St. John’s University Online Library Science Review

Online degrees in library science are surprisingly common, making competition between different universities strong for students across the country. St. John’s University, a private Catholic university in the New York City borough of Queens, offers one of the few online Master of Science in Library Science degrees on the East Coast.

What should students know about this program and its biggest benefits?

About the Program

Before we delve into areas that make St. John’s MSLIS program great (or not so great, as the case may be), let’s take a look at some facts and statistics about the program.

Basics

  • Institution type: Private
  • Campus: Queens, New York
  • Accreditation: American Library Association (ALA)
  • Program format: 100% online

Tuition and fees

  • Expected total tuition: $50,203
  • Per credit-hour tuition: $1,355

Degrees & requirements

  • Library science degrees offered: Master of Science in Library and Information Science (MSLIS), PhD in Literacy (100% online)
  • Number of credit hours required: 36
  • Estimated time to completion: 24 months
  • Optional specializations: Academic Librarianship, Archival Studies, Management for Information Professionals, Public Librarianship, Special Librarianship, Youth Services

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Biggest Pros

What are the strongest benefits of attending St. John’s online program for Master of Science in Library and Information Science?

Accreditation

Attending a program that’s been accredited by the American Library Association may not be necessary for some students, but the typical library science student would be well-advised to limit their search to only those schools. That’s because for most jobs, employers strongly prefer these candidates, and for some roles, ALA-accredited degrees may be mandated by state regulations. St. John’s certainly isn’t the only online university to earn ALA accreditation, but it is one of the few with a 100% online delivery method on the East Coast.

Specializations

Aside from the required core and management courses that everyone must take, MSLIS students at St. John’s can select from one of six focus areas from which they’ll earn the majority of their credits. Those areas are: Academic Librarianship, Archival Studies, Management for Information Professionals, Public Librarianship, Special Libraries and Youth Services.

Time to completion

With 36 credit-hours required to complete the degree, full-time students should be able to finish their training in just two years, getting them on the path to a successful career in a short amount of time.

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Biggest Cons

All universities have some drawbacks, so what factors might make students think twice about considering St. John’s for their library science degree?

Cost

Students should plan to spend just over $50,000 on tuition to complete their degree, putting St. John’s near the top of the list when it comes to tuition. Students get a great deal of value for the money, given the private Catholic education they receive, but that cost will be a non-starter for many students.

Single master’s degree option

Though St. John’s offers six specialization areas, there is only one single master’s degree option. This is relatively common among universities that offer these types of degrees, but students who are interested in emerging fields of study in library and information science may find that limiting.

St. John’s Online Library Science Program FAQs

Here’s a look at some of the most commonly asked questions about the St. John’s University Master of Science in Library and Information Science program.

What are the admissions requirements?

All students are evaluated on a case-by-case basis, but there are several prerequisites for admission to the St. John’s online MSLIS program. These include an undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0, two letters of recommendation and a statement of professional purpose. Students are not required to take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE).

Is a thesis or capstone required?

Students are not required to complete a thesis, dissertation or capstone to earn their degree. St. John’s MSLIS program requires students to complete 12 credit-hours of core courses, 3 credit-hours of management coursework and 21 credit-hours of electives, including courses toward their specialty.

Will I need to visit campus at all to complete the degree?

No, St. John’s MSLIS program is completed entirely online, with all coursework, testing and evaluation done remotely. Students are not required to complete any on-campus residency or visit the campus to earn their degree.

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Conclusion

Earning any master’s degree is a major accomplishment, but it requires an equally major investment of time (and money). So library science students should consider all their options; fortunately, many master’s programs in library and information science are offered online, and St. John’s online MSLIS program is an excellent option for almost any student.

Additional Resources

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Sarah J

Sarah J is Chief Editor and Founder at MastersinLibraryScience.net, formerly LibraryScienceList.com (LSL). Join us today and become a community curator. We can also be found on Twitter, Pinterest and Facebook. Learn more about me on Google+