Overview
History
The School of Education offered the first organized library science curriculum at Indiana University, a program for the preparation of school librarians, in the summer of 1930. In 1938, this curriculum was expanded and made available in the regular school year as well as during the summer session.
In 1947, the Division of Library Science was established within the School of Education. A basic undergraduate curriculum in library science concerned with the fundamental processes common to all types of libraries was offered as a minor within the four-year program leading to the Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree in the College of Arts and Sciences or to the Bachelor of Science in Education degree in the School of Education.
A five-year program leading to the Master of Arts with a major in library science, granted by the Graduate School, was created in 1949, and a Ph.D. program in library and information science was established in 1964. Information on the Ph.D. in information science can be located at www.slis.indiana.edu.
In 1966, the Trustees of Indiana University established the Graduate Library School and the professional degree Master of Library Science, replacing the Master of Arts degree granted by the Graduate School. In 1980, the name of the school was officially changed to School of Library and Information Science (SLIS). In 1985, an extensive menu of graduate courses was added to the Indianapolis campus leading to the M.L.S. degree. All graduate courses leading to the accredited M.L.S. are now offered on an annual basis, including summers, at the IUPUI campus as well as at Bloomington.