In collaboration with several other academic units at UW-Milwaukee, SOIS offers students the opportunity to obtain two Master’s degrees concurrently—one in Library and Information Science (MLIS) and one in a subject area.

Degree Requirements

  • The number of degree credits needed for each of the coordinated programs is usually 12 fewer than the sum of the two programs if they were not taken simultaneously. All degree requirements of each component must be satisfied.
  • The MLIS portion of the coordinated degrees can be completed online.
  • Prerequisite to the award of either degree in this program is the simultaneous award of its counterpart degree.

MLIS Component

The Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS) component of each of the coordinated programs includes 30 credits of SOIS courses. These include the MLIS core courses (12 credits). The remaining 18 MLIS credits are selected from the School’s offerings in accordance with the student’s goals in the coordinated degree program.

MLIS/MM Music (Music History and Literature concentration only)

The coordinated degree program (54 credits) prepare students in the Music History and Literature concentration for positions as music librarians.

While prospective students are not required to submit Graduate Record Examination scores, they are strongly advised to take these tests before or early in their graduate work if they wish to be considered for a UWM Distinguished Graduate Student Fellowship or if they plan to continue their graduate work after completing a master’s degree at UWM.

Diagnostic examinations in both music history and music theory are required of all entering and transferring graduate students before their first semester of study at UWM. Exceptions will be granted in extenuating circumstances. In no case will students be allowed to proceed beyond the first year of graduate study without having taken the diagnostic exams. These examinations assist the faculty in determining whether the student may proceed with required graduate courses, or whether they first need to remove deficiencies.

Applicants exhibiting deficiencies in music history will be required to enroll in Graduate Music History (MUSIC 704), and those exhibiting deficiencies in music theory will be required to enroll in Graduate Theory Foundations (MUSIC 703); these courses must be passed with a minimum grade of “B” or better. Additionally, other areas of deficiency may require further review. Graduate Music History may count toward the degree as an elective. Credits earned in making up deficiencies in music theory do not count toward the degree. The following courses are recommended to fulfill the graduate theory elective requirement: MUSIC 680, MUSIC 731, MUSIC 744.

Admission Requirements 

Application Deadlines

Application deadlines vary by program, please review the application deadline chart for specific programs. Other important dates and deadlines can be found by using the One Stop calendars.

Diagnostic examinations in both music history and music theory are required of all entering and transferring graduate students before their first semester of study at UWM. Exceptions will be granted in extenuating circumstances. In no case will students be allowed to proceed beyond the first year of graduate study without having taken the diagnostic exams. These examinations assist the faculty in determining whether the student may proceed with required graduate courses, or whether they first need to remove deficiencies.

In addition to the application materials required by the Graduate School, those seeking admission to the Master of Music degree program must submit the following to the Director of Graduate Studies, Department of Music:

  1. A Graduate Music Application (available upon request from the Department of Music, Dr. Timothy Noonan tpnoonan@uwm.edu414-229-2286).
  2. A one-page resume of the applicant’s performance experience and extracurricular activities.
  3. A one-page statement addressing the applicant’s reasons for wishing to pursue a degree program at UWM, the applicant’s career goals, and what he or she intends to do with a UWM degree.
  4. Three letters of recommendation.

While prospective students are not required to submit Graduate Record Examination scores, they are strongly advised to take these tests before or early in their graduate work if they wish to be considered for a UWM Distinguished Graduate Student Fellowship or if they plan to continue their graduate work after completing a master’s degree at UWM.

Credits and Courses

An applicant must meet Graduate School requirements plus these departmental requirements to be considered for admission to the program:

  1. Undergraduate music course background must include adequate preparation in music theory demonstrated through satisfactory completion of the following or equivalent courses:
     
    MUSIC 127Materials of Theory I2
    MUSIC 128Materials of Theory II3
    MUSIC 225Materials of Theory III3
    MUSIC 123Aural Theory I1
    MUSIC 124Aural Theory II1
    MUSIC 226Aural Theory III1
    MUSIC 2303
    MUSIC 421Materials of Theory IV3
  2. Preparation in music history and literature must be demonstrated through satisfactory completion of a two-semester survey course in development of music from earliest times to the present plus one semester of more specialized music history.
Additional Requirements

Applicants exhibiting deficiencies in music history will be required to enroll in MUSIC 704, and those exhibiting deficiencies in music theory will be required to enroll in MUSIC 703; these courses must be passed with a minimum grade of “B” or better. Additionally, other areas of deficiency may require further review. Graduate Music History may count toward the degree as an elective. Credits earned in making up deficiencies in music theory do not count toward the degree. The following courses are recommended to fulfill the graduate theory elective requirement: MUSIC 680MUSIC 731MUSIC 744.

Minimum degree requirement is 30 graduate credits, 27 of which must be in specified music areas, 3 of which may be in one of the other areas or in a related field.

Specific Requirements
MUSIC 450Introduction to Musicology3
MUSIC 452Early Music Ensemble (1 credit each for two semesters)2
MUSIC 710Graduate Studies in Music3
MUSIC 711Graduate Seminar in Music History:3
MUSIC XXXGraduate Theory Elective3
MUSIC 911Seminar In Musicology I3
MUSIC 990Research of Thesis3
Electives
Music History6
Other Areas of Music 1
Select one of the following:3-30
3 credits of General Electives (UG or G)
30 credits in Library Science if M.M./MLIS major
Total Credits30-57

The program must also include:

  • MUSIC 314, if not previously completed.
  • Reading knowledge of German, French or Italian (see below for specific details).

Basic Required MLIS Courses

Core Courses12
Foundations of Library and Information Science
Organization of Information
Information Access and Retrieval
Research Methods in Information Studies
Other MLIS courses18
Total Credits30

Important

You must refer to the catalog pages of both individual master's programs to ensure that you meet all requirements for both degrees.

Library and Information Science MLIS Learning Outcomes

Students graduating from the master’s program in Library and Information Science (MLIS) will be able to: 

  1. Critically assess the philosophy, principles, culture, ethics or values of library and information science.  
  2.  Demonstrate the knowledge and skills to develop and evaluate library and information services and systems.  
  3.  Outline how library and information services may serve the needs of a diverse global society.  
  4.  Apply knowledge of research methods in library and information science to investigate an issue of relevance to the field. 

See the full list of ALA Core Competencies here.