Graduate College Master of
Library and Information Science
About the Program
The Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS) program at St. Catherine University empowers you to become a leader in today’s complex and ever-changing global information environment. You’ll be a proactive and reflective practitioner with the skills to serve diverse populations as you find and share knowledge in print, digital and other formats.
Accredited by the American Library Association (ALA), our program is informed by sound scholarly research and blends intellectual rigor with experience. Our graduate courses cover many areas, including:
• academic libraries
• archives and special collections
• digital libraries
• public libraries
• school libraries
• special libraries
• technical services
• youth services
Whether you are trying to advance, change or re-energize your career, St. Catherine's MLIS degree is a valuable investment. What you learn in our graduate program will open up opportunities - locally, nationally and internationallyin a variety of areas, including multi-branch library systems, museums, military bases and Fortune 500 companies. In our MLIS program, learning is connected, inclusive and pragmatic. Your peers will span many age groups and bring a variety of life experiences to the classroom. You’ll gain a broad perspective of the profession and become familiar with a wide range of collaborative technologies. You will also work with the same library cataloging systems, electronic resource management software and digital library platforms used by professionals in the field.
For those interested in working in a K–12 setting, our School Library Media Specialist (SLMS) program prepares media specialists at the elementary, middle and secondary levels. School library media specialists manage the library/media center of their schools. They collaborate with teachers and other staff to develop curricula and integrate resources into teaching and learning. They promote reading in a variety of formats and guide students to become effective users of ideas and information. They seek, select, evaluate and use electronic and print resources, and instruct teachers and students in the use of those resources.
Our Curriculum
The 36-credit MLIS degree can be completed in approximately two years. Classes are held online in both synchronous and asynchronous meeting formats. The online SLMS program can be completed as a license-only option for 33 credits, or as part of the MLIS degree for 36 credits. Additional courses are required for SLMS students who do not hold a current Minnesota teaching license.
Our MLIS program engages in ongoing, systematic curricular planning to ensure quality coursework that is always current and applicable. Our curriculum is grounded firmly in traditional library and information science areas of interest, while embracing current topics.
SLMS students learn the principles of librarianship in general, and services to children and young adults in particular. Developmental psychology of the child, pre-adolescent and adolescent is woven into the literature courses. The philosophy of education for elementary, middle and secondary school levels is an integral part of our curriculum.
In our graduate program you’ll learn to gather, analyze and critically evaluate information so you may develop reasonable arguments, sound judgments and effective solutions. You’ll also enhance your ability to solve ethical dilemmas while staying true to your own convictions. This takes self-reflection and courage. At St. Catherine, you will further develop your attitudes and behaviors that reflect integrity, honesty, compassion and justice in both your personal and professional life.
Our faculty are enthusiastic teachers, generous mentors and diligent researchers. They consistently develop and experiment with new and more effective teaching approaches and materials, as well as new technologies to facilitate your learning. They are diverse in specialized knowledge and interests, ethnic background and international experience. All are involved in academic research or volunteer projects in the Twin Cities or abroad that advance the discipline and improve the community. They will support your desire to seek new knowledge and conduct research that makes a difference.
Our students collaborate on class projects, online activities, chat sessions and off-site trips. They develop a comprehensive ePortfolio, which serves as a culminating experience and provides graduates with a workforce-ready resource when seeking employment. Throughout the program they study and work closely with faculty members on research, conference presentations and articles for publication. This free-flowing exchange of ideas, perspectives and life stories makes learning at St. Catherine more interesting, dynamic and challenging – more vital to the world.
Sample Plans of Study
MLIS Degree (36 credits)
Required courses:
• Introduction to Library and Information Science
• Organization of Knowledge
• Information Access Services
• Research Methods for Library Information Science
• Management of Libraries and Information Centers
Elective courses:
You choose the remaining seven courses (21 credits) in consultation with a faculty advisor based on your area of interest. See the full list of MLIS offerings at stkate.edu
SLMS program (minimum of 33 credits)
Required courses:
• Introduction to Library and Information Science
• Organization of Knowledge
• Information Access Services
• Research Methods for Library Information Science
• Leadership in Theory and Practice
• Library Materials for Children
• Library Materials for Young Adults
• Technology for Teaching and Learning
• Curriculum and School Libraries
• School Libraries
• Clinical Experience/Student Teaching
Elective course:
Complete one 3-credit elective course if you are pursuing the SLMS program as part of the MLIS degree.
Additional courses:
If you do not hold a current Minnesota teaching license, additional student teaching hours are required, as well as the following courses:
• General Psychology
• Lifespan Developmental Psychology
• Teachers as Leaders for a Changing Society
• General Methods: K-12 and Secondary
• School Health and Chemical Health
• Literacy in the Content Areas: Secondary
Tuition and Fees
The 2024–25 tuition rate for the MLIS degree is $995 per credit. Additional costs for the program include fees for student services and technology ($330 per term) and books (prices vary by course).
How to Apply
Application deadlines:
• January 1 (spring)
• May 1 (summer)
• August 1 (fall)
To be eligible for admission, applicants must have:
• A bachelor’s or graduate degree from an institution accredited by a nationally recognized, regional accrediting association
• A cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher (if GPA is below 3.0, an explanatory statement is required).
These materials are also required:
• Admission essay
• Current résumé
• Two recommendations
• Transcripts from degree-granting institutions
• Explanatory statement (if cumulative GPA is below 3.0)
• Official scores from TOEFL or IELTS (if native language is not English)
• Credential evaluation from World Education Services (if college/university coursework was completed outside the U.S.)
Visit our website for detailed application information, or to learn more about the MLIS and SLMS programs: stkate.edu/graduate
Note: St. Catherine’s MLIS program has a current status of Conditional accreditation. The next comprehensive review visit with the ALA Committee on Accreditation is scheduled for Fall 2026.
Programs with conditional status remain accredited. All students who graduate from the program under conditional status will graduate with an accredited degree.
This document provides information about graduate studies at St. Catherine University. The information may change at any time. Contact the Office of Graduate Admission to confirm program and application details.
1/2024