Library and Information Science: Archives Concentration, Online MLIS
Study how history, ethics, technology and philosophy work together in the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS) online archives concentration. By researching how records are selected for preservation, arranged, described and made accessible to the public, you’ll examine how society views and remembers itself through a lens that few disciplines can offer.
You’ll also gain insights into the challenges facing modern archives and how you can take the lead in creating new, effective solutions. The School of Information Studies’ interdisciplinary approach ensures that you can compete in the job market and pursue advanced roles in archival institutions.
Start Dates: Fall, Spring or Summer
Cost per Credit: $800 (Total Cost: $28,800*)
Credit Hours: 36 (15 credits in archival studies required)
*Total cost will vary based on the number of credits transferred into UWM.
Program Type
Master’s
Program Format
Online
Why Study Archives at UWM?
- Select the concentration U.S. News & World Report consistently recognizes as one of the Best Archival Science Programs.
- Enhance your professional profile with a distinguished archives credential on your MLIS degree.
- Virtually connect with alumni and industry leaders to discuss career growth and networking opportunities.
- Cultivate skills in record curation, organization and public engagement.
- Elevate your prior humanities or library and archival experience for a career change.
- Benefit from faculty expertise teaching both in-person and online courses.
Thanks to my SOIS studies, I understand more clearly how important it is to seek out and promote the marginalized voices and stories through the archives by what we collect and how we promote it.
While earning your online MLIS archives concentration, you may be eligible for Information Studies scholarships, such as the Timothy L. Ericson Scholarship in Archival Studies, and UWM aid. Contact the Office of Student Financial Services to learn more.
Scholarship opportunities may increase with academic standing. Explore the Panther Scholarship Portal regularly as you make progress on your degree.
Explore a variety of other funding sources specifically for MLIS archival studies students:
Mid-Atlantic Region Archives Conference (MARAC)
Midwest Archives Conference (MAC)
Northwest Archivists (NWA)
Society of American Archivists (SAA)
- Donald Peterson Student Travel Award
- F. Gerald Ham and Elsie Ham Scholarship
- Josephine Forman Scholarship
- Mosaic Scholarship
Society of California Archivists
- James V. Mink Scholarship (restricted to SCA members)
- General Scholarships
Society of Southwest Archivists
To begin UWM’s online MLIS archives concentration, you must apply to the MLIS program and select your concentration of choice. You can also submit the Concentration Declaration of Intent form to add or remove a concentration after admission to the MLIS program.
Related Archival Studies Program
Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS) in Archives & Records Administration
The CAS in Archives and Records Administration consists of 15 credits of advanced coursework designed to help working professionals develop a specialty in archives and records administration. This is a post-master’s degree certificate.
Visit our Archives & Records Administration CAS page for complete details.
In collaboration with your advisor, you’ll craft a personalized degree plan that combines MLIS topics with 15 credits of archival studies introduction, foundation and elective courses.
Courses
Enhance your MLIS degree with expert-level archival skills through topics such as digital preservation, records management and archival theory.
Before declaring the MLIS archival studies concentration, we recommend that you take the following course to determine if you wish to pursue this career track:
- INFOST 650: An Introduction to Modern Archives Administration
- INFOST 750: Arrangement and Description in Archives
- INFOST 752: Archival Outreach: Programs and Services
- INFOST 753: Preserving Information Media
- INFOST 855: Advanced Appraisal
- INFOST 640: Information Literacy Instruction
- INFOST 655: Information and Records Management
- INFOST 656: Electronic Documents and Records Management
- INFOST 682: Digital Libraries
- INFOST 691: Special Topics in Information Science
- INFOST 714: Metadata
- INFOST 758: Technology Issues in Archives
- INFOST 759: Fieldwork in Archives and Manuscripts 1
- INFOST 791: Topics in Library and Information Science
- INFOST 850: Seminar in Modern Archives Administration
- INFOST 891: Advanced Topics in Library and Information Science
- INFOST 999: Independent Research
Recommended (does not count toward concentration):
- INFOST 603: History of Books and Printing
Archival Studies Fieldwork
To further prepare you for an archives career, we strongly encourage you to engage in experiential learning through fieldwork in an archival setting.
Former fieldwork sites include:
- Folger Shakespeare Library
- Library of Congress
- Lincoln Presidential Library
- Marquette University
- Milwaukee Art Museum
- National Parks Service
- The University of Texas-Austin’s Harry Ransom Center
- Wisconsin Historical Society
You are responsible for identifying a repository to work with, but our program staff can assist you in doing so. If you are planning to undertake fieldwork in the Milwaukee area, please contact sois-archivesinfo@uwm.edu before initiating contact with a repository so we can coordinate with other students.
You may be able to find fieldwork opportunities at colleges and universities, academic libraries, some public libraries, historical societies, museums or community organizations. Many organizations advertise when fieldwork opportunities become available.
Complete the Archives Fieldwork Form
After your fieldwork forms are submitted, our staff will contact the selected repository to confirm if they can host you and to formally approve your fieldwork project(s). Once the repository is confirmed, our staff will send an email introducing you and your field supervisor to each other. You must also submit the Information Studies Fieldwork Placement Form as soon as possible after receiving the introductory email.
Share Your Experience
During the fieldwork, you will be expected to contribute to discussions on the fieldwork course Canvas site and develop an e-portfolio based on your experience. Information about the academic requirements for this course will be given at the beginning of the semester.
Complete the Fieldwork Evaluation
You and your field supervisor must complete a fieldwork evaluation at the conclusion of the fieldwork.
Student Evaluation Form | Supervisor Evaluation Form
Deadlines
Deadlines for fieldwork submission are:
Fall fieldwork: June 15
Spring fieldwork: Dec. 15
Summer fieldwork: March 1
Research and Publications
As an MLIS archival studies student, we encourage you to use your class assignments as opportunities for career development. Consider transforming major essays into potential articles for publication or conference presentations and course projects into conference posters.
This approach not only enhances your resume but also provides experience for positions in academic archives, where tenure processes are common. Student-led projects, especially those involving community engagement, have a strong history of acceptance at SAA and other regional conferences.
Interested in publishing your research or poster? The following journals publish archival studies research, and some are specifically focused on student research:
- The American Archivist
- Archival Issues
- Archival Science
- Archivaria
- InterActions: UCLA Journal of Education and Information Studies
- Journal of Archival Organization
- Library & Archival Security
- Library Student Journal
- Provenance: Journal of the Society of Georgia Archivists
- RBM: A Journal of Rare Books, Manuscripts, and Cultural Heritage
- Records Management Journal
- Student Research Journal at San Jose State School of Library and Information Science
Below, see two student research awards available for student papers:
Theodore Calvin Pease Award (Society of American Archivists, restricted to student authors)
Margaret Cross Norton Award (Midwest Archives Conference, not limited to student authors)
The archival profession is competitive, requiring an MLIS degree with archival coursework and additional experience for professional-level employment. To strengthen your resume, participate in experiential learning through fieldwork courses and engage in professional organizations.
An MLIS archival studies concentration will lead to opportunities with institutions dedicated to preserving and providing access to historical records and cultural heritage, including:
- Academic special collections and university archives
- Audiovisual and media archives
- Corporate archives and records management
- Cultural heritage organizations
- Digital preservation initiatives
- Government archives (national, state or local)
- Law firms and legal archives
- Medical and health information archives
- Museum archives and historical societies
- Nonprofit research institutions
Professional Conferences
Attending an archives conference is a great way to network with other archivists and develop as a professional in the field.
Review information for upcoming archives and record management conferences:
- ARMA Canada
- ARMA International
- Association of Canadian Archivists
- Conference of Intermountain Archivists
- Mid-Atlantic Regional Archives Conference
- Midwest Archives Conference
- New England Archivists
- Northwest Archives Inc.
- Society of American Archivists
- Society of Rocky Mountain Archivists
- Society of Southwest Archivists