Admission Criteria

Master’s Degree Programs
Dual Master of Information Science/Master of Library Science Degree Program
Specialist in Library and Information Science Degree Program
Doctor of Philosophy Degree Program

Master’s Degree Programs

General Information
Matriculation
Admission Categories
Advising

General Information

Students holding a bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year collegiate institution are eligible to apply for admission. Applicants in the final year of their undergraduate programs may apply and be granted admission conditionally upon their being awarded the bachelor’s degree.

An applicant must have a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) or its equivalent in the total undergraduate program, or an average of 3.2 in the latest graduate degree or representative graduate hours (usually 30 semester hours) completed. The SLIS admissions committee makes individual judgments about the rigor of grading in the undergraduate or graduate course work presented and about the relative significance of course work completed at various times in an applicant’s academic history. Students who do not meet the SLIS cumulative GPA requirements may submit GRE or GMAT scores for consideration. Students may also address circumstances of low academic performance in an attachment to their applications.

A substantial number of credit hours of appropriate content-based course work must be included in the overall undergraduate and graduate course work previously completed. This appropriate background includes, but is not limited to, course work in the humanities and the social, biological, and physical sciences. If an applicant is judged to be deficient in background preparation, additional course work may be required to remove the deficiency. Letters of recommendation should be submitted by three individuals who are familiar with the applicant’s academic abilities. Academic references are preferred. Letters from employers and information professionals who are familiar with the applicant’s intellectual abilities and work habits are also acceptable.

A personal goals essay of at least 500 words is required (see M.I.S. or M.L.S. application). The essay must indicate a student’s academic and professional goals appropriate to the desired SLIS degree program. The writing skills indicated in this goals statement are also considered as part of the admission decision.

We welcome applications from students of all backgrounds. Indiana University prohibits discrimination based on such characteristics as age, disability, ethnicity, gender, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sexual orientation, or veteran status.

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Matriculation

Applicants may enter the SLIS master’s degree programs at the beginning of fall semester, spring semester, or the second summer session.

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Admission Categories

Admission—A student’s full admission status is valid for one year, with an additional year available upon petition. If an admitted student fails to matriculate within the allowed time, the admission status is terminated, and the student must reapply.

Probationary Admission—The SLIS Admissions Committee may grant probationary admission to a student who fails to meet one or more of the admission requirements listed above, if, in the judgment of the committee members, there is sufficient other evidence of probable success in the degree program. Probationary admission carries a requirement that the student maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 throughout the program. Other conditions of the probationary admission, if any, will be stated in the admission letter. The student’s progress will be monitored throughout the program to ensure that the conditions are maintained. If, at any time in the program, the student does not meet the conditions of the probation, admission will be terminated.

Applicants who are denied admission to a SLIS graduate program may not take course work in SLIS without the permission of the dean of the school.

SLIS Non-Degree Student Status—Students with an undergraduate degree may be permitted to take up to 6 credit hours of SLIS graduate course work prior to admission that could count towards their degree if admitted. Nondegree students must complete all necessary prerequisites before taking any course. Nondegree students may be removed from any SLIS course if their place is required for an admitted degree-seeking student. SLIS L401 is a prerequisite course to our MLS degree program, and does not count toward the credits for the degrees offered. Undergraduate and nondegree students may take SLIS L401.

Auditing—There are few SLIS courses available for auditing. Auditing is to be limited to nonparticipating courses. Lab-based courses generally may not be audited. Students who wish to audit a course must obtain written permission from the instructor. Audited courses appear on the transcript with no grade or credit given. A student is not permitted to audit a course without registering as an auditor and paying the auditing fees required.

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Advising

Upon admission each student is assigned a faculty advisor whose name is given in the admission letter. Students should meet with their faculty advisors to discuss academic course planning and professional goals. Advisor signatures are also required for various approval forms. Students should carefully plan their course selections, noting appropriate prerequisites and required sequences. The SLIS Web site offers projected long-range course schedules. In addition to the assigned initial faculty advisor, students may consult with any member of the faculty for professional and career guidance.

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Dual Master of Information Science/Master of Library Science Degree Program

Students should follow the general admission procedures for the M.I.S. and M.L.S. degrees, and should clearly indicate on the application form their interest in this dual-degree option. The personal goals essay should also address reasons for pursuing the dual M.I.S./M.L.S. degree program. For details about this program, see the “Dual Degrees and Specializations” section of this bulletin.

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Specialist in Library and Information Science Degree Program

A student holding a master’s degree in library and/or information science from an accredited university may apply for admission to the Specialist Degree Program. Application deadlines are the same as for the M.L.S. and M.I.S. degree programs. Additional criteria for admission include the following:

• A minimum grade point average of 3.2 (on a scale of 4.0) in previous graduate course work.
• A minimum of two years’ successful experience in a library, media, or information professional position following award of the master’s degree. (This requirement may be waived when it is deemed advantageous to the student and acceptable to the school for the student to enter the specialist program directly from the master’s level of study.)
• Three letters of recommendation.
• A description of the applicant’s area of interest and career plan.

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Doctor of Philosophy Degree Program

Admission to the doctoral program is highly competitive. Information about application procedures and admission criteria can be found in the section of this bulletin entitled “Admission to Graduate Programs.”

Students who have graduated with a bachelor’s or master’s degree in any discipline may apply for admission to the SLIS doctoral program. Students who are admitted and have a master’s degree from a recognized international program, in a field of study closely related to information science or the equivalent, may be enrolled in the doctoral program and may transfer up to 30 credit hours of recognized course work. The student must submit official transcripts as proof of degree completion. If a student is admitted who has an interest in information science but does not possess an appropriate graduate degree, the student will initially be enrolled in one of the master’s degree programs. After 12 months, the student’s performance will be reviewed by the Doctoral Steering Committee, and, if appropriate, the student’s status will be changed to reflect admission to the doctoral program.

The formal requirements for admission include:

• A completed Indiana University Graduate Application for Admission (apply online).
  
• A bachelor’s degree from an accredited university or college. Submit transcripts for all course work taken and degrees completed.
  
• Record of academic accomplishment. An applicant must have an undergraduate grade point average of at least 3.2 (on a 4.0 scale) and a minimum grade point average of 3.5 (on a 4.0 scale) in any previous graduate course work. An international applicant’s grade point average will be calculated on the basis of equivalency from universities that use a different scale.
  
• Personal statement. The applicant must submit a 500-word statement of professional goals that reflects a commitment to teaching and/or research.
  
• Three letters of recommendation should come from persons in the professional and academic communities who can address the applicant’s scholarly and analytical abilities and potential for doctoral study.
  
• Scores on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). Applicants must submit a recent score (within three years of application) on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test as part of their admission credentials. Scores on all three sections (verbal, quantitative, and analytical) will be considered. GRE minimum scores of 500 each in the verbal and quantitative areas and 4.5 in the analytical area are required. GRE information and application forms may be obtained from Educational Testing Service, P.O. Box 6000, Princeton, NJ 08541-6000 (www.gre.org). These are the minimum scores required for an application to be processed further; we expect higher scores from successful applicants.
  
• A TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) score above 100 (or 600 on the paper test) or 250 (on the earlier computer test) is required for applicants whose native language is not English. In addition, university policy provides that all international students be retested on English language abilities upon arrival at Indiana University.
  
• Demonstrable potential for excellence in conducting research. Success in a doctoral program requires such characteristics as the ability to identify and conceptualize significant research problems, the ability to be insightful and express ideas clearly, and overall potential for contributing new knowledge to the discipline.

Applications from international students must be reviewed by the Indiana University Office of International Admissions before their review by the SLIS Doctoral Admissions Committee.

SLIS encourages doctoral applicants to provide the school with the most appropriate evidence regarding each of the admission criteria. GRE scores and college transcripts are usually sufficient to demonstrate capability of working with abstract concepts in doctoral-level courses and research. The essay portion of the application provides indication of the applicant’s commitment to research and to the field of information science and attracts the attention of relevant faculty to the application. It is required that each applicant submit a single-authored writing sample that is relevant to the admission criteria, such as academic papers or work-related projects.

Check our Web site for more information: www.slis.indiana.edu/degrees/phd/.

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