MA & MLIS Public History and Library and Information Science at University of South Carolina

Programme overview

Combine your interests in history, curation and information in this degree that prepares students for careers in education, communities, industries, businesses and more. This program combines respected curriculum, alumni networks and faculty expertise from two colleges at USC. Both the Public History program and the School of Information rank nationally, with this combined program a perfect fit for students seeking specialized skills and career advancement in library and history fields.

Faculty: College of Information and Communications / McCausland College of Arts and Sciences | Duration: 13-15 credit hours | Study mode: full-time | Location: Columbia, SC, United States

What you will study

Students complete requirements for both degree programs, but with fewer credit hours than completing each program individually. Courses include Foundational Principles of Library and Information Science, Historical Research Methods and Archival Administration. Complete an internship and a portfolio of research and a thesis.

Career pathways

Potential careers include Reference Librarian, Educator, Policymaker, Historian, Archivist, Database Manager.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Admissions (University of South Carolina Academic Bulletin): Persons applying to the joint master’s program in public history and library and information science must meet the entrance requirements of both the Department of History and the School of Library and Information Studies. Note: The Department of History admits students only once a year, for the spring semester; contact the Department of History for details.

Tuition is charged per credit, so the total depends on the modules you register for each year. Current fees are listed in the official fee schedule.

Graduate applications are accepted for Fall, Spring and Summer terms; Fall applications open the prior September, Spring applications open in January and Summer applications open in May.

The graduate application fee is $50 per primary application, reinstated effective August 1, 2026. Deadlines are programme-specific. The Moore School of Business, the Arnold School of Public Health and the College of Nursing use their own applications; the Moore School charges an additional $50 application fee for graduate programmes.

Apply through the official page: https://www.sc.edu/admissions-at-sc/applications/index.php

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