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The iSchool hosts a number of opportunities for you to explore the LIS program. Attend Information Sessions at the iSchool or online, whichever suits your schedule. More >
Welcome from the Chair
Welcome to the Library and Information Science Program —
An ALA-Accredited Program with a Rich Heritage
You’ve made your choice of a career in the information professions. As you consider your choice of a school that will prepare you for that career, the faculty of the Library and Information Science Program urge you to consider the University of Pittsburgh. First, consider the long-standing reputation of the Master of Library and Information Science program, which has been continuously accredited by the American Library Association since 1926. The program has a 100+ year tradition of educating librarians and archivists. Our roots began in 1901 when the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh began a program to educate librarians to serve children in the new library located in a city of immigrants, and Andrew Carnegie was our first benefactor. We also offer a Certificate of Advanced Study for practitioners and a rigorous Doctor of Philosophy in Library and information Science for those seeking careers as faculty members and researchers and administrators.
Specializations and Individualized Courses of Study
A degree from an ALA-accredited program is a necessity for career placement, advancement, and mobility in all types of libraries and archives. Equally important is acknowledgement of program quality by peers at other institutions. Our MLIS program is ranked in the top ten in the 2009 U.S. News and World Report rankings of the 62 accredited programs in the U.S., and equally important, our intellectually challenging specializations are ranked in the top ten as well:
- Archives, Preservation and Records Management—ranked 2nd
- Children and Youth Resources and Services—ranked 10th
- Digital Libraries (offered jointly with the Information Sciences faculty)
- Health Resources and Services—Ranked 1st
- Information Technology—ranked 6th
- Reference Resources and Services
- School Library Certification Program—ranked 8th
You may also choose an Individualized course of study with your faculty advisor to meet your specific career goals. We offer a rich range of 70+ courses taught by faculty and practitioners who are expert in their subject areas and well connected to the information professions.
Flexibility to Be an On-Campus or an On-Line Student or to Mix Both
Our MLIS program offers students flexibility in pursuing their studies. You may choose to be an on-campus or an on-line student or to mix on-campus and on-line courses. Our courses are blended so that all students receive the same education. As a full-time student, you can complete the MLIS degree in three terms; as a FastTrack MLIS (on-line) student, you can complete the MLIS in six terms (by completing two courses each term). Admitted on-campus students may apply for the Partners Program, which provides a tuition scholarship of three or six credits and experience working in a library or archive for ten or twenty hours per week.
The University of Pittsburgh: A Major Research Institution with a Large Graduate Student Population
A second reason for choosing the University of Pittsburgh is the university itself—a top-tier research institution with more than 200 graduate degree programs, a large and diverse graduate student body and an outstanding library system ranked by the Association of Research Libraries (ARL) in the top quartile.
Pittsburgh—A Most Livable City
A third reason for choosing the University of Pittsburgh is life in the city itself, comprised of 89 distinctive neighborhoods. Pittsburgh offers world-class cultural institutions such as the Pittsburgh Symphony, the Carnegie Museums, championship sports teams, the natural beauty of three rivers, and friendly people. Pittsburgh has been named a “most livable city,” most recently in 2009 by The Economist. Pittsburgh was selected by President Barack Obama to host the September 2009 G-20 Summit.
Our Greatest Resource--The Success of Our Students and Alumni
A most important final reason is the success of our alumni and our students. Our students come from across the United States and abroad and represent many aspects of diversity. Their undergraduate majors span the disciplines, creating intellectual vigor in our classes. The MLIS Program has thousands of alumni working in libraries and archives around the world. They form an informal network to help our current students.
We Invite You to Visit Our City, Our University, Our School, Our Program
We invite you to visit Pittsburgh, the University, and the School. We host monthly Information Sessions and can arrange for you to meet with a faculty member and to visit our classes and meet our students. Please let me know if I—or any of our faculty members—can provide you with the information you need to help you make your choice. If you would like to arrange a vist to meet a faculty member and attend a class or two, please contact Brandi Belleau at lisinq@sis.pitt.edu.
Mary K. Biagini, PhD
Associate Professor and Chair, Library and information Science Program