Graduates of SCI online programs will possess the necessary skills, knowledge, ethical foundations, and social responsibilities required of successful information professionals.
School of Computing and Information Online Programs
Each program is designed to meet the needs of those seeking to earn a degree of advanced study without relocating to the University of Pittsburgh. Students can realize their goal of earning an ALA-accredited MLIS degree or a certificate of advanced study from one of the most highly-ranked SCI schools in the United States.As an online student, you will enjoy many of the same University of Pittsburgh amenities and resources as students residing in Pittsburgh. You’ll have access to an academic advisor, 24/7 technology support, the collections and services of the University Library System, and the Book Center. Even though the program is online, you will have ample opportunities to interact with the faculty and your peer students. During your program of study, there will be on-campus sessions to provide faculty and students with an opportunity for face-to-face interactions. Your classes will be provided online through Blackboard, a user-friendly learning platform. We provide a suite of collaborative tools such as discussion boards, blogs, chat sessions, virtual classrooms, and groups to ensure that you will experience a vibrant learning environment.
An ALA-Accredited Program with a Rich Heritage
As you prepare for a career in the information professions, we urge you to consider the School of Computing and Information. The Master of Library and Information Science degree program has been continuously accredited by the American Library Association since 1926. The program has a 100+ year tradition of educating librarians and informational professionals. In addition to our online and on-campus MLIS programs, we also offer a rigorous Doctor of Philosophy in Library and information Science (on-campus only) for those seeking careers as faculty members and researchers and administrators.
A degree from an ALA-accredited program is a necessity for career placement, advancement, and mobility in all types of libraries. Our MLIS program is ranked tenth in the 2009 U.S. News and World Report rankings of the 62 accredited programs in the U.S.
The School of Computing and Information at Pitt: Profile
At SCI, our curriculum and research activities are focused on people, their information needs, and the technology to manage such information. It is estimated that the amount of information available for human use doubles every three years. As society enjoys an escalating amount of available information, corporations and organizations need highly-trained professionals to manage information and access.
For more than 100 years, SCI has educated students to become leaders in the information professions. They may work in libraries and archives, companies and manufacturing industries, or governments and nonprofits. They may work with books, artifacts, digital documents, routers, networks, or databases. They solve problems in the boardroom, the operating room, and the schoolroom. They have a set of skills and the theoretical knowledge to harness the power of this influential resource, information.
SCI at Pitt offers degree programs in Information Science, Library and Information Science, and Telecommunications. Our graduates have the skills and knowledge to help advance society through effective use and management of information.
The University of Pittsburgh: A Major Research Institution with a Large Graduate Student Population
The University of Pittsburgh, founded in 1787, is one of the oldest institutions of higher education in the United States. Pitt is a top-tier research institution with more than 200 graduate degree programs. An AAU member institution, Pitt was ranked in the top cluster of The Top American Research Universities; noted as the nation’s 8th best value for out-of-state students in The Kiplinger 100: Best Values in Public Colleges; and is home to quality faculty who have been honored by membership in the National Academy of Sciences, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, American Association for the Advancement of Science, and the American Educational Research of Association.
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Technology Requirements
The online learning experience will require that you have a computer with a high-speed internet connection (cable, fiber-optic network such as FIOS). DSL performance levels would be the minimum satisfactory configuration. You will need to have a modern Intel Processor-based computer with a modern browser, Adobe Acrobat Reader and Microsoft Office Suite (Version 2007 or later). For more details on the appropriate Web browser, please visit the Technical Support page.
We require that your browser must have the following plug-ins installed:
- JAVA
- Microsoft Silverlight (Version 4.0 or higher)
- Adobe Flash (Version 10 or higher)
- Flip 4 Mac (for Macintosh models).
Some interactions with faculty and peers might require the use of a Web camera, microphone, or headset with microphone.
As a student, you may be eligible to take advantage of University discounts on computing purchases. Through its software licensing organization, the University of Pittsburgh provides zero-cost Microsoft products. You can get information about software for students at the Information Technology page. This page provides information about other software products that the University will provide at reduced cost to students.
You must have anti-virus software which conforms to the University’s standards. If you do not have appropriate anti-virus software, please read the guidelines posted at the Security Resources page.
Some courses may require more advanced technology tools including secure shell (SSH), secure FTP, and HTML composition utilities – many of which are available for free on the Internet.