Teaching college with MLIS degree?

Does anyone know what kinds of classes (if any) can someone with an MLIS (Library and Information Science) degree teach? It's not quite an Information Systems degree but there does seem to a bit of overlap. Could someone teach MIS type courses (web design, intro to computers, databases, etc.) with this degree or would they require 18 credits strictly in an MIS area?

 

You could teach students in an online MLIS program. If you have a background in IT, then it's possible that you could teach these courses as well. Not sure what the requirements are for teaching MIS.

 

To teach MIS, you normally would be required to have an MBA with 18 credits in MIS or a MS in MIS. MLIS degrees normally are not considered satisfactory but I guess it depends on the type of course work you have finished and the school. I have tried the other way around, I have applied to teach at MLIS programs with a Doctorate of MIS at few schools and have been turned down as my degrees are in business and not in library science. Some of the courses are very similar but the type of student taking each program is different. It is like trying to teach Computer Science with an MIS degree, some people might be able to do it but most of the schools wouldn't hire an MIS degree holder to teach Computer Science courses.

 

Part of the reason I ask is that I've read here that you can usually teach a subject if you have a masters (in anything) and 18 graduate credits in what you want to teach. It seems like having a MLIS would fulfill the masters part and the overlap of courses between the two fields might let you teach MIS material based on the 18 credit requirement.

In most of the MLIS programs I've seen, there seems to be coursework in web page creation, scripting, some computer systems stuff, databases etc. I would think those courses would count towards the 18 required.

 

I may have actually found a possible answer to my question. Syracuse offers both an ALA approved MS LIS degree and an MS Info Managment. Both programs use the same pool of courses, IST prefix courses. There is quite a bit of overlap and in the electives for the MS LIS degree you can take courses like the ones below. I can't imagine why someone couldn't teach some MIS courses with an MLIS degree from Syracuse if they had a few of the courses below.

This is an interesting possibility for me as I came from a tech career. One degree allowing me to have the option of working in a library as well as being able to adjunct some MIS coursework is tempting.

* IST 552 Information Systems Analysis: Concepts and Practice
* IST 555 Distributed Computing for Information Professionals
* IST 556 Wireless Interactive Communication
* IST 634 Security in Networked Environments
* IST 642 Electronic Commerce
* IST 645 Managing Information Systems Projects
* IST 649 Human Interaction with Computers
* IST 653 Introduction to Telecommunications and Network Management
* IST 656 Telecommunications & Info. Network Technology
* IST 667 Information Technology for Libraries & Information Centers
* IST 675 Telecommunications Project
* IST 678 Electronic Markets
* IST 679 Electronic Commerce Technologies
* IST 753 Adv. Telecommunications & Information Network Management
* IST 756 Advanced Networking
* IST 765 Information Technology in Schools and Libraries
* IST 772 Programming Techniques for Information Systems

 

In California the 18 unit requirement seem to be history as regards teaching in a community college. The latest requirements are here:
http://www.collegeofthedesert.edu/fs/dept/hr/Documents/minimum_quals_jan2008.pdf

 

Wow, thanks for that! It's very useful.

Surprisingly, it says you can teach certain Computer Science courses with:
...
Master’s in cybernetics, engineering, mathematics, or business administration
OR
Bachelor’s degree in any of the above
AND
a Master’s degree in information science, computer information systems, or information systems

I have a BS in General Business. So it according to this, in CA I should be able to teach some CS (and I'd imagine MIS) stuff with a MLIS degree. Perhaps other colleges not in CA would allow this as well.

I find it very interesting to see what combination of bachelor and masters degrees it takes to teach certain topics. There are some I'd never have guessed. I never thought bachelor degrees had any bearing on what someone could teach at a college level.

Thanks again!

 

This is an interesting link, Ian! I thank you too.

People with less than one of the degrees listed or their equivalent may want to look at the provisions for "Faculty Interns."

So 18 semester hours, if this was half of a 36 semester hour master's in which the candidate was enrolled, could qualify the candidate for a faculty intern position, teaching under supervision, for a two–year window. And actually so could 15 semester hours towards a 30 semester hour master's.

 

This is only valid if you already have a bachelor;s in computer engineering or computer science.

Computer science and MIS is not the same. MIS courses are normally taken by business majors. I have seen Computer Science majors teaching MIS courses but hardly any MIS major teaching computer science unless they have a BS in Computer Science.

With a BS in Business Administration and MLIS, you might be able to teach some MIS courses as there is some overlap in both degrees. Your business background is an advantage as you will be applying mainly to business faculties.

 

You might be right, maybe I got confused by all the and's and or's. I know that I wouldn't be able to teach hard-core programming courses, aloritihms, discrete math etc. Straight computer science is beyond my skills, even with my tech background. I'd be happier teaching databases, networking, survey stuff etc.

But, doesn't the bold text below refer to the list of masters degrees right above it? Maybe I missed it but I didn't see anywhere that stated that a bachelors in computer science is required.

Master’s in computer science or computer engineering

OR
Bachelor’s in either of the above AND Master’s in
mathematics, cybernetics, business administration,
accounting or engineering

OR Bachelor’s in engineering
AND Master’s in cybernetics, engineering, mathematics, or
business administration

OR
Bachelor’s in mathematics AND Master’s in cybernetics,
engineering, mathematics, or business administration

OR
Bachelor’s degree in any of the above AND a Master’s
degree in information science, computer information
systems, or information systems

OR
The equivalent