Information Studies, B.A./M.L.I.S.

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Minimum Total Credit Hours: 144

Major Hours: 36

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

LIS 2003Introduction to Information Science3
LIS 3063Essentials of IT & Informatics3
LIS 4823Internship in Information Studies3
LIS 5643Introduction to Data Analytics (shared)3
LIS 5683Database Design for Information Organizations (shared)3
Choose one course from each of the following areas: 121
Total Credit Hours36
1

The list of approved courses for this category is available from the School of Library & Information Studies. 

MAJOR SUPPORT REQUIREMENTS 

ECON 1113Principles of Economics-Macro3
ECON 1123Principles of Economics-Micro3
MATH 1643Functions and Modeling for Business, Life and Social Sciences (Math Prerequisite Course) 13
MATH 1743Calculus I for Business, Life and Social Sciences3
COMM 2613Public Speaking3
Choose one statistics course 23
Total Credit Hours18
1

Students may test out of the prerequisite course and take only MATH 1743.

2

The list of approved courses for this category is available from the School of Library & Information Studies.

MLIS Component

MLIS Core
LIS 5023Management in Information Organizations3
LIS 5033Information and Society3
LIS 5043Organization of Information3
LIS 5053Information Seeking and Use3
LIS 5063Fundamentals of Information Technology3
LIS 5713Research and Evaluation Methods3
MLIS Graduate Electives
LIS 5643Introduction to Data Analytics (in undergrad major work, shared)3
LIS 5683Database Design for Information Organizations (in undergrad major work, shared)3
Choose two additional shared courses 16
Additional electives: 0-4 hours for thesis students, 6 hours for non-thesis students 20-6
End of Program Assessment Options
Choose one of the following options: 3
Thesis: 2-6 hours of LIS 5980
Non-Thesis: ePortfolio
Total Credit Hours36
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

With approval of LIS advisor, select from a list of elective courses maintained by the School of Library & Information Studies and approved by the Graduate College.

3

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/coursesCourses graded P/NP will not apply.

UNIVERSITY-WIDE GENERAL EDUCATION (MINIMUM 40 HOURS) AND COLLEGE REQUIREMENTS
Core Area I: Symbolic and Oral Communication
English Composition (6 hours)
ENGL 1113Principles of English Composition3
ENGL 1213Principles of English Composition3
or EXPO 1213 Expository Writing
Language (0-13 hours in the same language)
The college requirement cannot be met by high school coursework.
Beginning Course0-5
Beginning Course, continued0-5
Intermediate Course (2000 level) 1,20-3
Mathematics (3 hours)
Choose one course from the General Education Mathematics list3
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 13-4
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 13-4
Core Area III: Social Science (6 hours)
P SC 1113American Federal Government3
Choose one course from the General Education Social Science list3
Core Area IV: Arts and Humanities (18 hours)
Artistic Forms
Choose one course from the General Education Artistic Forms list3
Western Culture
HIST 1483United States to 18653
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 list3
Additional Core IV Upper-Division Arts & Humanities courses
Choose one course from Artistic Forms, Western Culture, or World Culture 1,33
Choose one course from Artistic Forms, Western Culture, or World Culture 1,33
Core Area V: First Year Experience (3 hours)
Choose one course3
Total Credit Hours56
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.

Plan of Study Grid
Freshman
First SemesterCredit Hours
ENGL 1113 Principles of English Composition (Core I) 3
MATH 1643 Functions and Modeling for Business, Life and Social Sciences 3
Beginning Language (Core I) 5
First Year Experience (Core V) 3
 Credit Hours14
Second Semester
COMM 2613 Public Speaking 3
ENGL 1213
Principles of English Composition (Core I)
or Expository Writing
3
MATH 1743 Calculus I for Business, Life and Social Sciences 3
Beginning Language (Core I) 5
 Credit Hours14
Sophomore
First Semester
ECON 1113 Principles of Economics-Macro 3
LIS 2003 Introduction to Information Science 3
Interpersonal Communication Requirement 1 3
Intermediate Language 3
Natural Science with lab (Core II) 4
 Credit Hours16
Second Semester
ECON 1123 Principles of Economics-Micro 3
Organizational Communication Requirements (1 of 6 options to share with MLIS elective) 1 3
Statistics Major Support course 3
Natural Science without lab (Core II) 3
World Culture (Core IV) 3
Free Elective, lower-division 1
 Credit Hours16
Junior
First Semester
LIS 3063 Essentials of IT & Informatics 3
LIS 5643 Introduction to Data Analytics (shared with MLIS elective) 3
Information and Enterprise Requirement 1 3
HIST 1483
United States to 1865 (Core IV)
or United States, 1865 to the Present
3
P SC 1113 American Federal Government (Core III) 3
 Credit Hours15
Second Semester
LIS 5683 Database Design for Information Organizations (shared with MLIS elective) 3
Information Technology Requirement (1 of 6 options to share with MLIS elective) 1 3
Technical Writing Requirement 3
Arts & Humanities, upper-division, outside major (Gen. Ed.) 3
Artistic Forms (Core IV) 3
 Credit Hours15
Senior
First Semester
Leadership Requirement 1 3
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
 Credit Hours15
Second Semester
LIS 4823 Internship in Information Studies 3
Information in Society Requirement (1 of 6 options to share with MLIS elective) 1 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
 Credit Hours15
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 Hours12
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 Hours12
 Total Credit Hours144
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.