The academic concentration areas here (with the exception of the School Librarian Program) are suggested courses to take based on your area of interest and are not specialized degree programs themselves, although we encourage students to pursue additional certification(s) in their field of interest should they find it beneficial to do so. The degree you will receive is the Master's of Science in Library Science (MSLS).
Current Students
You must apply for federal student aid for every school year that you attend (info from FAFSA.gov). Financial aid's contact info as well as information about FAFSA at UK is available here. If you have specific questions, you should definitely contact them directly and as early on as possible.
For tuition and account inquiries, you'll need to speak to Student Account Services (contact info at link) for the university. You will first want to set up a myPasscode in myUK (Student Services-->myInfo) to obtain permission for them to release/discuss your financial info via email or phone. They should be able to assist you with tuition payment. We don't handle any financial information at the academic department level.
Link Blue refers to the basic login information you will use to access campus-wide systems. You will use your Link Blue information to login to myUK, where you will register for classes, view your grades and financial information, and access other student services. You should have received your Link Blue (User ID) information from the Graduate School. If not, please allow 7-10 working days from your admission date. Oftentimes because your admissions letter is electronic, students find it has gone into their spam folder by mistake. You can access it through ApplyYourself if you don't see it in your email inbox.
If you need help activating any of your UK accounts, check out UK's Help Wiki. We also have a walk-through videos for setting up your linkblue account and your uky email. If you are still unable to access your account, contact the IT department at 859-218-4357 or by visiting UK ITS. They provide technology services and support for the university and can help you with determining the a password or resetting yours if needed. Please let us know if you need assistance in the meantime with classes/course registration.
Incoming Library Science students are placed with a faculty advisor and registered for classes after filling out their New Student Form.
If you are unsure who your faculty advisor is or how to contact them, please reach out to hjbu222 [at] uky.edu (Student Affairs).
Registration takes place on myUK under Student Services >> Registration. To look up courses, click on the appropriate semester and enter the course number (ie, LIS 603). To view all courses offered by SIS for the semester you're registering for, simply search for LIS.
Start dates depend on the year and semester in question. The Office of the Registrar maintains a page listing the Academic Calendar for the current and upcoming academic year.
The school listserv is where we send out program updates, portfolio and graduation info, and much more, so students really should subscribe to the listserv. We also get job posts on the SIS email listserv all the time, and there's no shortage of internship and practicum possibilities.
If you aren't already subscribed to the listserv, here is how: Send a one-time email to UK's listserv administrator at: listserv [at] lsv.uky.edu. Be sure to send it from the email address where you want to receive/ post messages to the school's list. Leave the subject line blank.
On a single line in the body type the following: "SUBSCRIBE SLIS Firstname Lastname" (where you would enter you first and last name, of course). You should then receive an email verifying that you have been added.
Want to unsubscribe? Same process, only type "SIGNOFF SLIS" in the body without anything after it.
Current textbook information can be found on the UK Bookstore website (note: students are not required to purchase texts from the bookstore). Required texts are also noted in the syllabus for each course. Books can be purchased at one of many bookstores on or around campus, or online.
Yes. please see the Student Organizations resource page.
To find out about libraries in your area, consult WorldCat’s Library Locator page. Finding out what types of libraries are in your vicinity will help you get started. Depending on what type of library you wish to work in (types are listed in the results), you may want to contact directors or volunteer coordinators to find out about how you can get involved on your own or via a Practicum (LIS 672) or Independent Study (LIS 695) course.
See our Exit Requirements page for more details.
All required courses (LIS 600, 601, 602, and 603, and an IT elective) are offered each Fall and Spring semesters, and two of the four core courses are offered on an alternating basis in Summer term. Since elective courses are offered on a rotating schedule, students need to pay particular attention to the timing of the courses they need and their related prerequisites when preparing their course plan.
Occasionally a student may need to take time off from their studies for personal reasons (medical, etc.). If this is the case for you, you will need to request a leave of absence for the semester you need to sit out. Please contact infosci [at] uky.edu (Student Affairs) if this is something you are seeking to do as we will need to assist you with gaining approval from the UK Graduate School to do so. You should also notify your adviser. Students who miss one or more semesters without a leave of absence must apply for re-admission, so please contact us as soon as possible if you believe you may need to request a leave of absence.
Disclaimer: it appears our student FAQ is picked up by search engines when leave of absence and the University's name is searched, and we have received inquiries from graduate and undergraduate students outside the School/College about medical and other leave requests. Please know this FAQ is meant solely for our master's students (ICT, Library Science), and you should contact the program representatives for your degree's department/College if you need assistance. Please do not contact our unit's Student Affairs representative or provide personal information to us. Thank you.
Distance Learning
The School of Information Science offers online courses allowing students to complete the degree completely online with no required travel to Lexington.
Online courses are 100% online; they may have optional synchronous activities, or participation in sessions that require webcams, microphones, or other hardware. Courses are conducted through Canvas, a course management system contracted with UK. All students with a LinkBlue ID and password can login to Canvas using those credentials.
The School supports part-time studies in a variety of ways; in addition to the availability of online courses, many face to face courses are scheduled in late afternoon or evening, providing better access to the School’s degree programs. Please note that the degree may be earned solely online: there is no face-to-face option for master's programs.
Distance learning at UK began when the program began offering courses on the campuses of Northern Kentucky University and the University of Louisville. Since then, distance learning has evolved to online learning, allowing more students the opportunity to attend the University of Kentucky School of Information Science.
Questions may be sent to sis [at] uky.edu (Student Affairs).
Yes- online courses have been migrated to 100% online. This may mean that you are required to have a webcam, microphone and access to high-speed internet, but you will not be required to show up for on-campus sessions.
Yes---the MSLS program is a fully online program, and students should expect to take classes online. Online students are not expected to come to campus at any point to complete their degree.
If you have specific questions about degree completion and requirements or when to take a class, it's always good to meet with your adviser or contact infosci [at] uky.edu (Student Affairs) for guidance.
While we will try to make as much information available as we can by posting on our web site, Canvas, and the student emai lists, it is always the responsibility of the student to explore the requirements of all classes for which they register. Information about the requirements of individual courses are usually available on the course's syllabus. Further questions should be referred to your instructor.
If you are concerned you are not receiving emails from us or need to update your contact information, please contact sis [at] uky.edu (Student Affairs).
Students who are in Kentucky may have access to certain counseling services on campus if they need them, out-of-state students would not (due to issues with practicing outside state lines). Any student can call the after hours clinician on UK Counseling Center's website. They can also assist out-of-state students in finding care in their area. There is also a helpful list of free resources for students below that UK Counseling recommends:
Counseling services listed on Distance Learning website: http://www.uky.edu/ukonline/st
National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-273-TALK; also has an online chat service at their website: https://suicidepreventionlifel
Crisis Textline: Text “go” to 741-741
Therapist Finder: locate mental health providers in a person’s area; https://therapists.psychologyt
Useful apps for self-care:
Headspace
Calm
Breathe2Relax
Relax Melodies
iCounselor Anxiety
Depression Check
If you are concerned about your physical safety or you feel you are at imminent risk of harming yourself or others, please call UK Police Department at 859-257-8573 (#8573 from a mobile phone) if you are on campus or call 911 immediately.
Prospective Students
Zoom is a video conferencing software. With a webcam, headphones and a mic, you can participate in conferences, classes and meetings virtually. For basic information on how to use it, see the UK ITS Zoom support page.
Please email uklis.student.affairs [at] gmail.com (Student Affairs) with further questions. Or better yet, sign up for an online information session to speak with us directly!
You can have more information e-mailed to you by filling out this form.
For detailed instructions on applying to UK Graduate School and the Library & Information Science program, see our How To Apply page.
If you take classes online, you will pay the online tuition rate (regardless of where you live). Tuition rates can be found here.
No. UK SIS accepts students from across all 50 U.S. states and even overseas! Courses are offered online. The Student Bulletin explains how students can complete their degree completely online.
If you are applying to the MSLS program for the endorsement in school library media, one important thing to note about programs is that different states may have different standards for teacher certification and school library media certifaction. UK's State Authorization website has more information about what programs in Kentucky may be accepted elsewhere.
It's important to know how to approach learning in an online degree program. Online classes are not harder nor easier than in-person classes, but they are different due to their asynchronous modality. This means students going into an online master's program should expect to:
a) Check into their Canvas class shells routinely each week (we recommend at least once daily) to receive updates and contribute meaningfully to ongoing discussion boards.
b) Be good time managers: determine when you have time to work on coursework throughout the week and maintain your own "class time" so you don't fall behind or put off assignments until the last minute.
c) Communicate, communicate, communicate: if you are having any trouble, message your peers and/or your instructor right away to ask for help or clarification. Never be afraid to reach out to your instructors or Student Affairs if you need assistance--we have many resources to help you in place, but we need to know your situation to act accordingly on your behalf.
In Canvas (our learning management system where students take their classes), there are a number of helpful tools including a module for new students that walks through all of Canvas' features with videos and and step by step instructions. If you need help accessing that module in Canvas or any resources for online students, you can reach out to infosci [at] uky.edu (Student Affairs).
If you're applying for a fellowship, your three letters of recommendation must come from faculty members. If you are not applying for a fellowship, your letters can include faculty members, current employers, or former employers.
No. The recommendation can include the form, a letter, or both, at the writer's discretion.
The American Library Association accredits Library Science programs in the United States, Canada & Puerto Rico. For a full list of ALA-accredited institutions, consult their directory.
See our page on Funding Your Education. If you have other questions regarding other types of financial aid, such as loan requirements or FAFSA deadlines, contact the University of Kentucky Office of Student Financial Aid.
UK HR has extensive job listings from all over the University.