Library and Information Science

In the Master of Library and Information Science (MS) program at Simmons University, students thrive in classes brought to life by professors who bring their real-world experience into their instruction.

The passions and skills of Library and Information Science students are well-served by Archives Management, Cultural Heritage Informatics, Information Science and Technology, Libraries and Librarianship, and School Library Teacher program concentrations.

The Master’s in Library Science Design-Your-Own curriculum, as well concentrations in Archives Management and Information Science and Technology, can be completed entirely online. In addition to face-to-face classroom options in Boston and at SLIS West (South Hadley and Amherst, Massachusetts), students can embark on a blended approach, combining online and face-to-face courses that meet their academic needs.

With program benefits like online learning and multiple campus locations, Simmons’ Master of Library and Information Science is a clear choice for students seeking a flexible and customizable program. The program also features a Design Your Own Program; students work closely with faculty advisors to craft customized programs of study. Find out more by viewing Customize Your Program below.

Why study Library and Information Science at Simmons?

Opportunity awaits at Simmons. The role of information professionals continues to evolve as the volume of available information has increased and technology for information creation, storage, search, and retrieval continues to advance.

The ability to manage ever-growing information available to us has led to new opportunities for those who want to work in the rapidly growing library and information science field. The Master of Library and Information Science program prepares graduate students for a rewarding career related to collecting, classifying, storing, retrieving, and disseminating recorded knowledge.

Ranked among the best

5 U.S. News & World Report Badges for Best Grad Schools in Library & Information Studies: general, archives, services for children and youth, school library media, and digital librarianship

Simmons University is one of U.S. News and World Report’s top ranking schools of library and information science in the nation.

The Master's in Library and Information Science is ranked 11th in the nation.
Our Archives Management concentration is ranked 1st among Archives & Preservation programs.
SLIS was also ranked 7th for Services for Children and Youth programs.
Our School Library Teacher concentration ranked 9th among School Library Media programs.
Our Cultural Heritage Informatics concentration ranked 13th among Digital Librarianship programs.

What will you learn?

Simmons’ Master of Library and Information Science program consists of 36 credit hours. The core curriculum provides a foundation of disciplinary knowledge in library and information science and prepares students for the electives that shape the concentrations and tracks. For more details, see our Library and Information Science course descriptions.

Through internships, site visits, and pre-professional work opportunities throughout Massachusetts and across New England, Library and Information Science students at Simmons gain experience in their fields. Library and Information Science students learn to

integrate theory with practice;
analyze information needs to create solutions by applying a variety of tools and technologies;
ensure the organization, accessibility, and management of library and information resources; and
create dynamic ways for a variety of users to interact with resources.

What can you do with a Master of Library and Information Science degree?

Our Library and Information Science students go on to a variety of successful careers as web developers, digital librarians, social media managers, school media specialists, and much more.

From Harvard University's libraries to Fortune 500 companies, Simmons' Master of Library and Information Science students are working in the top libraries and workplaces around the country. For more information about the various types of careers available to our graduates, please see our Careers page.

The following is a sampling of jobs Simmons’ Library and Information Science graduates reported obtaining within one year of graduation:

Public Librarian
Cataloging and Acquisition Librarian
Adult Services Librarian
Database Editor
Business Development Specialist
Director of Media and Professional Development
Emerging Technologies Librarian
Data Assets Manager
Digital Initiatives Librarian
Digital Curator
Children's Librarian
Requirements Analyst
School Librarian and Media Specialist
Legal Information Librarian
Medical Librarian
Metadata Librarian
Market Insights Analyst
University Archivist
Senior Web Content Coordinator

Learn more about our Master of Library and Information Science degree!

Take advantage of what Boston has to offer while taking library science degree courses on a flexible schedule, with classes held on days, nights, and weekends. Or, join Simmons from far away—the option to complete the library science degree online provides the utmost flexibility for students from every corner of the world. Simmons allows students to achieve a successful and meaningful career and provides a powerful return on your educational investment. Ready to learn more about what the Master of Library and Information Science at Simmons has to offer? Request more information today!

See program requirements for the Library and Information Science (MS) program.

Our ALA-accredited degree program in library and information science offers students the opportunity to customize their degree program by concentrating their studies in archives management, school librarianship, information science and technology, and cultural heritage informatics or by developing expertise in areas of professional interest by selecting courses from curricular “tracks” related to information organization, management and leadership, preservation management, reference and information services, and youth services.

Students may also choose to pursue a dual degree program that allows for the completion of two masters degrees simultaneously. SLIS offers two dual degree programs in conjunction with the MS: a dual degree in archives management (MS) and history (MA) and a dual degree in library and information science (MS) and children’s literature (MA).

Design Your Own (DYO) Master of Science

Students may tailor their degree programs to their own professional needs and interests by selecting courses from a robust catalog of electives. Like all MS students, DYO students must complete 9 credit hours (3 courses) of core coursework in information organization, information services, and technology. DYO students may then work with a faculty advisor to select 27 credit hours (9 courses) of elective courses in areas of professional interest including youth services, reference and information services, public librarianship, management and leadership, and information organization.

Concentrations

LIS students may choose to focus their studies by following a degree concentration curriculum designed to prepare students to work in a variety of information institutions with a diversity of materials and tools. Students who choose to concentrate their studies must complete the LIS core courses required of all MS students as well as a sequence of courses required to earn the degree concentration.

Please refer to the links below to explore the required and recommended courses for each degree concentration:

Tracks

The LIS faculty has developed topical “tracks” which serve as guides for course selection and professional development in specific areas of the library and information science field. Students may customize their LIS degree program by working with their faculty advisor to select recommended “key courses” in a track of interest as well as elective courses that can broaden and deepen a student’s knowledge in the subject area.

Please refer to the links below to explore the key courses and electives in each curricular track:

Students may complete the master of science degree program in library and information science fully online. Students may choose the DYO (Design Your Own) option, and customize their degree program to reflect their professional goals. Or, they may choose to concentrate their studies in archives management or information science and technology.

Online Courses

Excepting mode of delivery, online courses are identical to face to face courses in content and learning objectives. Online courses are asynchronous, meaning that teaching and learning in the online course environment is not bound to time or place. Just as face-to-face students must meet assignment deadlines set by their instructors and actively engage in learning in the classroom space, online students are similarly obligated to complete assignments on time and participate in learning activities. The difference between the online and face-to-face experience: online students may access and engage with organized learning materials anytime and anywhere they are connected to the Internet.

Because all MS students may register for and participate in online classes, the SLIS online classrooms have become spaces for local and distant students to learn and network.

Attend the LIS Master’s Program at SLIS West in South Hadley, Massachusetts located at Mount Holyoke College. The SLIS West Campus is primarily a part time program geared towards the needs of working students. The small classes, scheduling flexibility, and cohesive community help our working students succeed in the classroom and in their careers.

Courses are scheduled primarily on weekends, with some evening options available. Depending on the area of specialization, program requirements can be completed entirely at the SLIS West campus, although many students take a course or two online or in Boston. Boston students are also welcome to take classes at SLIS West.