School of Library and Information Sciences

History

The School of Library and Information Sciences (SLIS) was authorized by the North Carolina State Legislature in 1939 and is the only graduate program of its kind among historically black colleges and universities. The School of Library Science was organized as a professional school in 1941. An undergraduate major was discontinued in 1943. The Master’s program in Library Science was initiated in 1950, with the first M.L.S. being awarded in 1951. The school name was changed to the School of Library and Information Sciences in 1984. Beginning with the 1990-91 academic years, the school offered an interdisciplinary program in information sciences leading to the Master’s in Information Science (M.I.S.)

The school vision is to promote access to information for all humanity. Supporting this vision, the SLIS mission is to prepare professionals to become leaders who can advance the library and information sciences in a diverse and global society.

Located on the third floor of the James E. Shepard Memorial Library, the SLIS has offices, classrooms, labs, and a library. The SLIS Library consists of approximately 50,000 volumes.  The Library maintains a collection of comprehensive resources required in the instruction of library and information sciences that includes monographs and reference works, DVDs, specialized journals and serials (print and electronic), newspapers, and defined access to electronic bibliographic databases that are identifiable to the fields of library and information science.  The School maintains two special collections.  The William Tucker Collection is a collection of children’s materials that contains both primary and published materials by African- American authors and illustrators. The Black Librarians Collection comprises personal papers donated to the School by African- American Librarians.  These collections support research and documentary studies relating to the leadership development and professional contributions of African-Americans to librarianship.    The computer laboratory supports the curriculum objective of fully integrating the instruction of automated library systems, computer information systems, database management systems and internet applications into all courses. The SLIS has a homepage at www.nccuslis.org.

Priorities

The SLIS has evolved from a program dedicated to educating and training librarians to one that also offers training for positions in information management, informatics, and digital librarianship. The school offers a curriculum leading to two separate graduate degrees - the Master of Library Science (M.L.S.) and the Master of Information Science (M.I.S.). In addition, the SLIS offers two joint degree programs with the School of Law (J.D. /M.L.S.) and the School of Business (M.I.S. /M.B.A.). Students can also complete NC Public Librarian and NC Department of Public Instruction School Media Coordinator certification and licensure. Courses are offered evenings, Saturdays, summers and online (through the NCCU Extended Studies division).

The faculty recognizes the growing importance of web-based and multi-media resources and computer-related technologies. The consensus is that instruction in these areas must be integrated into all courses to which they are related, regardless of the availability of courses that are entirely devoted to them. Finally, freedom has a very special meaning for this school. The concept of intellectual freedom, therefore, is given a prominent place in all instruction. Avoiding censorship of racially and sexually biased materials is a particularly difficult area, but it is faced honestly by the faculty.

Programs

The SLIS offers a curriculum that leads to two separate degrees -the Master of Library Science and the Master of Information Science. General preparation in librarianship and information science and opportunities for some specialization is also provided. The school also offers a joint program with the School of Law and with the School of Business in which students can receive joint degrees. The SLIS offers the M.L.S. and M.I.S. degree via the Internet (except for the Archives and Records Management track in Library Science).

The Master of Information Science

The Master of Information Science (M.I.S.) degree is a 36-hour graduate-level program that trains individuals to understand and analyze the role of information systems in solving organizational problems and achieving organizational goals. The focus is on designing information systems to help people and organizations function more effectively. There are two tracks: (1) Health Informatics, (2) Networking and Communications, and (3) Strategic Information Management.

Master of Information Science (M.I.S.) with concentrations in:

• Health Informatics
• Networking and Communications
• Strategic Information Management

The Master of Library Science

The SLIS offers a 36-hour course of study leading to the American Library Association (ALA)-accredited Master of Library Science (M.L.S.) degree with a concentration in one of six tracks: academic librarian; archives and records manager; digital librarianship; public librarian; school media coordinator/school librarian; and special librarian.

Master of Library Science (M.L.S.) with concentration specializations in:

• Academic Librarianship
• Archives and Records Management
• Digital Librarianship
• Public Librarianship
• School Library and Media Center (with licensure in Teacher Librarianship)
• Special Librarianship

Joint Degrees

The School of Library and Information Sciences also offers two joint degrees:

• with the School of Law a law librarian degree: Juris Doctor/Master of Library Science (J.D./M.L.S.)
• with the School of Business a joint degree: Master of Information Science/Master of Business Administration (M.I.S./M.B.A.).

Admission Requirements

Admission to the SLIS requires that candidates possess an undergraduate degree at the Bachelor level and a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0. Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores, experience, and letters of recommendation are also considered in the admissions process. Applicants must submit official score reports for the GRE taken within the last five years. Applicants holding an earned doctorate degree may request a waiver. See www.nccuslis.org for full list of admissions requirements. For more information and to begin the process, contact the SLIS Director of Graduate Studies.

Honors

For the School of Library and Information Sciences (SLIS) students, degrees with honors will be awarded as:

• Summa Cum Laude to students with a grade point average of 4.0

• Magna Cum Laude to students with a grade point average of 3.9

• Cum Laude to students with a grade point average of 3.75 to 3.89.

Degree Requirements for MLS and MIS

The general requirements for the degrees of Master of Library Science and Master of Information Science for students who have been admitted are:

1. Successful completion of 36 hours of course work approved by the Dean. In addition, a candidate for graduation must have a minimal cumulative average of a B (3.0) for graduation. Course requirements for students with another master’s or doctorate may be reduced at the discretion of the Admissions Committee or approved by the Dean.
2. Matriculation for a minimum period of two semesters or four summer sessions. All work credited towards a master’s degree must be completed within a period of six years.
3. Students are also required to demonstrate knowledge of a foreign language, sign language, statistics, or a computer language. This requirement may be fulfilled by two semesters of course work (6 hrs credit) in a foreign language, sign language, statistics, or a computer language at the undergraduate or graduate level. Original transcripts showing the pertinent courses must be provided as evidence prior to the application for graduation. Alternatively, the requirement may be fulfilled (a) if the student passes a modern language examination administered for this purpose by the Modern Foreign Language Department at North Carolina Central University in French, German, or Spanish, or (b) if the student has a currently valid professional IT certification. No courses taken for this purpose may be counted for course credit toward the master’s degree.

Course Requirements (M.I.S.)

The following core courses are required:

LSIS 5010 Information Systems in Organizations 

LSIS 5475 Communications Science I 

LSIS 5110 Information Systems Policy 

LSIS 5171 Systems Analysis 

LSIS 5451 Database Systems 

LSIS 5452 Advanced Data Base Systems 

LSIS 5610 Information Systems Projects 

Concentration Requirements (M.I.S.)

For the Health Informatics Concentration:

LSIS 5015 Introduction to Health Informatics 

LSIS 5835 Seminar in Human Factors in System Design 

LSIS 5845 Healthcare Information Systems and Applications 

LSIS 5460 Expert Systems 

For the Networking and Communications Concentration:

LSIS 5442 Network Security 

LSIS 5470 Computer-Based Information Networks 

LSIS 5472 Protocols and Network Management 

LSIS 5480 Telecommunications Systems 

For the Strategic Management Concentration:

LSIS 5115 Information Technology and Intellectual Property 

LSIS 5440 Data-mining and Management with Statistical Analysis Applications 

LSIS 5460 Expert Systems 

LSIS 5830 Metadata Applications for Digital Libraries 

Elective Requirements (M.I.S.)

M.I.S. students must also take an elective (consult your academic advisor) for a total of 36 hours of credit.

Joint Degree Requirements (M.I.S./M.B.A.)

M.I.S./M.B.A students must take the core courses and an elective for a total of 24 hours of credit. Consult an academic advisor and the School of Business for a complete list of joint degree requirements.

Course Requirements (M.L.S.)

The following core courses are required for all M.L.S. graduates:LSIS 5225, Selection and Use of Information SourcesLSIS 5000 Foundations of Librarianship and Information Services 

LSIS 5120 Management and Systems Analysis 

LSIS 5425 Organization of Information 

LSIS 5325 Uses and Users of Information 

LSIS 5810 Research Methods 

In academic, public, school media, and special library concentrations, at least two resources and services courses are also required (consult the academic advisor in your concentration):

LSIS 5220 Social Science Resources and Services 

LSIS 5230 Humanities Resources and Services 

LSIS 5240 Science and Technology Resources and Services 

LSIS 5245 Health Sciences Resources and Services 

LSIS 5260 Business Information Resources and Services 

LSIS 5505 Children’s Resources and Services 

LSIS 5525 Adolescent Resources and Services 

LSIS 5530 Ethnic Materials for Children and Adolescents 

LSIS 5580 Government Publications 

Joint Degree Requirements (J.D./M.L.S.)

J.D. /M.L.S. students must take the core courses, one type of library course, and an elective for a total of 24 hours of credit. Consult an academic advisor and the School of Law for a complete list of joint degree requirements.

Faculty and Staff

Programs

• •  Information Science, M.I.S., Networking and Communications Concentration
• •  Information Science, M.I.S., Strategic Information Management Concentration
• •  Information Sciences, M.I.S., Health Informatics Concentration
• •  Library Science, M.L.S., Academic Libraries
• •  Library Science, M.L.S., Archives and Records Management
• •  Library Science, M.L.S., Digital Library
• •  Library Science, M.L.S., Public Libraries
• •  Library Science, M.L.S., School Media Coordinator/School Librarian
• •  Library Science, M.L.S., Special Libraries
• •  Library Science, M.L.S., Teacher Librarianship