Undergraduate Programs

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Bachelor of Science in Library and Information Science (BLIS) Online

• Fully online program with no on-campus requirements
• Evening classes meet in virtual classrooms
• Rolling admission, start any semester
• Study abroad opportunities offered annually 

The BLIS is a 120 hour degree program, with 45 hours of major specific classes. Detailed information about degree requirements can be found in USM's Undergraduate Bulletin. 

What Will I Learn?

Graduates from this program are prepared to work in a variety of libraries and information environments using people skills, problem-solving skills, and their ability to organize, access, and evaluate information. Students take courses on a variety of topics including:

• Reference sources, collection development
• Basic and advanced cataloging
• Children's or young adult literature
• Information technology in libraries
• Web development and evaluation
• Storytelling or programming for youth
• School libraries, rural and small libraries

Program Requirements

Students are required to take at least one literature course, either children’s literature or young adult literature, and they are required to take at least one technology-related course, either technology in school libraries, information technology in libraries, or web development and evaluation.

Students are required to complete a practicum in a library or archive in their senior year and produce a reflective blog, presentation, and capstone paper related to the practicum experience.

Students are encouraged to apply for national and international library or archival internships that can count as their capstone practicum.

Accelerated Master's Option

The Accelerated Master's Option (AMO) would allow senior undergraduates in the Library and Information Science program who have a GPA of 3.5 or higher to take up to 9 credit hours of graduate credit in elective courses during their senior year. Students pay undergraduate tuition for up to 9 credit hours of graduate courses and the credit will count toward both their undergraduate degree and toward the MLIS degree at Southern Miss.

Museum and Archival Studies Undergraduate Certificate

The goal of the Undergraduate Museum and Archival Studies Certificate is to prepare students for careers as archivist assistants, museum technicians, conservators, and other related fields. The certificate program is designed for students interested in cultivating skills in museum operations, visitor engagement and education, collections and exhibitions work, marketing, and other areas related to archives and museums. Selected courses can be counted towards both this certificate and the bachelor’s degree.

This 15-hour undergraduate certificate is 100% online and has three required LIS courses—LIS 465 - Introduction to Museums and Archives (3 hrs.), LIS 466 - Museums as Information Centers (3 hrs.), and LIS 467 - Archival Theory and Practice (3 hrs.)—and a variety of available electives across campus. For more information view the Undergraduate Bulletin.

Scholarships

Some scholarships are available through the USM Foundation and students are encouraged to apply for state and national scholarships.