In collaboration with several other academic units at UW-Milwaukee, SOIS offers students the opportunity to obtain two Master’s degrees concurrently—one in Library and Information Science (MLIS) and one in a subject area.
Degree Requirements
- The number of degree credits needed for each of the coordinated programs is usually 12 fewer than the sum of the two programs if they were not taken simultaneously. All degree requirements of each component must be satisfied.
- The MLIS portion of the coordinated degrees can be completed online.
- Prerequisite to the award of either degree in this program is the simultaneous award of its counterpart degree.
MLIS Component
The Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS) component of each of the coordinated programs includes 30 credits of SOIS courses. These include the MLIS core courses (12 credits). The remaining 18 MLIS credits are selected from the School’s offerings in accordance with the student’s goals in the coordinated degree program.
MLIS/MA Geography
The MLIS/MA Geography Coordinated Degree Program prepares students for positions as map librarians. Graduates of the program are qualified to assume positions as curators and staff in map collections of universities, governmental agencies, and industry.
Admission Requirements
Application Deadlines
Application deadlines vary by program, please review the application deadline chart for specific programs. Other important dates and deadlines can be found by using the One Stop calendars.
Credits and Courses
The MA in Geography normally has a minimum requirement of 30 credits from regular geography courses (which includes 4 capstone/thesis credits). For the coordinated MA Geography/MLIS degree program, however, students can substitute 6 credits in information studies courses for 6 credits of geography. This program, therefore, requires a total of 54 credits. Students must complete the 30 credits required for the MLIS component and the 24 credits in Geography courses specified below.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| GEOG 726 | Geographic Information Science | 4 |
| GEOG 747 | Spatial Analysis | 4 |
| GEOG 810 | Introduction to Techniques of Research and Presentation | 3 |
| GEOG 870 | Contemporary Geographic Approaches: (subtitle) | 3 |
| Select a GEOG 900-level course | 3 | |
| Select any GEOG graduate course | 3 | |
| GEOG 889 | Internship in Geography | 4 |
| or GEOG 999 | Independent Work | |
| Total Credits | 24 | |
The Geography Department offers opportunities for fieldwork that may count toward these requirements. In addition to off-campus fieldwork, the American Geographical Society Collection at the UWM Golda Meir Library provides many unique opportunities for map librarianship fieldwork and is an appropriate site for an internship.
Graduates of the program are qualified to assume positions as curators and staff members in map collections of universities, governmental agencies, and industry. In cases where map collections are not of sufficient size to warrant separation as distinct collections, knowledge of how to store, classify, and retrieve maps will be a valuable set of skills that enhance the qualifications of the information professional.
Basic Required MLIS Courses
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses | 12 | |
| Foundations of Library and Information Science | ||
| Organization of Information | ||
| Information Access and Retrieval | ||
| Research Methods in Information Studies | ||
| Other MLIS courses | 18 | |
| Total Credits | 30 | |
Important
You must refer to the catalog pages of both individual master's programs to ensure that you meet all requirements for both degrees.
MLIS Mission, Goals, Objectives, and Learning Outcomes
Mission
The mission of the MLIS program is to educate the next generation of information professionals by offering a rigorous curriculum that fosters professional knowledge and skills, professional ethics, critical inquiry, and leadership to address the needs of a diverse and global information society.
Goals and Learning Objectives
Goal 1: To impart knowledge of library and information science (LIS).
Students will be able to…
1.1 Delineate and assess important social, political, and historical developments in library and information science and cultural heritage institutions.
1.2 Analyze the information needs, preferences, and behaviors of users.
1.3 Describe and evaluate the range of roles that LIS professionals fill in society.
1.4 Apply the philosophy, principles, and ethics of LIS to professional practice.
Goal 2: To prepare the next generation of professionals for leadership roles in library and information science.
Students will be able to…
2.1 Identify and evaluate the diverse functions of the LIS professions.
2.2 Prepare for change in a rapidly evolving professional landscape.
2.3 Apply principles and technologies for the organization, access, retrieval, and preservation of information.
2.4 Develop and evaluate library and information services and systems.
Goal 3: To prepare professionals who are able to serve the information needs of a diverse global society.
Students will be able to…
3.1 Identify, promote, and provide services to serve the needs of diverse stakeholders, including underserved populations.
3.2 Integrate the theory and practice of library and information science for diverse audiences in a global society.
Goal 4: To develop new scholars and information professionals who can evaluate and apply research findings.
Students will be able to…
4.1 Assess the merits of research and apply relevant findings to professional practice.
4.2 Apply research theory, methods, and techniques to solve problems in the LIS professions.
Geography MA/MS Learning Outcomes
Students graduating from the Geography MA or MS program will be able to:
- Summarize, synthesize and evaluate pertinent literature to develop an understanding of theory, knowledge or practice in geography to facilitate independent research.
- Conduct guided research or scholarly work that addresses a problem or topic to the field of geography.
- Articulate ideas effectively, both orally and in writing, to professionals and the general public through conference presentations and thesis composition.
- Cultivate ethical and professional conduct within the field of geography.