Dual Degree Students

This page describes the dual degree Palmer has with NYU and it also has all of the necessary links and resources for enrolled dual degree students.

If you’re thinking of becoming a subject specialist in a research or academic setting, you should certainly consider the dual degree. Most research settings require their librarians to have not only the MLS degree, but a master’s degree in a particular subject area as well. NYU and LIU Palmer offer qualified students the opportunity of selecting one of hundreds of major programs within NYU’s Graduate School of Arts and Science (GSAS), and, from the Steinhardt School, the master’s degree in either Media, Culture and Communication or Costume Studies.

In order to meet the interests of students in a variety of program areas and with differing career goals, there are two sections of the Dual Degree Program. The Dual Degree Mentoring Program is designed to train future librarians who aspire to be subject specialists in academic and cultural institutions. The Dual Degree Internship Program is designed for students who aspire to work in as an archivist, an information officer in a specialized library, or as a library generalist. Meetings with the mentors of the program will help determine the direction your individual program will take.

There are some programs within GSAS that do not participate in the dual degree, so be sure to check with your intended program at NYU. Students graduate with two separate degrees: the MA from NYU and the MS from LIU.

Students must be accepted to both NYU and Palmer before applying specifically to the dual degree. Admissions criteria at NYU vary, but all master’s level programs require the GRE. Palmer requires the GRE for anyone applying with below a 3.0 overall average from their undergraduate program. For other requirements for either school, please check their Admissions websites.

Once admitted to both universities, you may apply to the dual degree:

Application to Join

    • You must first be accepted to both NYU and LIU Palmer.
    • You will not be eligible for the dual degree once you have earned more than six credits (2 courses) at Palmer; totals earned at NYU prior to starting in the dual degree are usually not restricted.

Please fill out the application online as soon as you’ve been accepted to both programs.

The Program

LIU’s MSLIS — 28 credits

    • Core Courses (4 courses = 12 credits): LIS 510, 511, 512, 514(Note: LIS 514 may be waived if your NYU program offers a similar course. This frees you up to take another elective.)
    • LIS 785: Mentoring (4 credits)
    • Electives (4 courses = 12 credits) Highly recommended: LIS 516: Collection Development
  • NYU’s MA/MS — 24+ credits

Mentoring Component

The mentoring component of the dual degree differentiates it from any other program of its type. The actual mentorship course (LIS 785) is part of the LIU curriculum and replaces the Internship class (LIS 690). It is 4 credits and students are registered for it in the first semester.

New dual degree students are assigned a mentor from the ranks of the NYU librarians and archivists, occasionally from other cultural institutions. Your mentor is selected by the dual degree faculty based upon your interests and your program. Our goal is to give you guidance, instruction, and support through a collegial network of professionals. There are specific benchmarks that students must reach to complete the mentorship which is graded as a pass/fail course. The grade will be incomplete on your transcript until you finish the mentoring program and your mentor submits a letter of completion for you. For more about the mentoring program, please read the following:

Once you are enrolled at NYU, you will have access to the library wiki:

Financial Aid & Scholarship Opportunity

Transferring Credits

  • Palmer accepts 8 GSAS credits (please note: this is the maximum number of transfer credits allowed by Palmer)
    • Request NYU official transcript
    • Form — fax/mail to Gerry Kopczynski
    • NOTE: transferred credits will not show on your LIU transcript until you have successfully completed 15 credits at Palmer. Also, these are the only credits you may transfer into LIU.
  • GSAS accepts 9 Palmer credits

Graduation Information

Please print and use this checklist:

 

Other Links

Dual Degree Facebook Page
NYU Admissions
LIU Admissions

Please contact Alice Flynn if you have any questions.