Certificate of Advanced Study (CAS) in Library and Information Science

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Graduate School of Library and Information Science

Program Information

Program Overview

The Certificate of Advanced Study (CAS) in Library and Information Science is open to those who hold a master's degree in library and information science or a related field. Librarians, information scientists, and others in information management enroll in the program to refresh and update their skills, gain greater specialization in their professional training, or redirect their careers from one area to another. Examples of areas of concentration include digital libraries, library and information center administration, information technology, and information management. An area of concentration might also be a specific library function such as children's services, government information, science information, or technical services. The CAS Program does not lead into the Ph.D. Program.

Courseload

This 40 semester hour course of study is structured to encourage students to design programs that meet specific educational and career goals. A sequence of 32 hours of courses is developed by students with their advisors. Up to 16 of the hours may be taken outside of the Graduate School of Library and Information Science. The final four hours are the CAS project, a substantive investigation of a problem in librarianship or information science, which is followed by a final oral examination. A maximum of 12 hours, with a grade B or better, may be transferred, subject to review by the GSLIS Admissions Committee and the Graduate College. Transferred hours must be graduate-level courses in library and information science earned at an ALA-accredited master's degree program, or a field other than LIS completed at any campus of the University of Illinois or any accredited institution. These hours cannot have been used to fulfill the requirements of a degree earned at another institution and must have been completed within the last five years.

Completion of the 40 hour Certificate of Advanced Study varies widely. Full-time students may finish in two semesters and one summer, but students have five years to complete the program.

Entry

Students may enter the on-campus CAS program in fall, spring, or summer. The CAS LEEP scheduling option begins in the summer session.

Grades

Students must complete 32 or more hours of course work with a 3.25 grade-point average (on a 4.0 scale). The pass-fail option applies only to courses taken outside the library and information science curriculum. Hours taken under the pass-fail option are not computed into the G.P.A. and may not be applied to a degree in library and information science.

Financial Aid and Enrollment Status

Students holding graduate assistantships awarded and/or administered by the School must be registered for a set number of classes determined by the percentage time of the assistanship; students will be advised of the amount upon appointment. Students with graduate assistantships in the library or elsewhere on campus must follow the enrollment requirements of the units employing them.

Please refer to the website listed above for detailed information.

Degree/Certificate: Masters Degree

Required Campus Visits: 1

Program URL: http://www.lis.uiuc.edu/gslis/degrees/cas.html

Program Contact: Dr. Linda Smith
Associate Dean
Graduate School of Library and Information Science
501 East Daniel Street
Champaign, IL 61820-6211
Phone: (800) 982-0914
E-mail: lis-apply@uiuc.edu