Library & Information Science (JD/MLIS)

The School of Information Science and Learning Technologies (SISLT) and the School of Law offer an integrated program in which students may obtain both a Master’s of Library and Information Science (MLIS) degree from SISLT and a JD degree from the School of Law. Although an MLIS degree normally requires two years of study, and a JD requires three, many students will be able to complete the program in four years.

Application Procedure

Applicants to the dual degree program must submit formal applications and meet the requirements for admission to both the School of Law and to the Crosby MBA Program, to be eligible for the dual degree.  Contact the Crosby MBA Program and the School of Law for further information on admissions requirements.  Both applications must normally be submitted before a student has substantially completed the requirements of either program. Students may apply for both programs before starting either one, may apply during their 1L or 2L year of Law School, or may apply during their first year of the MBA program.

Degree Requirement Summary

The program meets the requirements for the JD with a total of 83 hours of law credit and 6 hours of study at the College of Business. The program meets the requirements for the MBA with 47.5 credit hours of courses in the Crosby MBA Program and 6 elective credit hours at the School of Law.  Thus the total (net) additional credits required for JD/MBA is 41.5.

Curriculum

The curriculum has been designed so that law and essentials in economics are addressed, followed by specialized courses in the upper levels.  Students in the dual-degree program normally will spend their first year at the law school taking the traditional first-year law school curriculum.  During the remainder of the program, students will take courses both in the School of Law and the Trulaske College of Business.

School of Law Required Courses

89 hours required for graduation

1st Year

5010 Civil Procedure I (3)

5020, 5025 Contracts I & II (6)

5035 Criminal Law (4)

5040 Property I (2)

5070 Torts (4)

5017 Constitutional Law I (3)

5080, 5085 Legal Analysis, Research, and Communication I & II (6)

5095 Lawyering (2)

2nd Year

5260 Evidence (4)

2nd or 3rd Year

5015 Civil Procedure II (2)

5217 Constitutional Law II (2)

5240 Criminal Procedure (3)

5280 Professional Responsibility (3)

5045 Property II (3)

Law electives – 36 credits

ISLT electives – 6 credits

*Students who are placed on probation at the end of the fall semester of the first year will be required to take Foundations of Legal Studies II in the spring semester. This course is designed to assist students in meeting their graduation requirements.

Information Sciences and Learning Technologies

39 hours required for graduation

Students must take a total of at least 33 credit hours of IS&LT credit and 6 elective law credit hours. The detailed program of study is subject to approval by the student’s IS&LT adviser and by the Director of Graduate Studies.

7301 Introduction to Information Technology (3) OR 7320 Emerging Technologies in Libraries (3)
7305 Foundations of Library and Information Science (3)
7302 Organization of Information (3) OR 7312 Principles of Cataloging and Classification (3)
7313 Managing Collections and Access (3)
7314 Reference Sources and Services (3)
7315 Management of Information Agencies (3)

Click here for the most current information on courses and requirements.

Law Library Practicum

JD/MLIS dual degree candidates are also encouraged to take IS&LT 7381 Practicum in an Information Agency (2-3 credit hours). The practicum assignment must be in a law library. Students who successfully complete a graduate law library assistantship at the University of Missouri School of Law Library are not required to take IS&LT 7381.

Library and Information Science Electives

LIS electives must include 15 credit hours of courses at the 9000 level or higher. Recommended IS&LT 9000 level or higher electives for the JD/MLIS include, but are not limited to:

9454 Copyright in Libraries (3)
9408 Information Policy (3)
9407 Intellectual Freedom and Its Discontents (3)
9413 Management of Electronic Resources (3)
9085 Problems (may be taken in conjunction with Law 5875 (Research in Law)

Towards the fulfillment of these credit hours, JD/MLIS candidates may take IS&LT 9085 Problems (Independent directed study on a topic in information science and learning technologies) in conjunction with 5875 Research. The law faculty member overseeing 5875 Research shall be responsible for determining whether the project satisfies the requirements of 5875 Research, considering those requirements as they apply to all other law students. Generally, credit under 5875 Research is appropriate only for a paper of substantial length on a topic related to law.

Policy

  1. Students whose prior background does not allow them to undertake the program specified above may be admitted contingent on their completing additional courses for which they may not receive graduate credit.
  2. Except in limited circumstances, the School of Law cannot award credit for any class taken before matriculation at the School of Law. Dual degree candidates are strongly advised to enroll at the School of Law before taking the 6 credits of ISLT courses to be counted toward the JD degree.
  3. Dual degree candidates who subsequently decide to pursue only the MLIS or the JD degree must complete the degree program in its entirety and subject to the same rules and requirements as students not pursuing a dual degree.
  4. Law students who receive credit under the Dual Degree Program for taking IS&LT courses may not receive credit for taking other classes outside the School of Law.
  5. Student honors and class ranks at the School of Law will be computed on classes enrolled in as law courses.
  6. The listing of courses does not constitute a binding commitment that the courses will be offered during the student’s course of study or that the graduation requirements will remain unchanged.
  7. Students in the dual-degree program are subject to the same rules and regulations that apply to all students at the School of Law and the School of Information Science and Learning Technologies. The School of Information Science and Learning Technologies and the School of Law reserve the right to limit participation in the program, including dismissal. Those interested are encouraged to submit a request for permission to participate in the program, along with applications for admission, at the earliest possible time.
  8. The program outlined here meets requirements for the JD degree with 47 credit hours in required courses, 36 credit hours in elective courses within the School of Law, and 6 elective credit hours in Library and Information Science (LIS), for a total of 89 credit hours.