Interested in an ALA-accredited MLIS Degree online at Southern Miss?

1. Interested in an Online
ALA-accredited MLIS Degree?
Dr. Teresa S. Welsh
www.usm.edu/slis

2. Why earn MLIS degree?
 MLIS degree from ALA-accredited program ‘gold
standard’ for library/archival profession
 MLIS increases professional opportunities
 Public librarian
 School librarian
 Academic librarian
 Special librarian (medical, legal, art, etc.)
 Archivist/Special collections librarian
 MLIS students come from a variety of academic and
professional backgrounds.
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3. Why choose Southern Miss SLIS?
 Accredited by American Library Association since
1980; re-accredited in 2019 for max 7 years
 Only ALA-accredited program in state; assigned LIS
leadership status by Institution of Higher Learning
 Accredited by Council for Accreditation of Education
Preparation (CAEP)
 Rated USM top-tier program
 Award-winning faculty; distinguished
alums.
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4. What is unique about SLIS?
 No rigid cohorts; no out-of-state fees
 Classes meet each week in live, virtual classrooms
 British Studies option each June in London
 Children’s Book Festival in April
 Variety of core courses, electives
offered each semester
 Personal attention from faculty,
staff, GAs.
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5. What are the program options?
 MLIS degree w/choice of 5 electives
 MLIS w/School Licensure emphasis
 Graduate Certificates (12 credit hours can
count for both MLIS and certificate if earned
together)
 Grad Certificate in Archives & Special Collections
 Grad Certificate in Youth Services & Literature
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6. What are admission requirements?
 Online application form, application fee, resume
 Official transcript(s)
 GRE OR Miller Analogies Test scores
 GRE waiver for those with grad degrees
 3 letters of recommendation w/org letterhead
 Statement of purpose (750 - 1,000 words) essay on why
interested in MLIS degree and LIS career of interest
 Proof of MMR immunity
 Immunization record or blood test showing MMR immunity
 May request waiver if out of state.
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www.usm.edu/graduate-admissions/index.php
How do I apply?

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What happens next?
 After all required items are submitted… and application
fee paid ($60)….
Application is reviewed by Graduate School…
 Then sent to SLIS Admissions Committee for review
 2.75 - 4.0 GPA on last 60 hrs = regular admit
 2.0 - <2.75 GPA = conditional admit
 Committee considers total application:
 GRE/MAT scores (or waiver)
 Letters of recommendation
 Resume, essay
 Director reviews recommendation, sends to Grad School.

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What are the deadlines?
 SLIS has rolling applications… we review applications
up until beginning of semester
 Graduate School closes applications to upcoming
semester about 10 days before the new semester…. but
 Applicants who begin online application before closing
the portal are allowed to complete the application
 Applicants may apply as non-degree and earn up to 12
credit hours that can be applied to degree
 SLIS accepts new students in fall, spring, summer.
www.usm.edu/graduate-admissions/step-step-guide-applying-graduate-study.php

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What course(s) should I take?
 LIS 500 – Intro to LIS (1 credit hr, 8 wks)
 Another core course such as LIS 501 –
Reference or LIS 505 – Cataloging
 or… an elective of interest
 Students encouraged to look at electives
offered first – then core courses
www.usm.edu/graduate-admissions/next-steps
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Electives of Interest in Fall
 LIS 508 – School Libraries
 LIS 545 – Multicultural Info Resources
 LIS 557 – Info Tech in Libraries
 LIS 642 – Special Libraries
 LIS 646 – Intro to Archival Theory/Practice
 LIS 670 – Special Topic – Graphic Novels
(2nd 8 weeks)
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Electives of Interest in Spring
 LIS 506 – Cataloging Multimedia Objects
 LIS 516 – Technology in School Libraries
 LIS 517 – Children’s Literature
 LIS 590 – Library Instruction
 LIS 558 – Web Design and Evaluation
 LIS 631 – History of Libraries
LIS 647 – Intro to Archival Organization
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Electives of Interest in Summer
 LIS 519 – Programming for Youth
 LIS 528 – Storytelling
 LIS 518 – Young Adult Literature
 LIS 580/587 – British Studies
 LIS 607 – School Library & Curriculum
 LIS 641 – Public Libraries
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14. How to keep up w/SLIS news?
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Social Media
 Facebook: facebook.com/School-of-Library-and-
Information-Science-at-Southern-Miss
 Twitter: twitter.com/usmslis
LinkedIn: Southern Miss School of Library &
Information Science
YouTube Channel: SLIS at Southern Miss

15. Read SLIS Connecting
Open-access e-journal
indexed in DOAJ, Ulriches
Directory, Google Scholar
Published each spring &
fall, downloaded more than
75,000+
3 or more refereed student
research papers
Updates on program,
classes, students, alums,
faculty.
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16. Questions?
Email:
teresa.welsh@usm.edu