IDP_MLS_Accreditation | College of Education

Accreditation & Reports

American Library Association Committee on Accreditation

MLS Program Accreditation

The Master of Library Science program at East Carolina University is accredited by the American Library Association Committee on Accreditation, with the status of Conditional Accreditation. The next comprehensive review visit is scheduled for Fall 2025.

The MLS program is also nationally recognized by the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) and the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), offering coursework in school librarianship that meets the requirements of the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction for licensure as a school library media coordinator.

Student Retention and Time to Degree

Semester	Incoming Students	Still Enrolled	Percent Still Enrolled	Graduated	Average Time to Degree (years)	Retention
Fall 2020	44	17	39%	24	2.8	93%
Spring 2021	40	13	33%	24	2.7	93%
Fall 2021	56	26	46%	26	2.6	93%
Spring 2022	37	14	38%	16	2.5	81%
Fall 2022	98	77	79%	6	2.2	85%
Spring 2023	22	15	68%	1	1.5	73%
Fall 2023	38	35	92%	N/A	N/A	92%
Spring 2024	12	12	100%	N/A	N/A	100%
Fall 2024	46	46	100%	N/A	N/A	100%

Current Student Demographics

Concentration: 55% School, 19% Academic, 26% Public

Registration Status: Part time 90%, Full time 10%

Residency: In-State 98%, 2% Out-Of-State

Age: 20-29 30%, 30-39 31%, 40-49 30%, >49+ 9%

Race & Ethnicity*: White 81.9%, Unknown 5.3%, African-American 5.9%, Asian 2.1%, Two or more races 2.1%, Hispanic 2.7%

*This data reflects the data provided to programs. Gender identity and other identity-based information is not available. The program recognizes the limitations and biases represented in this data.

Alumni Data 2020-2023

Surveys of graduating MLS students from Fall 2020 through Spring 2023 indicate:

98% of MLS graduates had a positive academic experience at ECU
98% of MLS graduates feel prepared to enter the LIS professions
74% of MLS graduates have secured a position in the LIS fields or a related area

MLS Program Strategic Plan

The MLS Program is a unit within the Department of Interdisciplinary Professions (IDP) in the College of Education. Our approach to library science is grounded in the ethics and principles of the LIS professions. We are committed to ensuring the success of our students, who will be our future colleagues. To that end, the MLS Program’s goals and objectives focus on teaching excellence, student success, impactful research, and community engagement, aligning the priorities outlined in East Carolina University’s 2023-2028 Strategic Plan and the College of Education’s 2022-2027 Strategic Plan.

Goal 1 – Student Success

Offer transformative experiences preparing professionals to meet the information needs of global citizens and communities with an ethos of excellence.

Objective 1.1: The MLS Program will recruit and retain a diverse student body representing work across the LIS professions and the communities that they serve.
Objective 1.2: The MLS Program will fortify students with socio- cultural professional knowledge and values to ensure that students enter the profession as culturally competent leaders for North Carolina and beyond.

Goal 2 – Teaching Excellence

Teach research-based library science principles, practices, and technologies to develop a professional identity, grounded in community-based information services.

Objective 2.1: The MLS Program will offer courses that align the foundations of library science with contemporary ideologies, methodologies, and technologies.
Objective 2.2: The MLS Program will educate students about the value of community-based libraries and information services in a global society.

Goal 3 – Impactful Research

Engage in impactful research that supports the information professions and builds new knowledge to support the advancement of library and information science.

Objective 3.1: The MLS Faculty will conduct research relatable to the social and cultural rurality of Eastern North Carolina and similar communities.
Objective 3.2: The MLS Faculty will engage students in scholarship that centers community and is meaningful to their interests and context.

Goal 4 – Community Engagement

Impart the values of service, leadership, and collaboration within diverse communities and the LIS professions.

Objective 4.1: The MLS Program will develop and foster relationships with regional, state, national, and international LIS professional organizations.
Objective 4.2: The MLS Program will support students in contextualizing and honoring embedded local knowledge in communities.