Library and Information Science
Library and Information Science (LIS) has developed a distinctive program to serve the rapidly changing needs of future librarians, archivists, and information professionals in the Rocky Mountain region. It was also the first program to be accredited by the ALA in the past 20 years and it is the only program of its kind in the Rocky Mountain region.
The Master's of Library and Information Science (MLIS) degree prepares graduates to serve in school, public, academic or specialized libraries, archives, and in business or corporate settings where the effective information management of information is crucial.
MLIS graduates will serve diverse information consumers; be critical consumers of research and reflective practitioners; have the skills to adapt to and effectively manage change; and adhere to the high ethical standards of the profession.
The MLIS degree is made up of 58-quarter hours of coursework. In addition to the LIS core curriculum, MLIS students focus their studies by selecting a concentration in Archives and Records Management, Knowledge Management, Information Science and Technology, Reference and User Services, Resource Description and Access, or School Libraries.
Students may choose electives from among other concentrations or specialty areas or design their own elective grouping with the assistance of their faculty advisor.
Early Childhood Librarianship Fellowship
The University of Denver's (DU) Library and Information Science (LIS) program will be fully-funding 10 student fellowships with a specialization in Early Childhood Librarianship to begin in the fall of 2010. As a specialization, DU-LIS is one of the first Master's of Library and Information Science (MLIS) programs in the country to develop coursework and learning experiences in an interdisciplinary, experiential learning framework in consultation with public library, child development, and early childhood education partners.
The primary goal of this project is to increase the number of MLIS-degreed librarians who are prepared to serve the early literacy needs of very young children (0-5 years), caregivers, families, educators, and community coalitions in Colorado. This goal will be achieved with funding support for 10 student fellowships for completion of the DU MLIS using experiential learning in at least 5 partner public libraries and at least 5 early childhood education centers, and an interdisciplinary curriculum including LIS coursework and Child, Family, and School Psychology (CFSP) coursework in brain development, language acquisition, and special needs.
This project is designed to provide fellowship recipients with extensive coursework and direct experiences in the settings most pertinent to early childhood literacy. The coursework has been chosen to include classes in brain research and child development in order to better understand some of the principles behind framework such as Every Child Ready to Read©. MLIS fellows will be placed in public libraries and preschools, with an emphasis on diversity of programs and populations. Fellows will also take conversational Spanish, as Colorado and other states have a significant percentage of Spanish speaking residents.
Read HERE for more detailed information. To apply for this specialization, follow the instructions for application to the LIS program.
Law Librarianship Specialization
The University of Denver's (DU) Library and Information Science (LIS) program is dedicated to educating the next generation of law librarians. Added to LIS offerings in 2009, the Law Librarianship specialization is one of the most comprehensive law librarianship programs in the country. Including 5 law specific courses, the specialization is expressly designed to align with the American Association of Law Libraries' Competencies of Law Librarianship and American Library Association's Core Competencies of Librarianship.
Read HERE for more detailed information. To apply for this specialization, follow the instructions for applying to the LIS program.
Certificate of Advanced Study in Law Librarianship
In addition to the MLIS degree, the LIS program offers a Certificate of Advanced Study in Law Librarianship. The Certificate of Advanced Study in Law Librarianship prepares students who already hold a Masters of Library and Information Science or Juris Doctorate degree to meet the unique challenges faced by professional law librarians. Students will gain a professional understanding of the complexity of the law, its marriage with interdisciplinary subject areas, and its dependence on both print and electronic mediums. The certificate will allow students to take courses designed to promote the competencies required of professional law librarians. Students will focus their study on courses tailored for law librarianship. The certificate will emphasize education and experience in the legal field as well as librarianship.
The 18 credit hour certificate consists of 6 courses:
LIS 4204 Legal Issues in Information Organizations (3 qtr hrs)
LIS 4240 Knowledge Management (3 qtr hrs)
LIS 4750 Legal Research I (3 qtr hrs)
LIS 4751 Legal Research II (3 qtr hrs)
LIS 4374 Legal Reference and Resources (3 qtr hrs)
LIS 4756 Legal Databases Research (3 qtr hrs)
To speak to someone about the Library and Information Science Program, please call or email our Admissions Office at 303-871-2509 or 1-800-835-1607, edinfo@du.edu.