North Carolina Central University Online Library Science Masters Review
For future professionals in library and information science, earning a master’s degree is generally the price of admission into this career path. The good news for these individuals is there are many flexible options for getting their degree, including at North Carolina Central University.
Let’s learn more about NCCU’s program, which can be completed online, on-campus or both, and what aspects of the program are most and least attractive for the average student.
About the Program
Before we jump into detailing what makes NCCU a good option for many students, let’s check out some basic facts about the program and degree offerings.
Basics
- Institution type: Public
- Campus: Durham, North Carolina
- Accreditation: American Library Association (ALA)
- Program format: Online, traditional, hybrid
Tuition and fees
- Expected total tuition: $9,828 in-state; $33,156 out-of-state
- Per credit-hour tuition: $273 in-state; $921 out-of-state
Degrees & requirements
- Library science degrees offered: Master of Library Science (ALA), Master of Information Science
- Number of credit hours required: 36
- Estimated time to completion: 30 months
- Optional specializations: Academic Librarianship, Archives and Records Management, Digital Librarianship, Law Librarianship, Public Librarianship, School Media Coordination, Special Librarianship
Biggest Pros
What are the biggest positive aspects of the NCCU library and information science program?
Multiple online degrees
NCCU’s School of Library and Information Sciences offers two potentially applicable degrees for people considering careers in the field, a Master of Library Science (MLIS) and a Master of Information Science (MIS). Both degrees can be earned online, giving students some versatile options.
Accreditation
The MLS degree at NCCU is accredited by the American Library Association, which is critical for people considering careers in public spaces like schools or libraries. That’s because to earn state licensure for certain jobs, a degree from an ALA-accredited institution is required. And for most other jobs that are focused on library science, even in private industry, most employers prefer candidates with these types of degrees.
Specializations
Several specialization options are available within the MLS program (and even more in the MIS program), which is ideal for students who want to focus their library science education in a specific area like digital librarianship or records management.
Biggest Cons
Of course, no program is ideal for every student; what should applicants know about NCCU that might make them think twice?
Cost
For in-state students, NCCU is quite an affordable degree, with tuition that’s sub-$10,000. But for out-of-staters, earning their online MLS from North Carolina State will cost a pretty penny. In fact, tuition alone is over $30,000, which puts NCCU on-par with some private institutions that offer library science degrees.
Admissions requirements
This isn’t a negative for all students, to be sure, but to earn admission into the NCCU library science program, applicants must submit GRE scores. This is somewhat unusual in library science graduate education, though not unheard of. The university does not stipulate a minimum score for the GRE.
North Carolina State University Online Library Science Program FAQs
Here’s a look at the most frequently asked questions about North Carolina State’s library science master’s degree.
If I’m taking classes online, will I need to visit campus?
No, online students in NCCU’s library science and information science master’s degree pathways will not need to attend any in-person events in order to complete their degrees.
Can I take MIS courses if I’m in the MLS program?
Yes, North Carolina State allows library science master’s students to dip their toes into the information science pool, provided they get approval from their academic advisors to do so.
Is a thesis required?
NCCU does not require students to complete a thesis project in order to graduate, but students who do complete a thesis can earn significant course credit (6 hours).
Conclusion
For any student in any subject, completing a master’s degree represents a ton of hard work and dedication. In some fields, a master’s degree is nice to have, but in library science, it’s a must-have, especially for people planning on careers in schools or public libraries. North Carolina State University’s ALA-accredited Master of Library Science is an excellent option, particularly for in-state students who want to earn their degrees entirely online.