About the School of Library and Information Science
Placing students first—that's a Simmons tradition.
Our school is big in many ways — a national leader with top-rated faculty, prestigious alumni, and great locations in Boston, Greenfield, and Amherst, Massachusetts, as well as programs offered online. However, upholding our educational "contract" with students means that the focus is on you. We offer a learning experience that is highly collaborative and much more personal than that of large universities.
You'll have direct and frequent access to faculty who know your name and understand your aspirations. And you'll work closely with classmates in an engaging, supportive classroom environment, be it face-to-face or online. We help students build successful careers, lead meaningful lives, and achieve a powerful return on their educational investment. We view this as an inviolable responsibility, as an educational promise that underscores our commitment to you. As part of the iSchools organization, SLIS is dedicated to advancing the information field.
Quick Facts
- Nationally accredited MS in Library and Information Science, ranked in the top 11 by U.S. News & World Report.
- Archives Management concentration is ranked 1st among Archives & Preservation programs
- Library Services to Children concentration is ranked 7th for Services for Children and Youth programs
- School Library Teacher concentration is ranked 9th among School Library Media programs
- Cultural Heritage Informatics concentration ranked 13th among Digital Librarianship programs.
- A commitment to helping students build exceptional careers in library and information science since 1902.
- SLIS faculty and alumnae/i are distinguished experts in their fields and have held top leadership positions in professional associations.
- A variety of options for experiential learning, ranging from in-class projects to semester-long internships and practicums to pre-professional opportunities.
- Flexible programs, including full- and part-time options, evening and weekend classes, blended and online courses, and post-master's LIS opportunities.
- One of the largest alumnae/i networks in the field, providing lifelong professional collaboration and support.
- Three Massachusetts locations: the Simmons campus in Boston's Fenway neighborhood, the SLIS West program at Greenfield Community College campus in Greenfield, and the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art in Amherst.
Online Program
Students can complete the master of science program completely online. Additionally, our flexible program welcomes students to take both face-to-face and online courses during their time in the program.
Our accredited asynchronous online program delivers state-of-the-art learning with an intimate “on-campus” feel. The content and learning objectives of online and face-to-face courses are identical. They feature all of the academic rigor that SLIS is known for, combined with a deep commitment to online best practices and exceptional convenience and flexibility.
The asynchronous model means that teaching and learning in the online course environment is not bound to time or place. Online students may access and engage with organized learning materials anytime and anywhere they are connected to the Internet. Online students are still obligated to complete assignments and participate in learning activities by the established deadlines.
Because all MS students may register for and participate in online classes, the SLIS online classrooms have become spaces for local and distant students to learn and network.
Strategic Plan
Library and Information Science at Simmons University
See what it's like to be part of our Library and Information Science program.