Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS)

The Academic Information Resources and Services pathway provides students with the theoretical knowledge base, contextual understanding, and practical competencies to work effectively an information professional in institutions of post-secondary education, ranging from community colleges to research-intensive institutions. Elective courses prepare students for the challenges and demands of planning, managing, delivering, and assessing resources and services in academic libraries, through exploration of their historical contexts, current trends, and future directions.

The increasing rate at which data is produced, captured, and made available for consumption is fundamentally changing science, business and industry, healthcare, and even our social lives.  As a result, there is no shortage of jobs within this space, but rather a shortage of talent. The emerging field of data science is, by definition, wide-ranging and spans a number of academic disciplines. Despite this breadth, there exists a collection of computational and data-oriented competencies that provide the necessary foundations for the application of data science to a wide range of problems and can form a common language between the disciplines.

The 12-credit graduate certificate in Applied Data-Driven Methods Graduate Certificate is designed for individuals looking to develop the computational and data skills necessary to support the increasingly data-oriented nature of many careers. The curriculum is aimed at students whose primary academic background lies outside of computing and information, but whose academic or professional aspirations require expertise in understanding and applying data-driven methods.

The ADDM graduate certificate requires a separate application.  It results in a second, distinct award from the University therefore it undergoes separate admissions review, advising, and degree requirement auditing.  Students interested in this path should apply for the certificate program before beginning the ADDM curriculum requirements. Fee waivers are available for current SCI students applying for this certificate.  Please refer to the Applied Data-Driven Methods Graduate Certificate for certificate requirements and discuss with your current advisor any questions regarding the curriculum overlap with the MLIS requirements.

Recordkeeping, from governmental to organizational to personal, is one of the most ancient and essential human and institutional functions. Records are created and maintained for purposes of evidence; accountability; and personal, social, and corporate memory. Archives serve a crucial cultural function, providing society with a sense of identity and memory. Records management programs help organizations comply with regulatory agencies, be responsible to constituent groups, and use informational resources efficiently and effectively. Critical to the administration of records is their maintenance over long time periods.  Maintenance of records is traditionally called preservation, which is now being influenced by issues of digital curation and stewardship. In an engaging and intellectually stimulating environment, students build skills and knowledge to identify and analyze recordkeeping systems from legal, evidential, historical, and cultural perspectives.

The University of Pittsburgh MLIS Program has its roots at the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh where in 1901 it became the first program in the United States to educate librarians to serve youth.  The Department proudly continues to educate librarians to serve children and young people in the 120 years since that beginning. Youth librarians in public libraries build engaging and satisfying careers working with young people themselves building their multiple literacies and enjoyment of reading as well as partnering with caregivers and other adults.

The Health Sciences Career pathway is designed to provide you with the up-to-date knowledge, contextual understanding, and competencies to work effectively as a medical librarian or health information professional in a medical setting or in a public library that serves all the people who live in that community.  Our teaching is informed by both current research and leading thinking in the field.  You will also have opportunities to interact with the health professionals in the Health Sciences Library System (HSLS) at the University of Pittsburgh.   These courses will equip you for the challenges and demands of planning, evaluating, and disseminating health information resources and services in medical libraries or public libraries of all sizes.

Elective courses in the Public Libraries Resources and Services pathway prepare students for the challenges and demands of planning, managing, delivering, and assessing resources and services for patrons of all ages. Students develop understandings of how public libraries are embedded in their communities and help community members from diverse backgrounds, especially those who are marginalized and underserved.

Students who choose to work with children and young people in educational settings can pursue the School Library Certification Program through two options.  For students who have already earned a teaching certificate, there is the Endorsement Option in which students earn the MLIS degree and add an additional teaching subject-Library Science PK-12-to an existing teaching certificate.  For students who have not already earned a teaching certificate, there is the Intern Option in which students earn the MLIS degree as well as a second credential-a teaching certificate as a school librarian. In both options, students collaborate with practitioners in a Practicum experience in a school setting. Students prepare to embark upon one of the most challenging and rewarding careers in the Library and Information Sciences field.