The Master's Degree in
Archives and Records Administration (MARA)

MLIS or MARA?

Some things to think about:

The new degree in no way affects the archives specialization within the MLIS degree. In some ways it strengthens it as it ties us closer in with professionals and experts in the whole archives and records management field.
The MARA degree is not ALA accredited. So if you want to keep your options open it makes sense to stick with the MLIS and focus on archives and records if that is your interest. The MLIS degree allows you to work in libraries that require an ALA accredited degree such as Stanford and Berkeley and most academic institutions.
MARA is more heavily focused towards electronic records and has a heavy emphasis on technology. We expect to draw students from across the US and indeed from other countries. New opportunities exist in government and industry for highly skilled professionals who understand copyright law, patent protection and the critical nature of electronic records in preserving corporate memory and legal rights.