By Mike Greife,
February 8, 2018
WARRENSBURG, MO – The University of Central Missouri online Master of Science degree
in Library Science has earned recognition by College Choice, a leading authority on
college rankings, for quality and affordability among the top 30 online programs in
the nation.
UCM’s program ranked 29th among the top 30 in the category of Best Online Master’s
in Library Science Degree programs, and 20th of 30 in the category of Most Affordable
Online Master’s Degree programs.
The UCM program is the only online graduate library science programs in Missouri to
be ranked in the top 30.
UCM’s longstanding Library Science master’s degree program has been accredited by
the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation and nationally recognized
by the American Association of School Librarians since 2002. The program was first
offered as a fully online graduate degree in 2011 to allow library and information
services professionals to gain access to the graduate degree program while working.
It also allows educators to attain the coursework to satisfy the Missouri Department
of Elementary and Secondary Education requirements for school library media certification.
Coursework is delivered online with support from faculty members who offer a variety
of assignments activities, participate in online discussions, access digital resources
through UCM’s James C. Kirkpatrick Library, gain experience in web technologies and
collaborate with fellow students.
“Our program is thrilled to receive this national recognition,’ said Rene Burress,
program coordinator. “We have a rapidly growing body of students worldwide, and we
use digital tools to connect and collaborate at times that are convenient for working
adults.Through online discussion and personalized instructor feedback, every student
has a front seat in the classroom. Our instructors have real-world experience working
in libraries and they care about the success of each student.”
“The College of Education is pleased to hear that our Library and Information Services
program is nationallyrankedin the top 30,” said Robert Lee, dean of the UCM College
of Education. “The recognition is well-deserved, and we are very proud of our dedicated
faculty and students. UCM and the College of Education pride ourselves on offering
high-quality programs that are accessible to busy adults while providing professional
skills grounded in real-world experience.”
According to College Choice, the ranking is based on regional accreditation and tuition
data. The information comes from university websites, Payscale.com, U.S. News & World
Report, and the National Center for Education Statistics.
For more information about UCM’s online Master of Science degree in Library Science
and related programs, visit ucmo.edu/lis.
