Careers & Accreditation – Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS)
The fully American Library Association (ALA) accredited Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS) program at the University of Maryland (UMD) prepares students for careers in a plethora of fields – including government, higher education, archives, museums, libraries, startups, and many other organizations engaged in information activities.
Learning Objectives of the MLIS Program
Facts and Figures
According to a survey administered to 2020 graduates, 89% of those who were employed held positions relevant to the degree. In 2019, 83% of respondents held positions relevant to the degree. More information from our 2020 alumni survey through Library Journal is available here.
Our average time to degree completion is 2.22 years (based on data from 2014-2018). Our retention rate after 2 years is 96.3% (based on our Fall 2016 cohort).
Retention Rate for LBSC/LBSO/HiLS Students
After 1 Year | After 2 Year | After 3 Year | After 4 Year | |
---|---|---|---|---|
2020 | 92.1 | |||
2019 | 92.2 | 88.8 | ||
2018 | 92.4 | 90.9 | 92.4 | |
2017 | 94.6 | 90.2 | 91.1 | 91.1 |
2016 | 95.7 | 94 | 94.9 | 94.9 |
Average time to degree for LBSC/LBSO Students
Academic Year | Average Time to Degree | Median Time to Degree |
---|---|---|
2020-2021 | 2.3 | 2.0 |
2019-2020 | 2.3 | 1.9 |
2018-2019 | 2.2 | 2.0 |
2017-2018 | 2.3 | 2.0 |
2016-2017 | 2.0 | 1.9 |
Acceptance Rates [LBSC, LBSO, HILS]
Semester | Applications Received | Acceptance Rate |
---|---|---|
Spring 2016 | 31 | 77.4% |
Fall 2016 | 141 | 78.7% |
Spring 2017 | 51 | 76.5% |
Fall 2017 | 150 | 82.0% |
Spring 2018 | 62 | 82.3% |
Fall 2018 | 210 | 80.1% |
Spring 2019 | 82 | 81.7% |
Fall 2019 | 228 | 71.9% |
Spring 2020 | 74 | 81.1% |
Career Paths
Mission Statement of the MLIS program
The MLIS Program educates a diverse group of students in the knowledge, skills, habits of thought and inquiry, a
nd ethics of the library and information professions through theory and practice, enabling them to be leaders in the state, national, and global information society.
Vision Statement of the MLIS program
The Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS) degree at the University of Maryland prepares graduates to be socially engaged and technologically focused information professionals, ready to create, educate, and innovate.