Librarianship as a Career Path: Academic Requirements

LIS graduate programs accept undergraduates from all undergraduate disciplines, so you do not need an undergraduate degree in library and information science/studies in order to pursue an LIS Master degree, although some students may choose to specialize in library and information science during their undergraduate program (some credential examples are provided below) because it may make it easier to secure library work and experience prior to seeking professional librarian work, which often requires library experience.  Some undergraduate programs may have a general studies, liberal studies, or integrated studies program that offers a LIS minor, however, this path is not standard and many LIS programs only offer graduate-level programs.  Humanities backgrounds are common in librarianship, but there is a scarcity of STEM backgrounds in the profession.  Because the profession has such diverse needs and works with diverse populations, having librarians with academic backgrounds in different disciplines provides added value to the profession and work-place.  |  PVAMU offered an undergraduate degree in library science from 1945-1975 that you can read about under The History of the Main Library and the Library School at PVAMU tab.   

Undergraduate Degree Types: Bachelor

Some professional librarian positions don't require a Master's degree, but this hiring practice is much less common than it once was, and is more likely to be an option in rural areas where job markets are less competitive, or in technology roles within libraries that prioritize technology skills.  Full-time paraprofessional library positions (assistants, clerks, technicians, associates etc.) are increasingly required to have an Associate's or Bachelor's degree in any discipline to obtain library work, although this is not usually the case with other library worker titles, such as library-pages or -shelvers.

LIS graduate programs or iSchools offer Master degrees in Information Science, Library Science, Library and Information Science, Library and Information Studies, or some variably-worded equivalent.  This is the most common requirement for most professional librarian positions. 

PK-12 School Librarians (often called Library Media Specialists) in the U.S. typically need a teacher's certification in addition to their Master degree.  There are many graduate programs that offer the school specialization built into the program's coursework to help students pass the certification exam.

Important Note: Many LIS graduate programs are ALA-accredited, but not all are, and the distinction is very important for applicants to consider as many positions, especially those that are government-funded (public schools, public libraries, public universities, state libraries etc.) in the U.S. require an ALA-accredited degree.  Prairie View A&M University requires new librarian hires to hold ALA-accredited Master degrees.  The American Library Association has online resources for potential applicants and potential employers to identify ALA-accredited graduate programs.

Graduate Degree Types: Master

Some professional library positions require or prefer applicants with double Master's degrees or better, typically for subject-specialty librarianship.  For example, a university library seeking to hire a Business Librarian may require or prefer applicants with a Master's degree in Business, in addition to a LIS Master's degree.  Other specialty examples may include medical or nursing librarianship, music librarianship, or STEM librarianship requiring an undergraduate or second graduate degree in a STEM discipline.

Leadership positions, graduate-level teaching positions, and research libraries seeking subject experts are the most likely opportunities to require or prioritize applicants with an EdD or PhD.  Law libraries seeking Law Librarians and university libraries with Fair Use or Copyright Librarian positions are the employers most likely to require librarians with a J.D.  A doctorate is not required for most librarian job postings.

Graduate Degree Types: Doctoral

Additional doctoral paths that may complement the profession's diverse needs (your options are not restricted to this list):

Doctoral and Master-level Reading & Literacy programs, as well as Curriculum & Instruction programs, are also relevant doctoral pathways!

Some librarians opt for graduate certificate programs to complement their LIS Master degree, such as the ALA's Certified Public Library Administrator Certification Program.  There are many options available and they are worth considering if you're not interested in committing to another degree program, but want to grow your certified bona fides.

Are you interested in a career in librarianship, libraries, or LIS-adjacent disciplines?  Feel free to talk to any of our PVAMU librarians or library support staff for some first-hand experiences and perspectives.  Our staff directory is available here: https://www.pvamu.edu/library/about-the-library/library-staff/.