Master of Arts in Women’s & Gender Studies / Master of Library and Information Science
Graduate School – MLIS Program Information
The Master of Arts in Women’s & Gender Studies / Master of Library and Information Science Coordinated Degree Program consists of 54-60 credits in combined Women’s & Gender Studies (WGS prefixed or cross-listed) and Library and Information Science coursework. Candidates for the coordinated degree program will be expected to fulfill the degree requirements of both programs within seven years, in compliance with Graduate School policies. Degrees will be awarded simultaneously.
Students will acquire skills in information organization and retrieval and will be prepared to handle the information sources and services in the area of Women’s & Gender Studies. Students will become knowledgeable about relevant information seeking behavior and broader policy issues, and familiar with research, issues, and scholarship in the interdisciplinary field of Women’s & Gender Studies.
The Master of Arts in Women’s & Gender Studies / Master of Library and Information Science program prepares students for positions as information specialists in institutions of higher learning, libraries and research centers which frequently require a subject masters in addition to an MLIS.
Admission
Students are admitted to both graduate programs separately, and admission requirements are consistent with those specified by the UWM Graduate School, the MA in Women’s & Gender Studies Program in the College of Letters and Science, and the MLIS Program of the College of Community Engagement & Professions .
Credit and Courses
The MA in Women's and Gender Studies (WGS) normally has a minimum requirement of 30 credits from Women's and Gender Studies courses. For the coordinated MA WGS/MLIS degree program, however, students can substitute 6 credits in Information Studies for 6 credits of WGS courses. 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 WGS courses as specified below.
Women’s and Gender Studies
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required | ||
| WGS 700 | Feminist Issues and Scholarship | 3 |
| WGS 701 | Feminisms in Global Context | 3 |
| WGS 710 | Advanced Feminist Theory | 3 |
| WGS 711 | Feminist Epistemologies and Research Practices | 3 |
| WGS 740 | Advanced Queer Theory | 3 |
| Select one WGS G or U/G course 1 | 3 | |
| Electives | ||
| Select 6 elective credits in WGS or WGS cross-listed courses (not SOIS), in consultation with the WGS Director of Graduate Studies. Of these electives, 3 credits may be thesis credits (WGS 990). | 6 | |
| Total Credits | 24 | |
Total WGS credits: 24 (maximum of 6 U/G cr; and maximum 3 cr of WGS 999)
Library and Information Science
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| INFOST 501 | Foundations of Library and Information Science | 3 |
| INFOST 511 | Organization of Information | 3 |
| INFOST 571 | Information Access and Retrieval | 3 |
| INFOST 799 | Research Methods in Information Studies | 3 |
| Electives | ||
| Select 18 credits in consultation with a SOIS faculty advisor. | 18 | |
| Total Credits | 30 | |
Total MLIS Credits: 30 (min of 33 with SOIS thesis option)
Total Credits for Coordinated Program: 54 (57 with SOIS thesis)
The credits for the coordinated program would typically be completed in both programs at the same time, rather than one program after the other. A student not completing the requirements for the coordinated degree program would need to complete all requirements for an individual program in order to receive a degree.
Important
You must refer to the catalog pages of both individual master's programs to ensure that you meet all requirements for both degrees.
Additional Requirements
Time Limit
Students in the coordinated MA/MLIS degree program must complete all degree requirements within seven years of the first enrollment semester as a degree student.
For more information about the Women’s & Gender Studies Graduate program contact the Director of Graduate Studies.
Carolyn EichnerDirector of Graduate Studies
Curtin Hall 523
Email: eichner@uwm.edu
Graduate Student Grievance Procedures
UWM policy requires programs and departments to have procedures for graduate students to appeal academic decisions such as grades or scholastic standing. These procedures ensure the protection of students’ rights. The following link serves as a reference on procedures for graduate student academic appeals.