Subject to the provisions of the Regulations, the following Departmental Regulations shall apply:
The entrance requirements for the Master’s Degree in Library and Information Studies are as follows:
a) The normal minimum qualifications for entry into the MLIS shall be a first Degree in any subject obtained from this University or equivalent institutions with at least a minimum second class lower division or equivalent. Holders of degrees other than Library and Information Studies will also be considered.
b) Applicants who have obtained a pass Degree at the undergraduate level and who have obtained a minimum of credit in the Postgraduate Diploma in Library and Information Studies (PGDLIS) or its equivalent from this University or any recognized university may be admitted directly to Year Two of the MLIS Pro-gramme.
The MLIS Programme extends over four semesters of full-time study and six semesters of part-time study in the single subject Library and Information Studies, leading to the award of a Master’s in Library and Information Studies Degree. The MLIS Programme shall be by coursework and Dissertation, with the normal duration as described in General Regulation 40.321. The Programme shall consist of a minimum of 57 credits.
The first year will consist mainly of coursework and developing a research proposal. The coursework consists of core courses in Library and information Studies, Information Science and courses specifically devoted to the theory and practice of Archives and Records Management, as well as optional courses. It is also possible to select other electives offered at the Master’s level. However, such courses can only be chosen with the approval of the Head of the Department.
A two-month practical attachment will be undertaken after the first year, during the long vacation, leading to the development of a professional report under the auspices of LIS729.
In the second year, students will carry out their research and write a Dissertation. The Dissertation shall be completed in accordance with the provisions of General Regulation 40.74. Part-time MLIS students shall complete the MLIS in 6 semesters. A student shall be expected to take a minimum of 6 credits per semester.
Semester I
Core Courses
LIS 600 Computers and Data Communications
LIS620 Foundations of the Information Profession
LIS 621 Theory and Practice of Cataloguing and Classification
REC 601 Theory and Practice of Records Management
Optional Courses
LIS 630 Technical Writing, Editing and Newsletter/ Magazine Production
LIS 634 Knowledge Management for the Information Professional
LIS 635 Business Information Systems
LIS 602 Database Systems
LIS 607 Web Design and Multimedia
LIS 628 Information Entrepreneurship Skills
REC 603 Advanced Course in Preservation and Conservation
REC 605 Legal Aspects of Information
Semester 2
Core Coursesl of Graduate Studies
LIS 622 Information Storage and Retrieval
LIS 623 Information Needs, Sources and Services
LIS 624 General Management in Information Services
LIS 627 Research Methods And Proposals
REC 602 Theory and Practice of Archives Management
Optional Courses
LIS 605 Concepts of Geographic Information Systems
LIS 626 Information Networks and Networking (Pre-requisite LIS600)
LIS 632 Special Topics in Library and Information Science and Archives and
Records Management
LIS 636 Cataloguing Electronic Resources (Pre- requisite LIS600)
REC 604 Electronic Records Management
Winter Vacation
Core Courses
LIS 729 Practical Placement
Semester 3
LIS 700 Dissertation (12, prerequisite LIS 627)
Semester 4
LIS 700 Dissertation (12, prerequisite LIS 627)
Supervision shall be as prescribed in General Regulation 41.9.
Evaluation of students’ performance in the MLIS Programme shall be based on continuous assessment and a formal examination at the end of each semester. The weighting between continuous assessment and formal examination shall be 1:1 except LIS729: Practical Attachment, which will be assessed by continuous assessment only. All examinations will be three hours’ duration unless stated otherwise. The overall course grade will be computed as per General Regulation 40.532 and the GPA shall be computed in accordance with General Academic Regulation 00.86. The Dissertation will be examined by an internal examiner and an external examiner, both nominated by the Department.
To be awarded the Master’s in Library and Information Studies Degree, a student must be credited with at least 57 credits, including all core courses: 27 credits in the first year, 6 credits in the winter vacation, and 24 credits in the second year. Regulation 00.85 shall apply.