Earn your Online Library and Information Science Degree from Southern Miss!

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Library and Information Science BS

Undergraduate

Explore the world of information with an online Library and Information Science degree (BS). The complexity of today’s information age requires greater expertise and knowledge than ever before. The University of Southern Mississippi can help you gain the skills you need to excel.

The University of Southern Mississippi is proud to offer an online Bachelors of Science degree in Library and Information Science. Through this convenient and affordable online Library and Information Science degree program, you will meet each week in a virtual classroom and take courses in collection development, cataloging, library management, and information technology as well as children’s or young adult literature. An internship or practicum at a library or archive near you is required in your senior year. Additional courses include web design, information ethics, multicultural resources, and the history of books.

Are you interested in furthering your education with a Master’s in Library and Information Science online degree? Additionally, Southern Miss also offers an Archives and Special Collections Graduate Certificate online!

This is your life, plus college!

A number of scholarship opportunities are available to online students. To find our list of available scholarships for which you may qualify, click here.

The University of Southern Mississippi is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools of Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). That means you can expect a program with the highest standards and quality.

Your Future

Check out some of the jobs our graduates landed after earning this degree:
  • Public Librarian
  • Elementary School Librarian
  • High School Librarian
  • Branch Library Manager
  • Business Operations Specialist
  • Library Technician
National Salary Averages* Career pathway for online library and information science degree

General Education Curriculum

Written Communication (6 hours)

Course Credits
Composition One
3 hrs.
Composition Two
3 hrs.

Natural Science (8-10 hours minimum)

Select 2 courses with labs:

Course Credits
Biology and Society *
3 hrs.
Principles of Biological Science I *
3 hrs.
Principles of Biological Science II *
3 hrs.
Chemistry and Our Environment *
3 hrs.
General Chemistry I *
3 hrs.
General Chemistry II *
3 hrs.
Weather and Climate *
3 hrs.
General Physics I *
3 hrs.
General Physics II *
3 hrs.

Humanities (9 hours)

Course Credits
World Literature
3 hrs.

Select 2 courses, 1 history required:

Course Credits
World Civilizations: Beginnings to 1500 C.E.
3 hrs.
World Civilizations: 1500 C.E. to present
3 hrs.
Introduction to Philosophy
3 hrs.
Ethics and Good Living
3 hrs.
Comparative Religion
3 hrs.

Aesthetic Values (3 hours)

Select 1 course:

Course Credits
Art Appreciation
3 hrs.
Dance Appreciation
3 hrs.
The Enjoyment of Music
3 hrs.

Social and Behavioral Sciences (6 hours)

Select 2 courses:

Course Credits
The Human Experience: A Global Perspective on Human Diversity
3 hrs.
Basic Economics
3 hrs.
World Geography: Dynamics of a Changing Earth
3 hrs.
American Government
3 hrs.
General Psychology
3 hrs.
Understanding Society: Principles of Sociology
3 hrs.

Mathematics (3 hours)

Course Credits
Quantitative Reasoning
3 hrs.
College Algebra
3 hrs.
Higher-level MAT course
3 hrs.

Writing-Intensive Requirement (3 hours)

Course Credits
Organizational Communications
3 hrs.

ENG 101& ENG 102 prerequisites

Speaking-Intensive Requirement (3 hours)

Course Credits
Library Intruction
3 hrs.

Capstone Requirement (Major Area)

Course Credits
Library Practicum 1-4 hrs. Arr. (Capstone)
3 hrs.

Must be taken Senior Year; ENG 101 & ENG 102 prerequisites

 

Program Curriculum

Major Area of Study Requirement (45 hours)

Minimum grade of “C” required in all Major Area of Study courses.

Course Credits
Introduction to Information Literacy
3 hrs.
Reference and Information Services
3 hrs.
Cataloging and Classification
3 hrs.
School Libraries
3 hrs.
Development of Library Collection
3 hrs.
Rural and Small Libraries
3 hrs.
Technology in the School Library
3 hrs.
Information Technology and Libraries
3 hrs.
Web Design and Evaluation
3 hrs.
Information Ethics
3 hrs.
Sources of Information for a Multicultural Society
3 hrs.
Library Pracrticum 1-4 hrs. Arr. (Capstone)
3 hrs.
Library Instruction
3 hrs.

Select 1 course:

Course Credits
Literature and Related Media for Children
3 hrs.
Literature and Related Media for Children for Young Adults
3 hrs.

Select 9 additional hours from the School of Library and Information Science or 45 total hour of LIS courses.

Additional Requirement (6 hours)

Course Credits
General Psychology
3 hrs.
Child Psychology
3 hrs.
Developmental Psychology
3 hrs.

Minor (18 hours)

Additional Note

Please note that the above information is meant to be a guide and is not official. For further information regarding courses for this degree, see the University Bulletin. Please be aware that not all course choices listed in the University Bulletin are available online. However, sufficient online options are available to complete this degree.

* Requires additional 1 hour lab
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this program lead to initial or an upgraded license in Mississippi or any other state?

Licensure requirements and approval are determined by each state’s licensing board.  For general information about professional licensure, please review the Online Programs & Professional Licensure Page. If you have professional licensing questions regarding licensure relative to one of our online programs, please read our Professional Licensure Disclosure and then fill out the Professional Licensure Inquiry Form. If you have other questions regarding licensure, please email professional licensure.

Additional fees may apply to the online Library and Information Science degree. Fees range between $20 – $60.

The Library and Information Science (LIS) major requires completion of the general education core courses as well as 45 hours of major-area courses, 15-21 hours of major requirements outside the department and enough electives to bring the total number of hours to 120. Major-area courses begin in the junior year.

To find pricing information, click here. For financial aid information, click here. For detailed tuition information, click here.

You will not need to come to the Southern Miss campus for this online library and information science degree.

Our classes involve students with faculty. There are real-time chats, weekly chat meetings, discussion board assignments, reading and writing assignments, basically a class taught in cyberspace. In order to properly serve our students, we limit the number of seats in our classes to ensure the faculty member can interact appropriately with the students. These are not correspondence courses. They are semester-length courses taught within a typical semester structure. The courses are NOT “come when you please and do what you like.” If you are looking for a grade for enrolling, then do not apply to Southern Miss. You will have to earn a grade. It will require long hours on your part, just like face-to-face graduate classes.

Contact the school to be advised as a nondegree student at (601) 266-4228 or by email at slis@usm.edu.

Other classes that aren’t listed may count towards your online library and information science degree once your transcript has been evaluated and posted.

If yes, visit online.usm.edu/military for more information on how Southern Miss can serve you and your needs. We will help you with funding and scholarship information, admissions and course enrollment.

If you still have questions about the online library and information science degree, please e-mail us at slis@usm.edu or call (601) 266-4228.

Please visit our programs page here: https://online.usm.edu/programs/

If you still have questions, please visit our FAQ page, or take a moment to fill out our form at the bottom of the screen, and we will reach out to you!

Admission Requirements

Admission Requirements:

  • See University Admission Policies
  • Any student who satisfies admission requirements to the University is eligible for admission to the School of Library and Information Science.

Program Academic Policies and Requirements:

Program Recommendations:

A minor in another field of study is recommended.

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