Earn your Online Library and Information Science Degree from Southern Miss!
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Military Friendly
Affordable
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 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 the senior year. Additional courses include web development, information ethics, multicultural resources, and the history of the book.
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!
Check out some of the jobs our graduates of the online library and information science degree landed after earning this degree.
- Public Librarian
- Elementary School Librarian
- High School Librarian
- Branch Library Manager
- Business Operations Specialist
- Library Technician
This is your life, plus college!
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 Classificaiton | 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
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 39 hours of major-area courses, 15-21 hours of major requirements outside the department (including 12 hours of foreign language), an 18-hour minor or dual major in another department and enough electives to bring the total number of hours to 124. Major-area courses begin in the junior year.
For pricing information, click here. For financial aid information, click here. For detailed tuition information, click here.
All LIS courses are offered online and other courses, if not offered online by USM, can be taken through the Mississippi Virtual Community College while enrolled at USM for USM credit. 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.
We offer a supplemental endorsement for school library media specialists. It is available completed online. Find more information on the supplemental endorsement.
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/
Admission Requirements
Any student who satisfies admission requirements to the University through the Office of Admissions is eligible for admission to the School of Library and Information Science.
All students majoring in library and information science must have their major programs approved by the director of the school and have a completed degree program plan on file in the director’s office.