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GSLIS West Advising Day

Program of Study

How to plan your program of study: General Questions and Answers

How many credits do I need to graduate?

  • Students must complete twelve three-credit classes for a total of 36 credits

What are the core courses required for the program?*

* School Library Teacher Program students should see the SLTP Community for specific program requirements as they are different than those of other students.

* Archives Program students should see the Archives Community for specific program requirements as they are different from those of other students.

Do I need to take the core courses in any particular order?

  • No, but some are prerequisites for many electives. Take the core courses early in your GSLIS career. Many students find that Reference/Information Services (LIS407) and Information Organization (LIS415) provide a solid foundation for subsequent courses; be aware, though, that both of these courses are time intensive and taking them concurrently can be intense.

How many courses can I take at one time?

  • Students may enroll in up to twelve credits each fall or spring semester and six credits in summer semester, but should consult their advisors before doing so. Most GSLIS students take one or two classes at a time. For more information visit the Courses & Registration webpage.

How many credits do I need to take to qualify for financial aid?

  • You must register for six credits to qualify for financial aid.  Aid is determined by the total number of credits for which you enroll. For more information about financial aid see the financial aid page.

How many hours of work per week should I expect to do outside the classroom?

  • This varies from course to course. To get an idea of what other students think of the workload of a particular course, consult the course evaluation binders in the Student Information Center on the second floor of the Palace Road building or on the LISSA West's eLearning Space, which you can link to on the LISSA West wiki.

How many courses can I take over the summer term and other short semesters?

  • You may enroll in six credits during the summer term and as many short term courses as you would like, as long as no class meeting times overlap. However, during the spring term, short courses in March count toward the overall maximum of twelve credits per term. Therefore, if you are already taking four courses during the regular term, you will not be able to take an additional short term course in March. For more information about registration, see the registration page.

What is the shortest time span possible for completing the program?

  • This is a good question to ask your advisor, since the answer depends upon your course of study and interests. The program cannot be completed in fewer than four semesters, but this schedule is only possible for Boston students, not GSLIS West students. Most GSLIS West students complete the program in six to eight semesters.

Where can I learn more about the various concentrations?

  • Information about each concentration is available on the website in the MS section. Once you've taken a look there, you should ask your advisor, or another GSLIS professor. For more information about our faculty, check out the faculty website.

Can I take a little of everything?

  • You don't need to choose a concentration—you can be a generalist.  You can also create your own unofficial area of concentration (i.e. children's services, visual media) outside of the officially designated concentrations.

Can I take an independent study?

  • Once you have completed twelve credits in the program you will be eligible to participate in an Independent Study. Refer to the Independent Study form on the Forms & Policies page.

What are the Student Learning Outcomes?

Can I take courses at both the Mount Holyoke campus and the Boston campus?

  • Yes. However, Boston students cannot take a course at Mount Holyoke during their first semester if they are beginning the program in the summer semester. Students enrolling in a course that does not take place on their primary campus are strongly encouraged to attend Advising Day for that campus.

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GSLIS West Advising Day

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Last Updated: March 10, 2009 02:11 PM

Last Published: February 12, 2012 08:08 AM