Promising students may also be admitted to the doctoral program without a master's degree with the additional requirement that they complete a preliminary stage of eight units, at least five of which must be courses offered by the Graduate School of Library and Information Science, before moving on to the doctoral requirements. The M.S. degree requires all students to complete 10 units of graduate study, including courses in information organization and access as well as libraries, information and society. Three scheduling options are available to students pursuing the M.S. degree. Only Option is designed for part-time commuting students who complete the degree by attending courses on campus only on Fridays. The LEEP3 Option is a distance education option that combines brief periods of on-campus instruction with independent learning and instruction using the Internet and other new information technologies for delivery.
Students work closely with faculty advisers to select an appropriate course of study.
A thesis is not required but is available as an option. A minimum of 12 months is required to complete the master's degree. Students prepare for careers in all types of information organizations. The certificate is awarded upon completion of 10 units of graduate course work beyond the master's degree. Students and faculty advisers work closely together in selecting appropriate courses of study to meet individual needs.