Geography, MA / Library and Information Science, MLIS MA, MLIS
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 Geography
The MLIS/MA Geography Coordinated Degree Program prepares students for positions as map librarians. Graduates of the program are qualified to assume positions as curators and staff in map collections of universities, governmental agencies, and industry.
Program Type
Master’s
Program Format
On Campus
New to Milwaukee?
Milwaukee is a bustling city and metro area with a smaller town vibe. Located on the shore of Lake Michigan, recreational opportunities abound all year round. Parks, beaches, bike trails, water sports and more are enjoyed by residents.
The restaurant scene is hopping, and Milwaukee is known as a foodie city. From casual to fine dining, food lovers will find no shortage of choices across all types of cuisine.
Milwaukee also hosts countless music and ethnic festivals throughout the year and boasts a large number of concert venues from small intimate clubs to large arenas, all of which bring in today’s hottest acts.
The area offers all of the amenities of any large city at a lower cost than comparably sized areas. Housing choices range from urban city living to suburban homes to rural areas, all within a reasonable commute from campus.
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.
Students are admitted to both graduate programs separately, and admission requirements are consistent with those specified by the UWM Graduate School, the geography program of the College of Letters and Science, and the Library and Information Science MLIS of the School of Information Studies.
Application to all graduate programs are completed through the UWM Graduate School. Please see their website for detailed information about the application process and contact them with questions.
Credits and Courses
The MA in Geography normally has a minimum requirement of 30 credits from regular geography courses (which includes 4 capstone/thesis credits). For the coordinated MA Geography/MLIS degree program, however, students can substitute 6 credits in information studies courses for 6 credits of geography. This program, therefore, requires a total of 54 credits. Students must complete the 30 credits required for the MLIS component and the 24 credits in Geography courses specified below.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| GEOG 726 | Geographic Information Science | 4 |
| GEOG 747 | Spatial Analysis | 4 |
| GEOG 810 | Introduction to Techniques of Research and Presentation | 3 |
| GEOG 870 | Contemporary Geographic Approaches: (subtitle) | 3 |
| Select a GEOG 900-level course | 3 | |
| Select any GEOG graduate course | 3 | |
| GEOG 889 | Internship in Geography | 4 |
| or GEOG 999 | Independent Work | |
| Total Credits | 24 | |
The Geography Department offers opportunities for fieldwork that may count toward these requirements. In addition to off-campus fieldwork, the American Geographical Society Collection at the UWM Golda Meir Library provides many unique opportunities for map librarianship fieldwork and is an appropriate site for an internship.
Graduates of the program are qualified to assume positions as curators and staff members in map collections of universities, governmental agencies, and industry. In cases where map collections are not of sufficient size to warrant separation as distinct collections, knowledge of how to store, classify, and retrieve maps will be a valuable set of skills that enhance the qualifications of the information professional.
Basic Required MLIS Courses
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses | 12 | |
| INFOST 501 | Foundations of Library and Information Science | |
| INFOST 511 | Organization of Information | |
| INFOST 571 | Information Access and Retrieval | |
| INFOST 799 | Research Methods in Information Studies | |
| Other MLIS courses | 18 | |
| Total Credits | 30 | |
Important
You must refer to the catalog pages of both individual master's programs to ensure that you meet all requirements for both degrees.
A limited number of Teaching and Research Assistantships are available to geography graduate students. These positions provide a salary and tuition remission.
A generous donation by the Greater Milwaukee Foundation Mary Jo Read fund provides some scholarship funding as well as support for research expenses, including travel related to research. Click below for more details.