You'll stand out in your field because we stand out in ours. Receive an exceptional education from our MSLIS program consistently ranked number one by U.S. News & World Report. As an iSchool student, you'll be immersed in a rich learning environment that provides a strong academic foundation as well as opportunities to explore your interests through extracurricular and networking activities, internships and other professional field experience, and interaction with expert faculty.
Our MSLIS is an important venue for the intellectual and professional conversation that shapes and guides our profession. We are leaders in creating well-trained professionals who support information access and think critically about the values that inform and drive their practice.
Maria Bonn, Associate Professor and MSLIS and CAS Program Director
A versatile degree, our ALA-accredited* MSLIS gives you the skills to manage, analyze, and preserve information in a variety of careers. Choose from a broad range of course electives or select a pathway, working one-on-one with our advisors to customize a program that supports your professional goals.
Our graduates fill leadership positions in diverse information settings, including public, academic, and school libraries as well as healthcare, business, and science. Examples of career paths include the following:
*Continued accreditation status since first approval in 1926
Anna Wiegand (MSLIS '22) is now a cataloger at Illinois Heartland Library System.
Get connected with the iSchool Ambassadors
These dedicated students promote the iSchool's mission and vision. They work with Recruitment & Admissions and Student Affairs, serving as liaisons for prospective and incoming students. They also are valuable resources for sharing the iSchool experience and connecting students who have similar interests.
The iSchool gave me the soft and hard skills I needed to deliver library programs and services to diverse communities in both school and public libraries. I received a well-rounded education that enabled me to transfer those skills across intellectual levels to serve all ages.
Tamela Chambers (MSLIS '05), Southwest District Chief for Chicago Public Library
The MSLIS requires 40 credit hours of coursework and can be completed on campus or online in 18-24 months. After completing only two required courses—Information Organization and Access (IS 505) and Libraries, Information, and Society (IS 510)—you can select classes that match your interests or follow one of our professional pathways:
Having only two required courses meant that I could take an array of classes that interested me and not be limited to a small selection of degree-specific courses. I also loved the flexibility the online Leep program offered for remote students—I could still receive an education from world-renowned professors without having to give up my job or fully relocate.
Abigail Deweese, MSLIS student
Our program meets your needs by providing on-campus and online options. Through our popular Leep online learning option, you can engage with peers and faculty in real-time virtual classrooms, giving you access to the same high-quality education no matter where you are in the world. Both on-campus and online students meet faculty, staff, and classmates during an on-campus orientation. And once you are admitted, you have the flexibility to change your learning option if your circumstances change.
Prepare for a bright future . . . wherever you are.
Our high-touch, high-tech Leep online option allows you to fully engage with faculty and other students. You'll have access to all the resources offered by our MSLIS program while tailoring your degree to meet your goals.
No matter where you are, or where you're going, the iSchool help you find your path to success!
It was researching the LIS program at Illinois that sold it for me. The program is ranked the best in the nation, and the faculty are amazing. There were so many reasons to earn an MSLIS that I just had to consider it.
Richard Byington, dual degree student in the MSLIS program and Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies
Our faculty are nationally recognized, award-winning, innovative teachers and researchers. At the iSchool you'll learn from leaders in the field.
Our experienced advisors will help you develop a program that best meets your career goals. Throughout the program, you'll remain in close contact with your advisor to discuss course options, opportunities for practical experiences, and/or research opportunities. Meetings with advising staff can take place in person, over the phone, online (i.e., Skype), or via email.
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