Master of Science in Library and Information Science (MSLIS)

Become a leader in the information professions.

Affordable Tuition

Sound Investment
A top program at an affordable price.

Customize Your Curriculum

Flexible
Six professional pathway options.

#1 Library & Information Science Program

Career Opportunities
Access to career services
and internship opportunities.

Consistently ranked as the best program of its kind, the MSLIS—offered both online and on campus—provides an exceptional professional education. Students gain the skills they need to creatively and effectively manage, analyze, and preserve information. Graduates go on to fill leadership positions in a variety of information settings, including public, academic, and school libraries as well as healthcare, business, and science.

Identify and Land Your Dream Job

With only two required courses, the curriculum is very flexible and can be customized based on career interests. Students work with professors and advisors to identify strengths and build the skills required to meet the needs of employers in that field. The MSLIS helps you identify your dream job and then positions you for a successful career.

Choose Your Pathway

You have the opportunity to choose from six professional pathways at the intersection of people, information, and technology:

Archival and special collections

Youth and school librarianship

Information organization and management

Research and information services

Data and asset management

Knowledge management and competitive intelligence

What are the requirements for admission?

The MSLIS program is flexible, and our application requirements are as well.
While a bachelor's degree is required, your degree can be in any discipline.

How do I apply?

For Fall 2025 admission, applications are due by January 15, 2025.
Visit the Graduate College's application page, review the information, and select the "Apply Now" button.

Where do students from this program get jobs?

Higher education institutions, including Arizona State University, The Ohio State University, and the University of Iowa
Pre-K-12 schools, including Gurnee School District 56 and Naperville North High School
Libraries, museums, and nonprofit organizations, including the Minnesota Genealogical Society
Public libraries, including North Riverside Public Library and Warren County Public Library District

Hear more from others

Maria Bonn
Associate Professor and MSLIS Program Director

"Our MSLIS is an important venue for the intellectual and professional conversation that shapes and guides our profession. We are leaders in creating well-trained professionals who support information access and think critically about the values that inform and drive their practice."

Ben Chiewphasa, MSLIS '19
Social Sciences and Policy Librarian, Columbia University

"I chose the iSchool at Illinois for my MSLIS degree because of the level of customization and flexibility for configuring your own 'pathway.' I knew I wanted to dabble in data science and instruction, but I also wanted room to explore other interests that may organically come up."

Tamela Chambers, MSLIS '05
District Chief, Chicago Public Library

"The iSchool gave me the soft and hard skills I needed to deliver library programs and services to diverse communities in both school and public libraries. I received a well-rounded education that enabled me to transfer those skills across intellectual levels to serve all ages.

Ellen Clark, MSLIS '21
Children's Outreach Librarian, Kokomo-Howard County Public Library, Kokomo, Indiana

“After completing my degree at the iSchool, I was hired as a children's outreach librarian. I’ve created a new sensory storytime and interact with hundreds of children through my visits and programs. My research and the wonderful professors I had at the iSchool helped me achieve my dream of becoming a librarian.”

Uyen Nguyen, MSLIS Student

“I’m interested in making information and knowledge more accessible and equitable, and how the library can be an agent for social justice. The iSchool provides bountiful academic and professional opportunities, with great resources and staff.”.

Precious Olalere, MSLIS Student

“I chose the iSchool because of the level of customization and flexibility for configuring your pathway. One key factor that influenced my choice of this field is my ardent love for helping people and connecting people to the information they are looking for.”

Angela Finochio, MSLIS Student

“As an online MSLIS student, working parent, and home educator, life can be a balancing act. I decided to pursue this degree to work in public children’s librarianship, but through this program I’ve learned about many fascinating career paths in LIS and am exploring them all.”

Evan Allgood, MSLIS Student

“I currently live in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where I serve as a director on the board of Quatrefoil Library, an LGBTQ+ lending library. The iSchool’s Leep program has been a fantastic fit for me because it has allowed me to stay rooted in the community I love while learning the skills I need.”

John P. Gough, MSLIS ’14
Assistant Vice President, Editor of the Journal of Advancement Analytics

“There are many institutions and people to whom I owe a great deal for my current success, and the iSchool ranks highly among them. The courses in databases, programming, metadata, UI/UX, and digital libraries all provided the technical foundation upon which my career has been built.”