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What Courses Do I Take?
A Worksheet for Master's Students

The first step in designing a program of study and choosing courses is for students to review advising materials and contact an academic advisor. The following worksheet is intended to guide you in making course selections to discuss with your faculty advisor. Other than the two required core courses, LIS 501 and 502, there are no rules about what you must take. Your advisor, mentors, instructors, coworkers, supervisors, and fellow students all may advise you but, in the end, you need to take responsibility for your academic program and make a commitment to your course selection.

The worksheet divides the curriculum into foundational (required and recommended) and topical (or specialized) LIS courses that prepare you for particular types of work. The 400 level courses are designed as upper level undergraduate and graduate courses. Only courses at the 400 level and above may be counted toward the MS degree. The 500 level courses are the graduate master's courses. The two required courses are 501 and 502. Please note that most doctoral seminars are open to master's students who have the necessary course background and "consent" of the instructor. The notation "vc" means the course is offered for variable credit, usually half credit (2 hours) or full credit (4 hours).

General guidelines:

• take the required core courses as soon as they are offered
• take the recommended courses of interest to you very early in your program
• use other topical or more specialized courses to hone skills or develop a concentration to offer prospective employers.
• Consider the LIS 591 Practicum (2 hours) for new professional training and experience.

NOTE: Not every course is available on a regular basis or available via LEEP. On-line students might consider taking some specialty courses on-campus (e.g., concentrated two-week summer courses in special collections). All students might consider constructing an Independent Study (LIS 592) or Practicum (LIS 591) in an area not covered by your coursework, or where more depth and experience is desired.

Foundational Courses | Courses to Fulfill Professional Goals | Electives Available Outisde of GSLIS

Foundational Courses

The courses listed below are considered basic foundational courses for all types of library and information science employment. Courses listed here are offered on a regular basis. Other courses are offered occasionally and new courses continue to be added, so students should check the current course timetable.

Courses to Fulfill Professional Goals

In addition to the required and recommended foundational courses, the following courses may be selected to meet more specific professional goals and career paths.

Librarianship

*For additional information about school media, see our full description of K-12 School Librarianship.

Information Science and Library Technology

Areas of Focus

Electives Available Outside of GSLIS

Up to 12 hours can be earned outside of GSLIS:

• Graduate-level course work in library and information science can be transferred from an ALA-accredited master's program (maximum 8 semester hours).
• The student may transfer approved graduate-level course work in a field other than library and information science taken:
• at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (maximum 12 semester hours), or
• as a University of Illinois extension course, or
• from any accredited institution (maximum 4 semester hours).

Please note: 100-, 200-, and 300-level courses cannot be transferred for graduate credit, although they might provide a solid foundation or prerequisite for upper-level courses.

Selective courses in the following UIUC departments might be relevant to your academic program and career-goals. You may consider appropriate courses in other departments as well. Please consult with your advisor about your course interests before registration to ensure the credit will be transferable.

Accounting
Business Administration
Business and Technical Writing
Communications
Computer Science
Education, College of: departments including Curriculum and Instruction, Educational Psychology, and Human Resource Education
Geography
Journalism
Leisure Studies
Mathematics
Urban and Regional Planning

For additional information about academic advising, contact -advising, at support.lis.uiuc.edu-