who are judged by the faculty to show promise for successful graduate study may be granted provisional admission, even though they do not meet all admission requirements.

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Procedure for Applying

Please also see Master's Admission Checklist

Students may enter the master's degree program in the fall, spring or summer term. Applicants should complete the requirements listed below and meet the admission deadlines listed in the calendar section of this catalog.

1. Obtain admission to the university and the School of Graduate Studies by filing the following items with the School of Graduate Studies:
   • complete official transcripts from all colleges or universities attended;
   • application for admission to the School of Graduate Studies;
   • official scores on the Graduate Record Examination;
   • the application fee; and
   • any other forms or materials required by the School of Graduate Studies.

   School of Graduate Studies application forms, instructions and other materials should be requested from the dean of the School of Graduate Studies.
   
   

2. File with the School of Library and Information Sciences the following items:
   • application for admission to the School of Library and Information Sciences; 
   • three letters of recommendation; and
   • statement of purpose and goals.

   School of Library and Information Sciences application and recommendation forms should be requested from the dean of the School of Library and Information Sciences.

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Program Requirements

Students may pursue degree concentrations in library science or information science. The program may be completed in one calendar year of full-time study, although many students extend their work over a longer period.

ITKS Section

Entering students should have a mastery of basic information technology knowledge and skills. Students should acquire Entry Level Information Technology Knowledge and Skills before the first semester of enrollment.  To assist students in assessing their computer competency, SLIS has an Entry Level Information Technology Knowledge and Skills (ITKS) Policy.  The new ITKS policy has three components:

• A list of the specific information technology knowledge and skills entering students must have prior to beginning coursework in the masters program
• An online ITKS Diagnostic Tool students can use to identify the strengths and deficiences of their current ITKS
• A list of resources maintained by SLIS (courses, online tutorials, and other independent study resources) to assist entering students in gaining the necessary entry-level ITKS

Entry-level Information Technology Knowledge and Skills will not be taught in SLIS courses, other than in SLIS 5710.

Applicants and students entering SLIS have the following responsibilities:

• Review the list of Entry Level ITKS posted on the SLIS website
• Complete a self-assessment using the online ITKS Diagnostic Tool

Applicants and students will use the SLIS ITKS Diagnostic Tool for their self-assessment. The recommended standard score of 75% for each of the 7 ITKS groups demonstrates satisfactory readiness.  Applicants and students who do not score at the 75% level should take remedial action to meet the entry-level requirements.

For any ITKS group for which the student did not get at least a 75% score, the Diagnostic Took links to a list of appropriate resources for students to use to improve their ITKS. Students can use the ITKS Self-Assessment tool more than once.  A list of Frequently Asked Questions is available.

Master's students also must present evidence of relevant experience by meeting a field experience requirement. This requirement may be satisfied through appropriate prior experience as approved by the faculty or through a practicum or internship. Students without prior experience must take SLIS 5090, Practicum and Field Study.

Further information concerning these requirements may be obtained through the school.

Neither SLIS 5710 nor SLIS 5090 counts toward fulfilling the 36 hours of graduate credit required for the degree.

Up to 9 hours of coursework may be transferred into the program upon approval of the advisor.  This coursework cannot have been used in another degree program and must be less than six years old upon graduation.  Correspondence course credits and credits by examination are not allowed.

Students must complete all planned course work with an average grade of B (3.0) or better, pass a final comprehensive examination, and file an application for the degree.

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Core Courses

Students must earn a minimum of 36 hours of graduate credit, including nine hours of core courses.  The core courses are: 

• SLIS 5000 Introduction to Information Professions
• SLIS 5200 Introduction to Information Organization
• SLIS 5600 Introduction to Information and Access and Retrieval

Core courses cannot be transferred into the program and should be taken within the first 12 hours of coursework.

At least 27 additional hours of other course work, planned in consultation with a faculty advisor, are required. Courses selected will depend upon career objectives, interests, and previous experience.

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Concentrations

Students may choose a concentration in either library science or information science. All course selections must be made under the guidance of a student's faculty advisor and approved by the associate dean.

Elective courses beyond the required core courses are determined in consultation with the student's faculty advisor.

Students may elect to focus in a variety of specialization areas.

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Minimum Academic Standards

The School of Graduate Studies requires that master's students make satisfactory progress toward completion of degree requirements to remain in good standing within a specific degree program. Students whose progress is unsatisfactory may be removed from the program.

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Academic Standards

Coursework

• Students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 (B) or higher on all coursework in the master's degree program.

• All core courses must be completed with a grade of A or B.

• Students who receive a grad of Incomplete (I) must complete the coursework within a time period agreed upon with the instructor, up to a maximum of one calendar year following the semester of the incomplete, or receive a grade of F for the course.

Probation

• Students whose cumulative GPA falls below 3.0 will be placed on academic probation.

• Students on probation must maintain at least a 3.0 GPA on all SLIS graduate courses.

• Students on probation must remove their probationary status within one calendar year following the semester in which their grades initiated probationary status.  Failure to remove the probationary status within this time period will result in dismissal from the program.

Dismissal

• Students who have been dismissed from the program are not eligible for readmission.

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Graduation Requirements

• A student must have an average GPA of 3.0 (B) or higher on all course work in the degree program.
• A student may not count more than two C's in the master's degree program requirements.
• All core courses must be completed with a grade of A or B.
• No course in which a student receives a grade below C will be counted toward the degree.

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Health Informatics

Students who plan to specialize in health sciences informatics normally will include in the program of study the SLIS core courses, SLIS 5205, Information Indexing, Abstracting and Retrieval; SLIS 5365, Health Sciences Information Management; SLIS 5615, Electronic Data Bases and Information Services; and SLIS 5637, Medical Informatics; and SLIS 5713, Telecommunications for Information Professionals.

In addition, students are strongly encouraged to complete an internship in a healthcare environment.

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Certificate of Advanced Study (Post-Master's Certificate)

The post-master's (sixth-year) program leading to a Certificate of Advanced Study is offered for those who seek further specialization in a particular aspect of library or information science. Those entering the program prepare for a level of competency beyond that provided by the master's degree. The program also enables the professional to satisfy continuing education goals or requirements or to update oneself in the field of library or information science.

Admission requirements include those specified for the master's program. In evaluating applications, consideration is given to prior study and academic record, Graduate Record Examination aptitude scores, letters of recommendation, and career interests and objectives, as well as any prior professional experience. A satisfactory interview with members of the school's advanced studies committee or with a representative of the school as designated by the dean also is required normally either before or at the time of first enrollment for course work.

The program may be completed in two semesters of full-time study or extended over a longer period.

The student must earn a minimum of 24 to 30 hours of graduate credit, which may include up to 12 hours in other disciplines, chosen or specified according to prior study and individual interests and objectives. Transfer credit may be approved for 3 to 6 hours, and at least 12 to 15 hours must be completed within the school.

The program of study, which is tailored to individual needs, must be planned with a faculty adviser and approved in advance by the dean of the school. No comprehensive examination or special research requirements are specified. Students must be admitted to candidacy to continue beyond 12 hours. Students must complete all planned course work with an average grade of B or better, and then file an application for the certificate.

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The majority of this information was taken from the UNT Graduate Catalog.