The mission of the Graduate Certificate in Library and Information Science (GCLIS) is to equip pre or post-master’s students with specialized competencies and problem solving abilities in a particular area of librarianship or information studies chosen from the wealth of courses offered by the School.  For instance, if a GCLIS student would like to update his or her skills in a particular area, he or she may select courses that offer training in recent technologies, techniques, or skills that either were not obtained previously or have since become outdated.  Additionally, a student might obtain the GCLIS in order to acquire the requisite training for new employment opportunities.  Students may mix and match from the entire catalog of courses offered by the School.

Admission Requirements

Admission to the School is contingent upon admission to the Graduate School. In addition, Graduate Certificate in Library and Information Science applicants must satisfy the following criteria:

1. Possess an undergraduate degree from an accredited college or university.
2. Have an undergraduate grade point average of 3.00 or better or possess another degree beyond the bachelor's degree. Applicants with an undergraduate grade point average between 2.50 and 2.99 can satisfy this requirement by one of the Alternative Admissions methods.
3. Meet the technology requirements.
4. Submit a personal statement reflecting relevant personal and academic background and experience. The statement should be a minimum of 250 words and a maximum of 500 words (1-2 pages).
5. Submit a current resume or curriculum vitae.

Application

1. Complete and submit the online Graduate Admission Application form.
2. Compose a personal statement and upload it to your application. 
3. Upload a current resume or curriculum vitae with your application.
4. Pay $50 application fee.
5. Request official transcripts from each university you have attended and have them sent directly to Graduate Admissions, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, 48202.

Learning Outcomes - GCLIS

Students who successfully complete the Graduate Certificate in Library and Information Science at the Wayne State University School of Information Sciences will be able to:

1. Demonstrate competence in a specialized area of librarianship or information studies.
2. Demonstrate up-to-date knowledge in the rapidly-changing field of librarianship and information studies: chiefly the organization, storage, retrieval, and dissemination of the human record.
3. Use problem-solving and decision-making skills to plan, implement, and evaluate specialized library or information services.
4. Develop a specialized competence responsive to the changing economic, technological, or social climate. 

Program Requirements

The 15-credit GCLIS program includes 15 hours of coursework. For students completing the certificate only, INF 6080 —Information Technology or equivalent knowledge and skills are required as a pre-requisite. Students must maintain a 3.0 average and meet all School requirements for ongoing enrollment including a completed Plan of Work.