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Library and Information Science, Master of Science
Earn an ALA-accredited master's degree in Library and Information Science online!
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Earn an ALA-accredited master's degree in Library and Information Science online!
The Master of Science (M.S.) program in Library and Information Science at St. John’s University will provide you with the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed in today’s information-rich workplace. Our graduates demonstrate leadership in facilitating the information needs of a variety of patrons and clients, and are prepared for such diverse settings as public libraries, government and corporate information centers, archives, law firms, museums, and more.
Our program is accredited by the American Library Association (ALA) Committee on Accreditation with the status of Continued Accreditation. The program is also guided by the Vincentian Mission of St. John’s, which emphasizes service and social justice. All academic programs at St. John’s emphasize the integration of the liberal arts and focus on ethical decision-making based in Catholic social teaching.
To ensure student success and accommodate full-time professionals pursuing the M.S. degree, we offer a fully online program. The program requires 36 credits, four core courses, a management course, and seven elective courses. You’ll also submit an electronic portfolio as an end of program assessment, which will allow you to showcase your graduate work to potential employers in the future.
Department Faculty
Please see a list of our Library and Information Science faculty at St. John's College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Department Contact
James Vorbach, Ph.D.
Associate Professor and Director, Library and Information Science
St. Augustine Hall, Room 408A
718-990-1834
[email protected]
- Degree Type
- MS
- Area of Interest
- Social Sciences
- Associated Colleges or Schools
- Program Location
- Queens Campus
- Required Credit Hours
- 36
Watch our video
Admission
All applicants to the program must possess a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with a 3.0 grade point average or above. The Division of Library and Information Science reviews applications on a rolling basis throughout the year.
Additional application requirements include:
- A statement of professional purpose, which should include a meaningful discussion of what you hope to accomplish with an M.S. in Library and Information Science from St. John's.
- Two letters of recommendation from professors, instructors, or persons with whom you have worked in a professional capacity.
- Official transcripts from each institution you have attended.
- A $70 non-refundable application fee.
- An interview with the program director may be required.
Note: Please select "Online Learning" when completing the application.
Office of Graduate Admission
718-990-1601
[email protected]
Courses
The 36-credit Master of Science program requires the completion of the following three-credit core courses:
LIS 203 Information Organization
LIS 204 Introduction to Library and Information Science
LIS 205 Information Sources and Services
LIS 239 Research and Evaluation Methods
LIS 240 Management of Libraries and Information Centers
You choose seven three-credit elective courses, in consultation with a program advisor. Specializations are listed below.
The Academic Librarianship specialization will prepare you for a career as an information specialist in academic environments, including community and junior colleges, four-year liberal arts colleges or technical institutes, colleges and universities with select graduate programs, and large-scale public and private research universities. For more information, please contact Kevin Rioux, Ph.D., at [email protected].
Recommended courses include:
- LIS 221 Planning and Delivering Information Literacy Programs
- LIS 231 College and University Libraries
- LIS 238 Web Design for Libraries and Information Centers
- LIS 260 Information Use and Users
The Archives and Records Management (ARM) specialization will train you to select, arrange, and preserve records of enduring value to researchers. You will develop principles of sound management to ensure the long-term preservation of collections. For more information concerning the Records Management specialization, please contact Dr. Christine M. Angel at [email protected]. For the Archives specialization, please contact either Dr. Christine M. Angel at [email protected] or Dr. Kristin Szylvian at [email protected].
Recommended courses for specialization within Records Management include:
- LIS 271 Archival Appraisal & Management
- LIS 271 Data Preservation & Access
- LIS 271 Developing an Information Governance Strategy
- LIS 310 Fundamentals of Data Curation
- LIS 311 Records and Information Management(RIM)
- LIS 249 Introduction to Archival Theory, Principles and Practices
- LIS 257 Archival Representation
Recommended courses for specialization within Archives include:
- LIS 249 Introduction to Archival Theory, Principles and Practices
- LIS 257 Archival Representation
- LIS 271 Archival Appraisal and Management
- LIS 271 Data Preservation and Access
- LIS 258 Museum Informatics
- LIS 269 Internship
- LIS 302 Genealogical Sources & Services
- LIS 253 Oral History
As a public librarian, you’ll provide highly-specialized assistance to users in large or small populations. You’ll serve all ages and types of patrons and manage relationships with community organizations and schools. In the M.S. program, you’ll develop the knowledge and skills necessary to run a public library, including: reference, programming, collection development, administration, technical services, outreach/advocacy, and user services for both youth and adults. For more information, please contact Kevin Rioux, Ph.D., at [email protected] or Shari Lee, Ph.D., at [email protected].
Recommended courses include:
- LIS 221 Planning and Delivering Information Literacy Programs
- LIS 222 Materials and Services to Diverse Populations
- LIS 233 Public Libraries and Community Information Centers
- LIS 238 Web Design
- LIS 260 Information Use and Users
- LIS 302 Genealogical Sources and Services
The youth services specialization will prepare you for a position as a children's or young adult librarian, a library coordinator in a public library, a youth specialist on a regional or state level, or a collection development librarian specializing in youth materials. For more information, please contact Shari Lee, Ph.D., at [email protected].
Recommended courses include:
- LIS 121 Literature and Related Resources for Children
- LIS 125 Library Materials and Services for Young Children
- LIS 126 Literature and Related Resources for Young Adults
- LIS 127 Library Services for Children and Young Adults
- LIS 213 Popular Culture and the Young Adult
Career Outcomes
The rapid transformation fueled by technological innovation and ever-evolving societal expectations for information are creating new opportunities for information professionals. The M.S. in Library and Information Science at St. John’s prepares you for emerging job opportunities in a variety of traditional and non-traditional settings:
| Archives, museums, and record centers | Corporate, business, and legal organizations |
| Government and non-governmental (NGO) organizations | Health, medical, pharmaceutical, and scientific institutions |
| Non-profit organizations | Post-secondary institutions |
| Public libraries | Special libraries |
In our commitment to prepare you for the evolving workforce, the program will help you develop and hone your expertise and abilities in some of the most sought-after job skills involving communication, knowledge management, collaboration, advocacy, research, and project management.
Some examples of positions include:
| Archivist | Business Librarian | Communications Specialist | Conflicts Analyst |
| Digital Initiatives Program Manager | Information Technology Specialist | Innovation Librarian | Instructional and Training Librarian |
| Knowledge Consultant | Linked Data Strategist | Medical Librarian | Project Manager |
| Research Analyst | Research Librarian | Special Collections Librarian | Workflow Analyst |
While enrolled in the program, you’ll be able to gain real-world experience through an internship, which most employers look for on an applicant’s resume. St. John’s maintains relationships with host sites throughout New York City and beyond to help you find an internship placement that suits your unique interests and career goals.
To help you start your career and succeed, we offer resume, cover letter, and interview webinars through University Career Services. Our department also notifies current students and alumni regularly of internship and job opportunities in the field through our blog.
Online Learning
Earn Your Degree Online
Pursue your St. John’s M.S. in Library and Information Science degree entirely on your computer. Our fully accredited Online Learning programs allow you to take courses electronically. Log in at your convenience to enter our virtual classrooms, learn from our accomplished faculty, and engage with classmates.
Our online courses offer the same high academic quality that students experience on campus. Professors deliver lectures and post assignments via Blackboard, our electronic course management system. Students use it to attend virtual classes, share documents, take exams, and exchange ideas with faculty and classmates.
A Fully Academic Experience
You also enjoy the outstanding services available to all St. John’s students, for example:
- Eligibility for scholarships and financial aid
- Tuition and fees identical to those for on-campus courses
- Access to library collections, career services, mentoring, and other academic resources.
Click here for more information about the Online M.S. in Library and Information Science at St. John’s.
Student Outcomes Data
Retention
Students Entering | Returned | Retention Value |
| Fall 2021 | Fall 2022 | 81% |
| Fall 2020 | Fall 2021 | 85% |
Fall 2019 | Fall 2020 | 76% |
Fall 2018 | Fall 2019 | 80% |
Graduation Rates (Three-Year)
Students Entering | Graduated In | Rate |
| Fall 2019 | 2022 | 50% |
| Fall 2018 | 2021 | 63% |
Fall 2017 | 2020 | 70% |
Fall 2016 | 2019 | 83% |
Fall 2015 | 2018 | 83% |
Career Outcomes Data
Year | Population | Response Rate | Placement Rate |
| 2021 | 50 | 69.2% | 100% |
| 2020 | 30 | 70.4% | 94.7% |
2019 | 31 | 50.0% | 100.0% |
2018 | 22 | 66.7% | 85.7% |
2017 | 30 | 59.3% | 93.8% |
Tuition and Financial Aid
You may apply for graduate assistantships throughout the University. These positions offer tuition remission and, typically, a stipend. You can find more information about graduate assistantships on the Graduate Assistantships and Fellowships page.
The Division of Library and Information Science offers the Rev. Brian J. O’Connell, C.M. Scholarship, named after the late Dean of St. John’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, to high-achieving applicants who earn GPAs of 3.4 or higher (on a 4.0 scale) for their most recent degrees. Incoming students do not need to apply separately for this scholarship, but are automatically granted partial tuition reprieve based on academic merit.
| Named after a former Library Faculty member and DLIS alumnus, the Garino scholarship is awarded to an academically distinguished MS LIS student who has been faced with a challenge that could jeopardize their pursuit of the MS LIS. Eligibility criteria: Students facing hardship or special circumstances are invited to apply for a Garino Scholarship. Award: Full tuition for one 3-credit course |
| Eligibility criteria: Awarded for academic distinction in the core courses LIS 204 and LIS 205, taken in the Fall. Award: Full tuition for one 3-credit LIS course. |
| Eligibility criteria: Awarded for academic distinction in the core courses LIS 204 or LIS 205, taken in the Spring. Award: Full tuition for one 3-credit LIS course. |
| Eligibility criteria: Awarded to the student for academic distinction and professional competence in Academic Service-Learning. Award: $2,000. |
Other scholarship opportunities include the H.W. Wilson Foundation Scholarship. For more information about scholarships and tuition, please visit Tuition and Financial Aid.
Please note that California residents in online programs at out of state nonprofit institutions, like St. John’s University are ineligible for all forms of federal aid, including federal student loans based on current federal state authorization rules.
Additional Information
At St. John’s, we encourage you to pursue professional and academic development opportunities that enrich your degree. The following Library and Information Science resources will enhance both your resume and your experience of the program.
Gain valuable real-world experience with an internship at one of the many libraries and information centers in New York City and beyond that partner with St. John’s.
Our division’s symposia explore current issues and trends in library and information science as well as other topics of interest. They feature presentations from current students, alumni, members of the faculty, and prominent outside speakers.
The Special Libraries Association (SLA) of St. John's University exists to support the needs of our library science students, promote the study of alternative information occupations, and encourage active membership in the SLA.
The American Library Association/New York Library Association Student Chapter at St. John’s University provides networking opportunities and learning experiences afforded by membership to these professional organizations.
Academic Service-Learning (AS-L) allows you to combine program learning goals and community service through opportunities at libraries, archives, museums, and related non-profits.
Interested in Social Sciences, but not sure if Library and Information Science, Master of Science is right for you?
Explore opportunities at St. John's with our pathway generator.
