To earn their MLS students need to pass a comprehensive
examination.
Offered on-campus three times a year (fall, spring and summer),
the exam is based on the cumulative knowledge and experience
students have gained from their courses and professional
reading.
The proctored, closed-book exam requires students to answer
essay questions. All responses are evaluated on a pass - fail
basis. (Sample exam questions are available on St. John’s Intranet.)
To have their exam application approved, students must be in
good academic standing (3.0 or better), have completed all Core
courses and be in their last semester. Students with an INC may not
sit for the examination except by special permission from the
Department Chair and the Graduate Division Office.
Students taking the exam must participate in an orientation
meeting that covers topics including consequences for not passing
the exam. In case of failure, one re-examination may be
permitted upon the recommendation of the Director and Dean.
(Students who fail twice may be subject to dismissal from the
program.)
Students must complete a Comprehensive Examination application
in order to be considered for the exam. Students
can submit this application for the examination in
person at the DLIS office or via e-mail to dlis@stjohns.edu.
E-PORTFOLIO REQUIREMENT FOR
STUDENTSBEGINNING STUDIES IN FALL 2011 OR
LATER
Students who begin their studies in the Fall 2011 semester, and in
all subsequent semesters, will be required to complete an
e-portfolio and a revised Comprehensive Examination. The
revised Comprehensive Examination is grounded in the core
competencies for librarianship established by the ALA. As such, it
will require that students demonstrate mastery of DLIS core areas
and, when applicable, mastery of specialized areas. Specifically,
students will be expected to demonstrate knowledge of notable
issues regarding the profession, awareness of the scholarly and
professional literature, as well as an understanding of the
theories and principles on which the current professional policies,
standards, and practices are based. Students will also be expected
to support their responses with references to the literature,
textbooks, and course content whenever feasible.
