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/MA History
The Master of Arts in History/Master of Library and Information Science program consists of 54 credits.
Graduates of the program are qualified to assume positions as archivists and staff members in libraries, museums, universities, governmental agencies, and industry. For those who pursue employment opportunities beyond archives in such institutions, knowledge of how to store, classify, and retrieve archival material will be a valuable set of skills that enhance the qualifications of the information professional.
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.
Credits and Courses
For the MLIS/MA in History, students complete a minimum of 54 credits total for both degrees. Within the coordinated degree program, the minimum requirement for the MA in History is 30 graduate credits, of which 24 must be within History. By completing 30 credits of coursework in SOIS and 24 credits of coursework in History, a student can combine the MLIS with the MA in History. Thus the MLIS/MA in History may be achieved with the completion of 54 credit hours, and the MA and MLIS degrees will be awarded simultaneously.
For the History, MA: Public History, students complete a minimum of 60 credits total for both degrees. The minimum degree requirement for completing the History MA with the Public History concentration is 36 graduate credits, 12 of which must be taken in General History courses, 12 in Public History courses, and the remaining 12 in the chosen area of specialization. Within the coordinated degree program the student may complete the degree requirements for the History MA with the concentration in Public History as follows: 12 credits in General History, 12 credits in Public History, and 6 credits in approved elective courses; the remaining 6 credits of specialization are to be fulfilled within the student's 30 credits of MLIS coursework. Thus, the MLIS/MA in History may be achieved with the completion of 60 credit hours, and the MA and MLIS degrees will be awarded simultaneously.
Library and Information Science (MLIS) coursework
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses | ||
| INFOST 501 | Foundations of Library and Information Science (Core Courses) | 3 |
| INFOST 511 | Organization of Information | 3 |
| INFOST 571 | Information Access and Retrieval | 3 |
| INFOST 799 | Research Methods in Information Studies | 3 |
| Electives | ||
| Select 6 credits in courses satisfying both History MA and MLIS requirements in consultation with faculty advisor | 6 | |
| Select 12 additional credits in graduate SOIS courses in consultation with faculty advisor 1 | 12 | |
| Total Credits | 30 | |
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Courses satisfying both History MA and MLIS requirements | ||
| INFOST 650G | An Introduction to Modern Archives Administration | 3 |
| INFOST 714 | Metadata | 3 |
| INFOST 750 | Arrangement and Description in Archives | 3 |
| INFOST 752 | Archival Outreach: Programs and Services | 3 |
| INFOST 753 | Preserving Information Media | 3 |
| INFOST 855 | Advanced Appraisal | 3 |
- 1
Students pursuing the Public History option must select 6 of these credits of SOIS electives from the list of courses satisfying both the MA in History with a concentration in Public History and the MLIS. See table below under Public History.
General History: Thesis Option
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| HIST 712 | Historiography and Theory of History | 3 |
| or HIST 713 | Historical Research Methods | |
| Select 6 credits in two colloquia (800-level courses) 2 | 6 | |
| Select 6 credits in two seminars (900-level courses) | 6 | |
| HIST 985 | Master's Capstone | 6 |
| Select 3 credits in History electives in consultation with the student’s advisor | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 24 | |
General History: Master's Essay Option
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| HIST 712 | Historiography and Theory of History | 3 |
| or HIST 713 | Historical Research Methods | |
| Select 6 credits in two colloquia (800-level courses) 2 | 6 | |
| Select 6 credits in two seminars (900-level courses) | 6 | |
| Select 9 credits in History electives in consultation with the student’s advisor | 9 | |
| Total Credits | 24 | |
- 2
Students may take 3 credits of either HIST 716 or HIST 717 as a substitute for 3 credits in one colloquium.
Public History
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| General History | ||
| Select 6 credits in colloquia (800-level courses) 3 | 6 | |
| Select 6 credits in seminars (900-level courses) 3 | 6 | |
| Public History | ||
| Students are advised to complete these two courses in the first year: | ||
| HIST 700 | Public History Seminar | 3 |
| HIST 715 | Research Methods in Local History | 3 |
| Students also complete the following, generally taken at any point after the second semester: | ||
| HIST 701 | Graduate Internship in Public History 4 | 6 |
| Select 6 credits in History electives at the graduate level | 6 | |
| Select 6 credits from among the following courses approved for both the MLIS and the MA in History: Public History (if not already taken to satisfy MLIS) | 6 | |
| An Introduction to Modern Archives Administration | ||
| Metadata | ||
| Arrangement and Description in Archives | ||
| Archival Outreach: Programs and Services | ||
| Preserving Information Media | ||
| Advanced Appraisal | ||
| Total Credits | 30 | |
- 3
As a substitute for one colloquium or seminar, students may take 3 credits of either HIST 716 or HIST 717 or another appropriate course, which must be approved in advance by the Public History Director.
- 4
Students must take a total of 6 credits of HIST 701, and this requirement is generally completed as two 3-credit internships. However, an individual internship may be taken for 1 to 6 credits. Unless granted an exception by the program faculty, students complete their 701 internship(s) after having taken both HIST 700 and HIST 715.
Approved Cross-Listed Courses
WGS 501G, with the topic "Women, Gender, & Global Revolutions," counts as a History course.
Additional Requirements
General History: Thesis Option
Academic Review and Thesis Prospectus Hearing
Thesis Option students are subject to an academic review along with their thesis prospectus hearing. The Review and Prospectus hearing is a one- to two-hour meeting involving the student, the student’s Major Professor and two other members of the History Graduate Faculty who will serve as examiners for the student’s thesis defense. With the assistance of their Major Professor, the student must prepare a prospectus for the thesis in advance of the Review. The Review involves an evaluation of the student’s academic progress in master’s coursework, two unrevised course papers, and the thesis prospectus.
Thesis
The student must write a thesis that conforms to the guidelines above and as established at the thesis prospectus hearing.
Thesis Defense
The student must pass an oral examination in defense of the thesis.
General History: Master's Essay Option
Academic Review
Within the first semester after completing 9 credits (including two of the following courses: HIST 712, HIST 713, HIST 712, HIST 713, a colloquium and/or seminar), Master's Essay students are subject to an academic review. The Review is a one- to two-hour meeting involving the student, the student’s Major Professor and two other members of the History Graduate Faculty. The Review involves an evaluation of the student’s academic progress in master’s coursework, two unrevised course papers, and the Master's Essay.
Public History
Students doing the Public History option are not required to take a comprehensive exam nor write a thesis; instead, they complete the required 6 credits of HIST 701.
Time Limit
The student must complete all requirements for the coordinated degree within seven years of initial enrollment.
Important
You must refer to the catalog pages of the 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:
- Critically assess the philosophy, principles, culture, ethics or values of library and information science.
- Demonstrate the knowledge and skills to develop and evaluate library and information services and systems.
- Outline how library and information services may serve the needs of a diverse global society.
- 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.
History MA Learning Outcomes
Students graduating from the History MA program will:
- Demonstrate a knowledge of general historical problems and the complexity and diversity of human experience.
- Demonstrate a knowledge of specific historical areas and/or eras in human experience.
- Demonstrate a knowledge of major historical debates within the subject matter of their course work, and a familiarity with major methodological and interpretive constructs.
- Demonstrate an ability to make an evaluative presentation of historical material.
- Prepare a high-quality capstone project, such as a thesis, comprehensive exam, portfolio, or internship.