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College of Information and Communications

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    We are ranked in the top 20 of ALA accredited schools by U.S. News & World Report.

Master of Library and Information Science

Student Achievement Data

Student achievement and post-graduation success is a top priority for the School of Information Science. We regularly review graduation and retention rates, as well as graduate placement rates, and use this data to improve the program. All data is supplied by the USC Office of Institutional Research, Assessment, and Analytics.

Graduation Rates

From Fall 2018 to Spring 2023 there have been 645 MLIS degrees awarded from the University of South Carolina. In that time, 47% of students earned their degree in less than two years. The average time to degree for MLIS students is 2.5 years. This data includes student leaves of absence.

Retention Rates by Semester

Fall

Year Not Retained Retained
2021 6.48% 93.52%
2020 6.20% 93.80%
2019 6.63% 93.37%
2018 6.91% 93.09%
2017 8.93% 91.07%

Spring

Year Not Retained Retained
2022 5.88% 94.12%
2021 7.62% 92.38%
2020 7.81% 92.19%
2019 6.60% 93.40%
2018 6.88% 93.12%

Summer

Year Not Retained Retained
2022 6.61% 93.39%
2021 4.29% 95.71%
2020 4.98% 95.02%
2019 5.74% 94.26%
2018 7.29% 92.71%

 

Post-Graduation Job Placement

This data comes from our most recent placement survey for graduates from 2020-2021.

  1. Total number of students surveyed: 118
  2. Response Rate: 52 surveys returned; 44.07% of students responded
  3. Degrees: 94% of responses were from students who received a MLIS, 2% from students who received a certificate, 4% from students who received the Specialist degree.
  4. Graduation Term:
    1. 55% graduated in Fall 2020
    2.  33% graduated in Spring 2021
    3.  2% graduated in Summer 2021
    4. 10% graduated prior to Fall 2020
  5. Employed Full time: 92% employed full-time and 80% are employed within the LIS profession.
  6. 57% did not work in the LIS field prior to earning their degree.
  7. 51% received a raise and/or a promotion upon degree completion.
  8. 53% of students found a job within 6 months of graduation.
  9. 75% of respondents make at least $40,000.
  10.  A sample of job titles of graduates:
    1.  Collection Development Librarian
    2. School Library Media Specialist
    3. Government Librarian
    4. Academic Librarian
    5. Project Archivist
    6. Digital Resources Librarian
    7. Cataloging Assistant
    8.  Assistant Library Director
    9.  Park Guide
    10. Web Content Editor
    11. Research and Instruction Librarian for Special Collections

MLIS Portfolio Results

60 graduates

  • 32 LIS track (32 rubrics submitted; 100% of LIS track graduates)
  • 28 SL track
Learning Outcome 1

Upon completion of the MLIS program, students will demonstrate competency in information and its organization. 

Artifact Selection

  • 88% exemplary (selected work samples clearly related to the learning outcome)
  • 6% proficient (selected work samples somewhat related to the learning outcome)
  • 6% unsatisfactory (selected work samples are not related to the learning outcome)
Reflective Essay
  • 78.5% exemplary (provided specific, detailed examples of how the artifact demonstrated the competency)
  • 9% proficient (selected work samples somewhat related to the learning outcome)
  • 5% unsatisfactory (did not provide examples of how the artifact demonstrated the learning outcome)

School Library Portfolio Results

  • No School Library Portfolio learning outcomes align with this learning outcome.
Learning Outcome 2

Upon completion of the program, students will demonstrate competency in the provision of information services.

Artifact Selection

  • 84% exemplary (selected work samples clearly related to the learning outcome)
  • 16% proficient (selected work samples somewhat related to the learning outcome)

Reflective Essay

  • 75% exemplary (provided specific, detailed examples of how the artifact demonstrated the competency)
  • 25% proficient (provided satisfactory examples of how the artifact demonstrated the competency)

School Library Portfolio Results
Learning Outcome III, School Library Collection and Resource Access and Management aligns most closely with this provision of information services learning outcome.

  • 100% exemplary
Learning Outcome 3

Upon completion of the program, students will demonstrate competency in leadership and management in the LIS field.

Artifact Selection 

  • 87.5% exemplary (selected work samples clearly related to the learning outcome)
  • 12.5% proficient (selected work samples somewhat related to the learning outcome)

Reflective Essay

  • 71.9% exemplary (provided specific, detailed examples of how the artifact demonstrated the competency)
  • 25% proficient (provided satisfactory examples of how the artifact demonstrated the competency)
  • 3.1% unsatisfactory (did not provide examples of how the artifact demonstrated the learning outcome)

School Library Portfolio Results
Learning Outcome I, School Library Program Planning and Assessment aligns most closely with this leadership and management learning outcome.

  • 100% exemplary

Learning Outcome II, School Library Program Administration and Management also aligns closely with this leadership and management learning outcome.

  • 93% exemplary
  • 7% proficient
Learning Outcome 4

Upon completion of the program,students will demonstrate competency in research in the LIS field.

 Artifact Selection

  • 87.5% exemplary (selected work samples clearly related to the learning outcome)
  • 12.5% proficient (selected work samples somewhat related to the learning outcome) 

Reflective Essay

  • 81.25% exemplary (provided specific, detailed examples of how the artifact demonstrated the competency)
  • 15.6% proficient (did not provide examples of how the artifact demonstrated the learning outcome)
  • 3.15% unsatisfactory (did not provide examples of how the artifact demonstrated the learning outcome)

School Library Portfolio Results

  • No School Library Portfolio learning outcomes align with this learning outcome.
Learning Outcome 5

Upon completion of the program, students will demonstrate competency in technology in the LIS field.

Artifact Selection

  • 93.75% exemplary (selected work samples clearly related to the learning outcome)
  • 6.25% proficient (selected work samples somewhat related to the learning outcome)

Reflective Essay

  • 71.9% exemplary (provided specific, detailed examples of how the artifact demonstrated the competency)
  • 21.9% proficient (provided satisfactory examples of how the artifact demonstrated the competency)
  • 6.2% unsatisfactory (did not provide examples of how the artifact demonstrated the learning outcome)

School Library Portfolio Results

  • No School Library Portfolio learning outcomes align with this learning outcome.
Learning Outcome 6

Upon completion of the program, students will  demonstrate an understanding of the importance of lifelong learning and professional development within the LIS field.

 Artifact Selection

  • 80% exemplary (selected work samples clearly related to the learning outcome)
  • 16.7% proficient (selected work samples somewhat related to the learning outcome)
  • 3.3% unsatisfactory (selected work samples are not related to the learning outcome)

Reflective Essay

  • 84.4% exemplary (provided specific, detailed examples of how the artifact demonstrated the competency)
  • 12.5% proficient (provided satisfactory examples of how the artifact demonstrated the competency)
  • 3.1% unsatisfactory (did not provide examples of how the artifact demonstrated the learning outcome)

School Library Portfolio Results
Learning Outcome V, Professional Growth, Development, and Leadership aligns most closely with this leadership and management learning outcome.

  • 93% exemplary
  • 7% proficient

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