The faculty regularly revises the M.L.I.S. curriculum to assure that our students interact with the most up-to-date information, technologies, and professional issues. Current information is available on the departmental web site at www.scils.rutgers.edu/lis.

The Department of Library and Information Science offers an M.L.I.S. curriculum organized around lead courses, central courses, and specialization courses. Six lead courses offer general knowledge of the major principles and issues of the field. The lead courses are: human information behavior; organizing information; principles of searching; information technology for libraries and information agencies; management of libraries and information centers; and knowledge structures and the information professions. Central courses offer basic understanding and competencies in important components of the field. Specialization courses allow students to develop expertise in preparation for specific career objectives.

A plan of study for those attending the program on campus is developed by each student in consultation with a faculty adviser in the first term of study. All students are required to take a minimum of 9 credits in lead courses and a minimum of 15 credits in a combination of lead and central courses. Plans of study must follow course pre- and corequisites as stated in the course catalog. Beginning full-time students may need advising in selection of courses prior to enrolling. 

Students admitted to the online program will follow plans of study for school library media (see below) or digital libraries and will have limited selections of electives.

All full-time students pursuing school library media certification must consult with an adviser prior to registering in order to be assured of meeting all requirements for the M.L.I.S. degree and qualifying for certification within the 36-credit minimum. The course of study for the school library media specialization is as follows: