LIS Bachelor of Science Degree Program
Goals:
The Bachelor of Science in Library and Information Services provides students an opportunity to develop technological skills, attain a broad liberal arts education, and increase creative and critical thinking abilities for employment in libraries and information centers. It is the natural extension of the Associate of Science in L&IS offered by UMA. Students with the Bachelor's degree will be prepared to enter the field of library and information technology as specialized paraprofessionals, able to work independently in many employment settings. Library technicians and aides currently employed in school and public libraries can advance themselves professionally and fiscally by pursuing the B.S. in L&IS. For further information, see From College to Career in Library and Information Services.
Entrance Requirements:
To be admitted to the Bachelor of Science degree, either Option 1 or Option 2 must be met. If neither is possible, all students will follow Option 3.
- Option 1: successful completion of 30 credits from an accredited institution with a GPA of at least 2.50
- Option 2: SATs of 1,000 combined points
- Option 3: Students who do not meet either of the first two criteria will be required to enter into the A.S. degree program. After successfully completing 30 credits, students may transfer into the B.S. degree.
Degree:
Upon successful completion of the program (120 credit hours at a minimum GPA of 2.00 and a minimum grade of "C" in all library and information technology courses), the student will be awarded a Bachelor of Science in Library and Information Services degree.
Degree Requirements:
The Bachelor of Science is 120 hours of credit work to include the following:
Program Requirements:
English: 6 credit hours from ENG 101 and ENG 102
Communications: 3 credit hours from COM 101, 102, 104, 105, or 106
Fine Arts: 3 credit hours from any arts or music course
Humanities: 12 credit hours (6 must be at upper level) from any literature course; any HTY course; any humanities course; any PHI course
Mathematics: 3 credits from MAT 100 or higher-level mathematics
Sciences: any 4 credit laboratory science
Social Sciences: 6 credits from PSY 100 and 308 or SOC 101 and 360
Business: 3 credits from BUA 223
Education: any education course
Computer Information Systems: 6 credits from CIS 100 and 101
Library Information and Services: 35 credits from LIB 100, 101, 150, 175, 225, 250, 325, 350, 365, 442, and 499; and 6 credits from LIB 201, 202, 203 or 204.
LIB Electives: 3 credits from LIB 312, 385, or 441
Electives: 27 credits
At the bottom of this page, you will find a checksheet of required courses, readable with the use of Adobe Acrobat Reader.
Course Delivery:
L&IS courses are taught asynchronously via video, the Internet, and computer teleconferencing. Contact between faculty and students is maintained via e-mail and toll-free telephone service. Non-library courses are completed at regionally accredited colleges and universities of the students' choice. The B.S. degree requires 120 credit hours of coursework of which 41 hours are to be LIB courses taken through UMA.
This distance education option includes national and international delivery via asynchronous technologies & computer, e-mail account, and access to Internet required. By special exception, students pay in-state tuition for all courses with an LIB prefix.
Costs:
See UMA's Tuition and Fees page for current tuition costs.
Application and Registration:
Students may apply and register by contacting the UMA Office of Admissions,
1-877-UMA-1234 (In Maine) or 1-800-958-9936 (Nationwide).
CheckSheet for Bachelor of Science in Library and Information Services