The iSchool at Drexel University


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The iSchool at Drexel
3141 Chestnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104-2875
Phone: 215.895.2474
Fax: 215.895.2494
info@ischool.drexel.edu

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The Master of Science (MS) in Library and Information Science curriculum prepares professionals for information-providing organizations. The program is accredited by the American Library Association (ALA), the highest accreditation available in the field. Drexel is one of just 56 institutions to hold ALA accreditation. Drexel first offered library science studies in 1892, and the program is now the second oldest in the United States.

In its most recent ranking of the library and information studies programs (2007) in “America’s Best Graduate Schools,” U.S.News & World Report ranked The iSchool at Drexel as one of the top graduate schools in the country, a distinction it has held continuously for 10 years. The Library and Information Science program is ranked 11th in the nation overall, while the iSchool's specialties in Information Systems and Digital Librarianship came in at numbers 5 and 6, respectively.

Drexel’s online library science program is the fifth largest according to “Grad School’s a Click Away” in the January 21, 2008 issue of U.S.News & World Report.

The MS degree qualifies students for a wide variety of positions, including academic librarian, children's librarian, knowledge management specialist, systems librarian, Web developer, young adult librarian, digital librarian, and competitive intelligence analyst.

Students may formally declare a concentration in Competitive Intelligence & Knowledge Management, Digital Libraries, Information and Library Services, School Library Media or Youth Services. The curriculum for the preparation of school librarians is accredited by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. For more information about concentrations please visit the curriculum page.

In keeping with the flexibility and personal planning emphasis of the College’s MS, students may also select a “no concentration” option.

A student’s individual program may include preparation for both general and specialized professional careers. In addition to the concentrations outlined above, students may choose to specialize in Healthcare Informatics or Archival Management. Students wanting to expand their study of archival management may consider the courses offered by the History Department at Temple University. Coursework related to library and information work in legal, scientific, medical and business settings, as well as studies in computerized information systems is also offered.

The MS degree is offered on campus and online. Students may take the degree completely on campus, completely online, or as mixture of the two. The iSchool's second graduate program offered completely online, the MS qualifies students for a wide variety of positions. Currently, all courses in the School Library Media Concentration except the Field Study (INFO 891) are offered online. INFO 891, which is required for certification in the State of Pennsylvania, must be completed within a 50-mile radius of Drexel University's main campus. Students seeking certification elsewhere should check on requirements in their own jurisdictions. The Archival Management specialization also requires on-campus courses which are offered on campus in conjunction with Temple University.

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