In the June 2011 Forbes online edition, Jacquelyn Smith ranked a Master’s degree in Library Sciences as the one of worst Masters Degrees a student could invest in. She based the rankings on employment projection data and average mid-career pay compared to other people in similar jobs.
This post from LIS student Dorotea Szkolar gives the opposing viewpoint because statistical data alone does not provide a complete picture of the opportunities presented by obtaining a degree in librarianship.
A Master’s degree in library and information sciences provides a set of skills which does not limit graduates to just libraries. The ability to navigate and manage information is not a useless skill and there are many non-librarian jobs the degree qualifies graduates for, including: information resources specialist, researcher, meta-data analyst, documentation specialist and creative project manager.
A Master’s degree is a necessary investment for advancing one’s career in librarianship. An MLIS is often required when applying for professional librarian jobs, especially in regards to the more advanced positions such as director or manager.