Please note that if you are interested in the School Library Certification Program (SLCP) , this specialization has a prescribed list of courses that you must complete. Please contact Dr. Mary K. Biagini, Director of the SLCP, for more information at (412)624-9460. For more information on the Archives and Records Management Program, please contact Dr. Richard Cox , Director of the ARM program, at (412) 624-3245.

Some things to consider in planning your course of study

Five areas of core courses are required:

1. Understanding Information Area
• LIS 2000 Understanding Information
  Required for all MLIS students
  
  
2. Organizing Information Area (one course)
• LIS 2001 Organizing Information
  Required of MLIS students except those students admitted to the Archives & Records Management Specialization
• LIS 2224 Archival Representation
  Required of MLIS students admitted to the Archives & Records Management Specialization
  
  
3. Retrieving Information Area (one course)
   • LIS 2002 Retrieving Information
     Required of MLIS students except those students admitted to the Archives & Records Management Specialization
   • LIS 2223 Archival Access, Advocacy, and Ethics
     Required of MLIS students admitted to the Archives & Records Management Specialization
     
     
4. Managing Area (one course)
   • LIS 2700 Managing Libraries & Information Systems & Services in Changing Environments
     Required of all MLIS students except those students admitted to the School Library Certification Program, the Archives & Records Management Specialization or the Preservation Management Specialization
   • LIS 2774 School Library Media Center Management
     Required of all MLIS students admitted to the School Library Certification Program
   • LIS 2220 Archives & Records Management
     Required of all MLIS students admitted to the Archives & Records Management Specialization
   • LIS 2215 Preservation Management
     Required of all students admitted to the Preservation Management Specialization
     
     
5. Information Technology Area
   • LIS 2600 Introduction to Information Technology
     Required of all MLIS students
     
     
   Students who can demonstrate advanced information technology competency may substitute one of the following two courses to meet the Information Technology requirement with the approval of their advisor:
   • LIS 2635 Information Architecture
   • LIS 2663 Technologies for Information Management

• Core Courses 2000 - 2099
• General Courses 2100 - 2199
• Book Arts, Preservation, Archives 2200 - 2299
• Resources and Services for Specific Patron Groups 2300 - 2399
• Organization of Information 2400 - 2499
• Subject Area Resources and Services 2500 - 2599
• Information Technology 2600 - 2699
• Management Courses 2700 - 2799
• Organizational Behavior 2800 - 2899
• Individual Options 2900 - 2999
• Doctoral Studies 3000 - 0000

You can take up to six credits of relevant graduate courses offered in other departments/schools within the University of Pittsburgh. You must demonstrate that courses outside LIS are relevant to your career objectives and to the curriculum. All graduate courses in the Information Science and Technology program are acceptable for these six credits.

Up to six credits of graduate-level course work can be transferred from an accredited institution of higher education, provided that the credit was not applied toward a previous degree or certificate. Courses that you wish to have transferred must have been taken within four years proceeding the date of initial enrollment in the MLIS or CAS programs. You must demonstrate that the course(s) are relevant to your career objectives and to the curriculum. To have credits transferred into the MLIS and CAS programs, you must obtain the advice and written approval of your faculty advisor.

Field Placement experience (LIS 2921) - 150 hours of supervised professional work in an approved information environment, is recommended, especially if you lack professional experience.

Another way to tailor the program to your interests is to complete up to six credits of Individual Research under faculty supervision. The Individual Research course(s) allow you to explore an area of interest, or to pursue a topic not otherwise covered by the curriculum.

Beyond formal coursework, there are other ways to enrich your experience in the LIS. Non-credit workshops for training in aspects of information technology and library resources are offered through the School, the University Library System, and the University of Pittsburgh. These workshops will be valuable to you throughout your degree program.

Another important way to learn about the profession is through participation in the student chapters of national, professional organizations such as ALA (American Library Association), SAA (Society of American Archivists), SLA (Special Library Association), and ASIS&T (American Society of Information Science and Technology). Student organizations offer a rich variety of experiences and are a good way of finding out about the profession you have joined.