Palmer School of Library & Information Science

Master of Science in Library and Information Science Degree Program

A master's degree in Library and Information Science will prepare you for careers in a world transformed by the Internet. More information reaches people today than ever before. The tremendous value of information is now widely recognized by for-profit and not-for-profit organizations alike.

As a result, those who can find, analyze, and present information are highly valued by employers. People who hold M.S.L.I.S. degrees are uniquely suited to help individuals and organizations find and use the information they need.

Information professionals now take jobs in such areas as marketing, strategic planning, Web site development, and information architecture in addition to traditional library settings.

Program Requirements

This 36-credit master’s degree, accredited by the American Library Association, fuses traditional library science with information science and state-of-the-art technology. Fifteen credits of required coursework include Introduction and Information Science, Information Sources and Services, Introduction to Knowledge Organization, Introduction to Research in Library and Information Science and an Internship. An additional 21 credits of electives can be taken from a broad array of courses that are tailored to suit your individual career objectives.

Why choose the Palmer School?

We offer our American Library Association-accredited master's program at four convenient locations around the Metropolitan area: the C.W. Post Campus in Brookville; the Brentwood Campus in Brentwood on Long Island; New York University's Bobst Library in Manhattan; and Long Island University's Westchester Graduate Campus at SUNY Purchase College.

There are staff members and resources at each site in order to give students full support at every stage of their careers. Courses are taught in the evenings and on weekends and advisors help each student to create a flexible schedule that works with their jobs and the other demands of students' lives.

The Palmer School has the largest number of faculty of any area M.S.L.I.S. program, ensuring small classes and personal attention for students. Our internship program offers the chance to train in first-rate professional settings and our personalized placement services ensure that students have excellent job opportunities, often before they have completed the master's degree.