MA in Library and Information Studies - Online

Join us at the iSchool for a progressive and challenging program. Accredited by the American Library Association since its inception of accreditation (1924), our program will support you in becoming innovative information professional.

The Program Offers

• Small class sizes, accessible instructors, individual attention;
• Friendly, supportive, and collaborative community of learners;
• Flexibility in scheduling for full or part-time programs of study;
• Preparation for a variety of information careers;
• Real-world experience through a required practicum course;
• Highly regarded career services and professional placement rates.

Features Of The Online Program

• Virtual orientation Bootcamp prepares you to be an effective online learner and includes a thoughtful blend of live group sessions and solo activities;
• The required field practicum can be completed wherever you live;
• Affordable tuition – comparable to Wisconsin resident graduate tuition per credit.

What Is Online Learning Like?

Courses in the online program are delivered using cutting-edge technology tools customized to course content and the instructor’s teaching style. Regular interaction occurs among students and instructors in weekly modules via interactive learning assignments, discussions, team projects, and virtual meetings.

Online students may opt to concentrate on specific areas, including the type of library (Academic, Public, or Special), or follow a technology-focused course of study. Please note that the Digital Archives concentration is not available online, and the School Library Media specialization is only available to students residing or working in Wisconsin. Not all courses in all concentration areas are available online.

ALA Accreditation

The MA in Library and Information Studies program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison is accredited by the American Library Association Committee on Accreditation, with the status of Continued Accreditation. The next comprehensive review visit is scheduled for fall 2022.

The mission of the Information School of the University of Wisconsin‑Madison is to:

• Educate responsible leaders, critical thinkers, and creative innovators in the information professions who are adept in the creation, retrieval, use, and curation of information in all its forms and who are able to provide access to and understanding of information for all those who need or seek it, and who contribute to individual and collective knowledge, productivity, and well-being;
• Create and disseminate research about past, present, and future information users and uses, the processes and technologies vital for information management and use, and the economies, cultures, and policies that affect information and access to it;
• Contribute to the development of the faculties of information schools through a doctoral program built on interdisciplinary research and teaching excellence; and provide useful service to information professionals, the people of Wisconsin, and all information users.

Education & Teaching

• Continue to grow faculty and staff teaching excellence.
• Expand educational programming in areas of high student demand while maintaining the broad-based strength of our educational enterprise.
• Expand access to a UW–Madison education, leveraging new modes of delivery to engage with students throughout their lives.
• Strengthen educational outcomes, career development, and the college experience for all students.
• Ensure the continued vitality, competitiveness, and strength of our graduate and professional programs.

Research & Scholarship

• Provide a modern research support structure that fosters innovation, promotes interdisciplinary collaboration, and drives discovery on future research challenges.
• Continue to grow faculty and staff research excellence.
• Grow UW–Madison’s research enterprise and expand its global impact, supporting the scholarship of faculty, staff, and students.

Wisconsin Idea

• Engage with the community to provide positive social, cultural, and economic impact in Wisconsin and beyond.
• Promote social entrepreneurship, innovation, and economic development in Wisconsin and beyond.
• Share the benefits of a world-class teaching and research university throughout Wisconsin and beyond our borders.

Organizational Excellence

• Practice sustainability principles in the stewardship of campus resources, recognizing our environmental responsibility to people and the planet.
• Build upon and further support our high-quality and committed workforce that advances our mission and reflects our values.
• Strengthen the financial sustainability of the iSchool, while maintaining a commitment to iSchool values.