MSI-LIS Program Overview
Mission Statement
The mission of Drexel’s Master of Science in Information–Library & Information Science (MSI-LIS) program is to integrate information technology, professional knowledge and experiential learning and prepare our graduates to lead and innovate in libraries and information organizations of all types. (Approved Sept. 21, 2018.)
LIS Data and Program Assessment
Drexel’s master’s degree in Library and Information Science (LIS) has been accredited by the American Library Association since 1924, making it one of the oldest continuously operating LIS graduate programs in North America. LIS at Drexel has a long history of technology leadership in the library and information professions. Our graduates go on to become change-makers and leaders in the library, archives, and other information professions.
Drexel’s LIS program is consistently highly ranked by U.S. News & World Report (13th overall in 2025), including in several specialty areas: Information Systems (1st); Digital Librarianship (3rd); Services for Children and Youth (#12); and Archives and Preservation (#16).
This program offers a newly reduced tuition rate, and numerous scholarships are available, making now the perfect time to earn your master’s in LIS.
This flexible program offers both online and on-campus options, allowing you to create a course schedule that works for you. The flexible curriculum enables you to customize a program of study that aligns with your career goals and interests. As an LIS student, you will learn to create, protect, organize, manage, curate, analyze, retrieve and disseminate data and information in multiple media across the wide range of information domains. As a graduate, you will help advance knowledge, manifest social responsibility, promote community outreach, improve society as global citizens, and lead the library and information field as a practitioner and scholar.
Our program includes:
- Practical skills and knowledge in the foundational areas of information resources and services, managing and leading information projects and organizations, information ethics and policy, information technology, and the evolving landscape of information in the AI age. A suite of upper-level electives allow you to specialize in your areas of interest, such as public and academic librarianship, youth resources and services, archives, digital curation, information systems and retrieval, cataloging and metadata, information behavior, research methods, and more.
- Hands-on, experiential coursework throughout the program and a culminating capstone project ensure that you have practical experience by the time you graduate, allowing you to enter the workforce with the professional skills employers are looking for.
- World-class faculty who conduct cutting-edge research in digital archiving, computational archival science, metadata and linked data, information retrieval, information behavior and other areas of LIS, as well as faculty with decades of experience working in libraries and other information organizations.
Please visit Drexel’s Course Catalog for a full description of the LIS courses and sample plans of study.
Who is the Master’s in Library & Information Science for?
Drexel’s LIS master’s program is designed for students of all backgrounds who are interested in studying the intersection of people, information and technology. It prepares graduates to work in libraries, archives, corporations, educational institutions, government agencies and other information-intensive environments.
Career Preparation and Outlook for Library & Information Science
The experiential capstone project ensures CCI’s MSI-LIS graduates have practical work experience and are ready to enter the workforce at a professional level.
Student Capstone Experiences
CCI asked a few students in the Library and Information Science master’s program to share their capstone experiences:
"Everything I have learned throughout my program has really come to a head in my Capstone project, from classification to digital library technologies and even metadata. All of these aspects come together like a puzzle piece, and while some libraries may have certain specifications or different skills, the basic foundation is still there."
– Christal Mayorga, MSI library and information science '25
"Probably the most important skill I gained from my Capstone project has been how to write documentation for people who aren’t in the Library Science world. [...] When we think about educating people on why libraries and archives are so important, we have to remember that most aren’t familiar with what’s happening behind the scenes. Advocacy is such a valuable skill, both externally and within the organizations you work for. The first step in doing that well is to distinguish what’s common knowledge and what information seems common to you as someone who’s 'in the know.'"
– Shane Moran, MSI library and information science '23
Check out Shane's CCI alumni profile
"I was able to utilize some skills that I got from Drexel classes with making the LibGuide, doing the collection management, and actually getting to do it hands-on was really helpful. Working hands-on with the Capstone, it really made me reflect on accessibility, especially digital accessibility."
– Trisha Faust, MSI library and information science '25
"I've gotten a lot of experience doing things that I didn't necessarily know would be part of archival work. I didn't go in knowing anything about exhibit building or anything about, like, the physical process of digitizing materials and things, so I got a lot of experience firsthand putting those things into our system. And then, I got to use the skills that I was learning about metadata in order to build out the records."
– Rae Blanchard, MSI library and information science '25
Read More About Our Students' Capstone Experiences
Where Our LIS Graduates Work
- Drexel University Libraries
- University of Pennsylvania
- Smith College
- St. Mary's College of Maryland
- The Free Library of Philadelphia
- District of Columbia Public Library
- Upper Dublin Public Library
- The Library Company of Philadelphia
- Historical Society of Pennsylvania
- CVS Caremark
Learn More About LIS Careers
Fast Facts
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Hours
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Full-time (FT) or Part-time (PT)
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Time-to-Degree
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1.5 years (FT); 2.5 years (PT)
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Format
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On campus or online
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Term Starts
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Fall, Winter, Spring
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Hands-on Experience?
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- Coursework emphasizes hands-on skills that employers are seeking, including projects and teamwork
- Program culminates in a hands-on, collaborative capstone project
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Technical experience required?
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No
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GRE required?
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No
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Meets F1 Visa STEM Requirements?
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No
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Library & Information Science Curriculum
IMPORTANT NOTE: Drexel operates on the quarter, not semester, system, offering classes during four 10-week terms throughout the year. (You are not required to take classes every quarter, but students must complete the degree in 5 years.)
Our master’s degrees are 45 credits (15 courses), which is equivalent to 30 semester credits (10 courses).
Students gain knowledge in LIS service and operations, information ethics and information service management, while advancing skills in technology-focused digital content. The curriculum combines core and specialized knowledge and aligns theory and practice in a two-term capstone, preparing LIS majors for the professional workplace.
The program features:
- Six core courses
- A choice of one of three LIS certificates as an area of focus:
- For a total of 12-15 additional credit hours, students may use electives to add a second LIS certificate or another CCI graduate certificate
- Other graduate courses in Computing and Informatics (CI); Computer Science (CS); Computing Technology (CT); Data Science (DSCI); Information Systems (INFO); and Software Engineering (SE) are also an option. Please consult your advisor for the options and course requirements.
- A capstone course (spanning two quarters): students can pursue a project-based capstone or an optional research project.
Admissions Requirements
Please visit our Graduate Admissions section for admissions requirements and application deadlines.
Finances
Tuition
Please visit Drexel’s official Graduate Tuition & Fees page. Note that this master’s degree requires 45 quarter credits.
Scholarships
There are a variety of sources of financial aid and scholarships to help you fund your master’s degree — explore them here.
Request More Information
Be in touch with us to get answers to all your questions! We can connect you with a Recruitment Specialist, one of our Graduate Dean’s Ambassadors, or a faculty member to help. Contact our graduate recruitment team at cciinfo@drexel.edu, or by filling out this form, and we’ll get back to you soon.
Schedule a Visit or Register for an Online Information Session
Learn more about the College of Computing & Informatics experience through an online information session or an in-person visit. Contact our recruitment team to schedule your visit today by contacting us at cciinfo@drexel.edu!