Graduate Programs
Admission
Information and Library Science
Application Procedures
HOW TO APPLY
We require that you submit your application online. For up-to-date information and expectations, please visit our "How to Apply" page. There is a checklist to guide you through the application, and you should pay particular attention to the instructions regarding transcripts. We are unable to review incomplete applications.
WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR
We want to know if your interests and abilities match the program you are apply for and if you seem likely to benefit from an education in the school. If you think it is helpful, you can supplement the required application materials with other information that sheds light on your capabilities. A resume or curriculum vitae is ideal for including citations or links to any published work, hardware artifacts, or software artifacts you have produced.
Items that are important in the evaluation process include:
EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND
We admit students with a wide variety of academic backgrounds. To apply to ILS, you must have the equivalent of a four-year U.S. bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university. If you're an international student, learn more about equivalent degrees at the IU Office of International Services.
LETTERS OF REFERENCE
Letters of reference need to be from professors or employers who are familiar with your abilities and can estimate how well you would do in a rigorous graduate program in this field.
GRE SCORES
The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test is optional. GRE scores are good for five (5) years from the date you took the exam. We do not have cut-offs for GRE scores, preferring instead to use the full information available to evaluate. Submit scores to institution code 1324 and department code 0402. If your name on the test report differs from the name on the online application, please list the test score name in the comment section of the application.
TOEFL SCORES
Prospective students must demonstrate a level of English proficiency adequate for graduate study. We require all students who are non-native English speakers to submit the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores. TOEFL scores are good for two (2) years from the date you took the exam. We expect a minimum score of 100 or higher on the Internet-based test (iBT), 250 on the computer-based test or 600 or higher on the paper-based test. Submit TOEFL scores to institution code 1324 and department code 78.
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
The most important information to include in your statement of purpose concerns your academic goals. Tell us which Indiana University faculty you are interested in, as well as your research areas of interest. You may also use your statement of purpose to explain any anomalies in your record. The length should be approximately 500 words.
TRANSCRIPTS
Submit transcripts via the online application from each previous undergraduate or graduate institution other than Indianan University that you have attended.
RESUME
A skills-based resume helps to identify your most relevant areas of achievement and knowledge. Listing programming languages is helpful as is including any awards or publications.
INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS
If you are not a citizen or permanent resident of the United States, you will receive an email from the Office of International Services (OIS), requesting you to submit financial documentation. Financial documentation must demonstrate that you have resources available to support your first year of study in the United States. OIS will issue immigration documents once they receive requested documentation. Visit their website for in-depth information at ois.iu.edu. Direct any questions regarding the student visa process to newtoiu@iu.edu, rather than the department.
APPLICATION DEADLINES
Deadlines for application submission for each program are published on our "How to Apply" page.
ADMISSION STATUS AND NOTIFICATION
We will let you know as soon as we have reached a decision.
Occasionally, denied applicants contact us for an explanation. Unfortunately, we receive several hundred applications per year, and we do not have the staff to explain admission decisions on a case-by-case basis.
4+1 Masters Programs
Current IU students applying to the accelerated masters program will need to provide the following documents:
- Online Application
- Resume/CV
- Cover Letter
- One Letter of Reference
- GRE if current IU GPA is below 3.2