British Studies Program

British Studies Program Overview

The British Studies Program, founded in 1976, is organized by Southern Miss offering nine to twelve different courses in various disciplines. Students will take one course and earn credit hours through lectures taught by British scholars, artists, business leaders, and government officials, and through field excursions to various locations in and around London. On British Studies, London will become the students' classroom as they experience their subject first-hand and conduct research supervised by their professor. 

British Studies with SLIS

Have you ever dreamed of being in the 'sceptered isle' of Chaucer, Shakespeare, Kipling, Lewis Carroll, C.S. Lewis, Jane Austen, and Neil Gaiman - of strolling along the Thames or through the verdant British countryside?

Students spend time in the United Kingdom earning credit while learning about historic and modern British libraries, archives, and special collections on-site from distinguished British librarians, archivists, and information specialists.

Students have the opportunity to accompany faculty to sites such as Oxford and The British Library - and time to explore sites of interest on their own. In addition to participating in scheduled lectures and tours, students are required to submit book reviews and a reflective journal for LIS 480/580 and research paper on an approved topic for LIS 487/587.

Note: This program includes extensive walking and taking stairs. There are also crowds in public transportation (buses and tube) and public attractions. The climate difference tends to affect allergies.

British Studies Course Offerings

LIS 480. Studies in Librarianship. 3 hrs. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor. Comparative studies of library and information-related institutions, bibliographic organization, models of service and professional practice in the United States and Great Britain.

LIS 580ca. British Libraries, Archives, and Special Collections. 3 hrs. Comparative or historical studies of library and information institutions, collections, models of service, or professional practice in the United Kingdom. 

LIS 487/587ca. British Studies Research. 3 hours. Provides the opportunity for an in-depth research paper using the resources of metropolitan London and/or the United Kingdom.