Information Studies, B.A./M.L.I.S.
View ChecksheetMinimum Total Credit Hours: 144
Major Hours: 42
Minimum Upper-Division Hours: 48
Upper-Division Hours Within Major: 24
Overall GPA - Combined and OU: 3.00
Major GPA - Combined and OU: 3.00
Program Code: A560/F651
Undergraduate Requirements
- Some courses required for the major may also fulfill University General Education and/or Dodge College of Arts & Sciences Requirements.
- A grade of C or better is required in each major course. Information Studies category courses must be completed within a maximum of two attempts per course.
MAJOR REQUIREMENTS
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| LIS 1013 | Information and Digital Literacy | 3 |
| LIS 2003 | Introduction to Information Science | 3 |
| LIS 4013 | Information Management in LAMs | 3 |
| LIS 4043 | Fundamentals of Information Technology | 3 |
| LIS 4823 | Internship in Information Studies | 3 |
| LIS 5453 | Digital Collections (shared) 2 | 3 |
| Guided Elective Categories (must total 24 credit hours) 1, 2 | ||
| Galleries, Libraries, Archives, and Museums - choose 6 to 9 hours | 6-9 | |
| Technology - choose 3 to 6 hours | 3-6 | |
| Management and Leadership - choose 6 hours | 6 | |
| Culture and Communication - choose 6 to 9 hours | 6-9 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 42 | |
- 1
The list of approved courses for this category is available from the School of Library & Information Studies.
- 2
Shared Hours: LIS 5453 plus 9 hours of slashlisted guided electives taken at the graduate level may be shared.
MAJOR SUPPORT REQUIREMENTS
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Writing and Research | ||
| Writing - choose 3 hours 1 | 3 | |
| Research - choose 3 hours 1 | 3 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 6 | |
- 1
The list of approved courses for this category is available from the School of Library & Information Studies.
MLIS Component
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MLIS Core | ||
| LIS 5023 | Management in Information Organizations | 3 |
| LIS 5033 | Information and Society | 3 |
| LIS 5043 | Organization of Information | 3 |
| LIS 5053 | Information Seeking and Use | 3 |
| LIS 5063 | Fundamentals of Information Technology | 3 |
| LIS 5713 | Research and Evaluation Methods | 3 |
| MLIS Graduate Electives | ||
| LIS 5453 | Digital Collections (shared) | 3 |
| Choose 3 LIS guided electives that are slashlisted at the graduate level to be shared courses. Courses must be taken at graduate level. 1 | 9 | |
| Additional electives: 0-4 hours for thesis students, 6 hours for non-thesis students 1 | 0-6 | |
| End of Program Assessment Options | ||
| Choose one of the following options: 2 | ||
Thesis: 2-6 hours of LIS 5980 | ||
Non-Thesis: ePortfolio | ||
| Total Credit Hours | 36 | |
- 1
With approval of LIS advisor, select from a list maintained by the School of Library & Information Studies and approved by the Graduate College.
- 2
In addition to course requirements, the Graduate College requires all candidates for an advanced degree to complete an end of program assessment.
General Education and College Requirements
Courses for fulfillment of General Education and Dodge College of Arts & Sciences requirements must be from the approved General Education course list published in the Class Schedule or at http://www.ou.edu/gened/courses. Courses graded P/NP will not apply.
MINIMUM OF 40 HOURS REQUIRED FOR UNIVERSITY-WIDE GENERAL EDUCATION
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Area I: Symbolic and Oral Communication | ||
| English Composition (6 hours) | ||
| ENGL 1113 | Principles of English Composition | 3 |
| ENGL 1213 | Principles of English Composition | 3 |
| or EXPO 1213 | Expository Writing | |
| Language (0-13 hours in the same language) | ||
| The college requirement cannot be met by high school coursework. | ||
| Beginning Course | 0-5 | |
| Beginning Course, continued | 0-5 | |
| Intermediate Course (2000 level) 1,2 | 0-3 | |
| Mathematics (3 hours) | ||
| Choose one course from the General Education Mathematics list | 3 | |
| Core Area II: Natural Science (7 hours, including one laboratory component) | ||
| Biological Science | ||
| Choose an approved General Education Natural Science course with one of the following prefixes: BIOL, HES, MBIO, or PBIO 1 | 3-4 | |
| Physical Science | ||
| Choose an approved General Education Natural Science course with one of the following prefixes: AGSC, ASTR, CHEM, GEOG, GEOL, GPHY, METR, or PHYS 1 | 3-4 | |
| Core Area III: Social Science (6 hours) | ||
| P SC 1113 | American Federal Government | 3 |
| Choose one course from the General Education Social Science list | 3 | |
| Core Area IV: Arts and Humanities (18 hours) | ||
| Artistic Forms | ||
| Choose one course from the General Education Artistic Forms list | 3 | |
| Western Culture | ||
| HIST 1483 | United States to 1865 | 3 |
| or HIST 1493 | United States, 1865 to the Present | |
| Choose one course from the General Education Western Culture list (excluding HIST 1483/1493) | 3 | |
| World Culture | ||
| Choose one course from the General Education World Culture list | 3 | |
| Additional Core IV Upper-Division Arts & Humanities courses | ||
| Choose one course from Artistic Forms, Western Culture, or World Culture 1,3 | 3 | |
| Choose one course from Artistic Forms, Western Culture, or World Culture 1,3 | 3 | |
| Core Area V: First Year Experience (3 hours) | ||
| Choose one course | 3 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 56 | |
- 1
College of Arts and Sciences Requirements: college requirements are not automatically fulfilled by a previous degree.
- 2
One course at the intermediate level or demonstrated competency at that level
- 3
6 upper-division hours, 2 courses, at the 3000- 4000-level. Must be outside the major.
Free Electives
Electives to bring total applicable hours to the minimum total required for the degree including 48 upper-division hours.
Information Concerning General Rules, Regulations and Minimum Requirements
Arts and Sciences Hours: At least 80 semester hours of liberal arts and sciences courses are required for a BA degree. At least 55 semester hours of liberal arts and sciences courses are required for a BS degree.
Pass/No Pass Enrollment: A maximum of 16 semester hours of free elective credit may be attempted under this option.
Individual Studies (e.g., courses titled “Independent Study”): A maximum of 12 total semester hours may be counted toward graduation, excluding Honors Reading and Honors Research.
P.E. Courses: No physical education activity courses will be counted toward the 120 semester hours of acceptable credit for graduation.
Senior Institution Hours: A minimum of 60 semester hours applied toward graduation must be earned at senior (4-year) institutions.
Residency:
- At least 15 of the final 30 hours applied toward the degree or at least 50 percent of the hours required by the institution in the major field must be satisfactorily completed at the awarding institution.
- At least 15 semester hours of upper-division major work must be completed in residence at OU.
- OU correspondence courses are not considered resident credit.
Grade Point Averages: Students must earn a minimum over all 2.00 for each of the following: Combined Retention GPA (all college grades), OU Retention GPA, GPA for all major courses, and GPA for all major courses taken at OU. Some schools and departments of the College have higher minimum grade point averages required for their students.
Suggested Semester Plan of Study
This plan shows one possible grouping of courses that would allow students to graduate in five years. Please refer to the front of the degree checksheet for official requirements. Students must consult with Dodge College of Arts and Sciences and/or School of Library and Information Studies academic advisors to verify that courses selected each semester fulfill the recommended plan and satisfy University, College of Arts and Sciences, and Information Studies major requirements.
| Freshman | ||
|---|---|---|
| First Semester | Credit Hours | |
| ENGL 1113 | Principles of English Composition (Core I) | 3 |
| Beginning Language (Core I) | 5 | |
| LIS 1013 | Information and Digital Literacy | 3 |
| First Year Experience (Core V) | 3 | |
| Free Elective, lower-division | 1 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| ENGL 1213 or EXPO 1213 | Principles of English Composition (Core I) or Expository Writing | 3 |
| Choose one Guided Elective 1 | 3 | |
| Beginning Language (Core I) | 5 | |
| General Education Math (Core I) | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 14 | |
| Sophomore | ||
| First Semester | ||
| LIS 2003 | Introduction to Information Science | 3 |
| Intermediate Language | 3 | |
| Natural Science with lab (Core II) | 4 | |
| Choose two Guided Electives 1 | 6 | |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| Choose one Guided Elective 1 | 3 | |
| Writing Major Support Course | 3 | |
| Natural Science without lab (Core II) | 3 | |
| World Culture (Core IV) | 3 | |
| Free Elective, lower-division | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Junior | ||
| First Semester | ||
| HIST 1483 or HIST 1493 | United States to 1865 (Core IV) or United States, 1865 to the Present | 3 |
| P SC 1113 | American Federal Government (Core III) | 3 |
| LIS 4013 | Information Management in LAMs | 3 |
| LIS 4043 | Fundamentals of Information Technology | 3 |
| Choose one Guided Elective 1 | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| Arts & Humanities, upper-division, outside major (Gen. Ed.) | 3 | |
| Artistic Forms (Core IV) | 3 | |
| LIS 5453 | Digital Collections (shared) | 3 |
| Choose one Guided Electives 1 | 3 | |
| Research Major Support Course 1 | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Senior | ||
| First Semester | ||
| Western Culture (Core IV) | 3 | |
| Arts & Humanities, upper-division, outside major (Gen. Ed.) | 3 | |
| Free Elective, upper-division (3000-4000-level) | 3 | |
| Free Elective, upper-division (3000-4000-level) | 3 | |
| Choose one Guided Elective 1 | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| LIS 4823 | Internship in Information Studies | 3 |
| Free Elective, upper-division (3000-4000-level) | 3 | |
| Free Elective, upper-division (3000-4000-level) | 3 | |
| Free Elective, upper-division (3000-4000-level) | 3 | |
| Choose one Guided Elective 1 | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Fifth Year | ||
| First Semester | ||
| LIS 5033 | Information and Society | 3 |
| LIS 5023 | Management in Information Organizations | 3 |
| LIS 5043 | Organization of Information | 3 |
| MLIS Graduate Level Elective 2 | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 12 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| LIS 5713 | Research and Evaluation Methods | 3 |
| LIS 5053 | Information Seeking and Use | 3 |
| LIS 5063 | Fundamentals of Information Technology | 3 |
| MLIS Graduate Level Elective 2 | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 12 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 144 | |
- 1
The School of Library and Information Studies requires a minimum of 27 upper-division hours within the major; therefore, some of the approved major courses must be chosen at the upper-division level to ensure this requirement is met.
- 2
Students that choose the non-thesis ePortfolio completion option will complete 6 hours of graduate electives. Students that choose the thesis completion option will complete 2-6 hours of LIS 5980 Research for Master's Thesis and 0-4 hours of graduate electives to meet the 6 hour requirement.