Frequently Asked Questions (F.A.Q.)

The best information about the iSchool (School of Information Science) can be found at the iSchool website or via Blackboard > Organizations > iSchool Graduate Students.

Yes! All classes for the M.L.I.S. program at USC are offered online and asynchronously.

The iSchool Graduate Students Organization on Blackboard has a wealth of information on the MLIS program, including registration information, professional development resources, portfolio requirements, graduation information, and more.

2 classes per semester is a manageable course load when working full-time. Make sure to check requirements for financial aid, which may specify a minimum course load each semester.

The Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships at USC Columbia handles all financial aid, even for graduate students. Graduate students often have access to federal loans, and sometimes receive departmental scholarships. Please note that you must enroll in at least 6 degree-applicable credit hours per semester to receive federal aid. For more detailed financial aid information, you can visit the Financial Aid webpage. 

Specific information on portfolios (and sample portfolios) can be found on Blackboard > Organizations > iSchool Graduate Students > Program Guidance and Requirements. You can also visit the Portfolio Information page on the LISSA website.

Everyone needs a little support! Please visit the Graduate Student Support webpage to get in touch with some folks who want to help. You can even sign up to be a part of an accountability group! 

By subscribing, you’ll receive job postings and related announcements directly in your inbox. You’ll also have the opportunity to share job opportunities with the listserv, connecting with fellow students, recent graduates, alumni, and members of the iSchool community nationwide.

• As a current student, you can subscribe now using your USC email address (see instructions below).

• After graduation, you’ll be able to update your subscription with a personal email address to continue receiving postings as an alum.

• To post job opportunities, you must be subscribed to the listserv (posting instructions below).

• Internship opportunities will still be shared through the current student listserv, in which you are already subscribed.

Instructions to Subscribe to the USC iSchool Job Listserv:

1.      Open a new email message.

2.      In the “To” field, enter: LISTSERV@LISTSERV.SC.EDU

3.      In the Subject line, type: Subscribe to USC iSchool Job Listserv

4.      In the body of the email, type the following on one line:

SUBSCRIBE ISCHOOL_JOBS Firstname Lastname

Example

SUBSCRIBE ISCHOOL_JOBS Jane Doe

5.      Send the email.

6.      You will receive a confirmation message from the listserv once you’ve been successfully added. Please note that email confirmation is required to activate your account. This message will also provide details about list settings and options. Once subscribed, you’ll automatically receive all job postings and related announcements in your inbox.

Instructions to Post to the iSchool Job Listserv (You must be subscribed in order to post.)

1.      Open a new email message.

2.      In the “To” field, enter: ISCHOOL_JOBS@LISTSERV.SC.EDU

3.      In the Subject line, type a brief description of what you're sharing such as "Public Librarian Job Announcement".

4.      In the body of the email, include the content you would like to share with listserv subscribers. You are also welcome to include attachments.

For example, you might write:

“Please see the job announcement below for a full-time Public Librarian position at the ___ Public Library System. If interested, follow the application instructions provided or reach out via email with any questions.”

5.      Send the email.

By subscribing, you’ll receive job postings and related announcements directly in your inbox. You’ll also have the opportunity to share job opportunities with the listserv, connecting with fellow students, recent graduates, alumni, and members of the iSchool community nationwide.

• As a current student, you can subscribe now using your USC email address (see instructions below).

• After graduation, you’ll be able to update your subscription with a personal email address to continue receiving postings as an alum.

• To post job opportunities, you must be subscribed to the listserv (posting instructions below).

• Internship opportunities will still be shared through the current student listserv, in which you are already subscribed.

Instructions to Subscribe to the USC iSchool Job Listserv:

1.      Open a new email message.

2.      In the “To” field, enter: LISTSERV@LISTSERV.SC.EDU

3.      In the Subject line, type: Subscribe to USC iSchool Job Listserv

4.      In the body of the email, type the following on one line:

SUBSCRIBE ISCHOOL_JOBS Firstname Lastname

Example

SUBSCRIBE ISCHOOL_JOBS Jane Doe

5.      Send the email.

6.      You will receive a confirmation message from the listserv once you’ve been successfully added. Please note that email confirmation is required to activate your account. This message will also provide details about list settings and options. Once subscribed, you’ll automatically receive all job postings and related announcements in your inbox.

Instructions to Post to the iSchool Job Listserv (You must be subscribed in order to post.)

1.      Open a new email message.

2.      In the “To” field, enter: ISCHOOL_JOBS@LISTSERV.SC.EDU

3.      In the Subject line, type a brief description of what you're sharing such as "Public Librarian Job Announcement".

4.      In the body of the email, include the content you would like to share with listserv subscribers. You are also welcome to include attachments.

For example, you might write:

“Please see the job announcement below for a full-time Public Librarian position at the ___ Public Library System. If interested, follow the application instructions provided or reach out via email with any questions.”

5.      Send the email.

Some of the biggest organizations that LIS students might want to consider joining are the American Library Association (ALA), the Society of American Archivists (SAA), and the American Association of School Libraries (AASL), depending on your LIS focus. You can visit the ALA website here, the Society of American Archivists here, and the AASL here (for free). You may pay to join if you so choose, but even if you opt not to join just yet, you will have access to the information these organizations work hard to publish. Other organizations of interest can be found on our Professional Associations page.

Conferences are also a great way to network within the field. You can view our Conferences page for a list of notable events to look forward to.