The IU School of Informatics and Computing at IUPUI’s Department of Library and Information Science has worked hard to maintain accreditation by the American Library Association (ALA) for its Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS) program. This year the ALA continued its accreditation of the program (ALA-MLA), the entry degree for a professional librarian.
“This is particularly exciting news as this is the first time our program in Indianapolis was accredited separately from the program in Bloomington, signifying our growth and unique strengths,” says Andrea Copeland, Ph.D., who chairs the Department of Library and Information Science and is an associate professor.
The MLIS is essential for leadership in public libraries and provides valuable management skills. It is also universally required for professionals in academic libraries.
Graduates of the Department of Library and Information Science MLIS program have been honored as Movers and Shakers by the Library Journal, earned national awards for their work, and achieved positions of prominence.
The Department of Library and Information Science specializes in fostering collaborative learning from a distance, and its MLIS degree is offered completely online, making it convenient and accessible for students.
“Our program has continued to expand enrollment and course offerings, with a 39% increase in new students over the past 5 years and two new specializations, digital curation and archives management.”
Andrea Copeland, Ph.D.
Meeting high standards
The ALA says its standards stress innovation, and encourage programs to take an active role in and concern for future developments and growth in the field. An accredited program has demonstrated a commitment to continuous review of its mission and goals, and to clearly defining student learning outcomes, and regularly revising the curriculum to keep it current.
Other curriculum requirements include:
- Fosters development of library and information professionals to become leaders in their communities;
- Responds to the needs of a diverse and global society, including the needs of underserved groups;
- Provides direction for future development of a rapidly changing field.
The ALA notes, “Graduating from an ALA-accredited program provides flexibility in the types of libraries and jobs you can apply for and enhances career mobility. Many employers require an ALA-accredited master’s degree for professional level positions, and some states require an ALA-accredited degree to work as a professional librarian in public or school libraries.”
Media Contact
Joanne Lovrinic
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