Admission
Bachelor’s Degree 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 program may apply and be granted admission conditional upon being awarded the bachelor’s degree.
We welcome a wide diversity in undergraduate backgrounds and academic degrees. Most students who seek a graduate degree in library and information science come from successful undergraduate studies in English, history, general liberal arts, and education. We also encourage students from the sciences, the arts, business, and engineering to apply. Over 25% of those entering SLIS hold a master’s degree, and a few hold a Ph.D. The Master of Library Science degree provides an excellent set of academic credentials to enhance another academic degree, and often increases employment possibilities.
The admissions committee reserves the right to review the content of specific transcripts. Below average academic performance in some courses may be a factor in denial of admission. A large number of credits, over 20 percent of the undergraduate degree, earned for methods or practice-based courses in business, language, music, or education may lead to a recommendation that additional liberal arts courses be completed before admission or before the M.L.S. is granted.
GPA 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 a minimum of 30 semester hours) completed.
GRE or GMAT If the applicant does not meet the SLIS cumulative grade point average requirements, he or she may submit Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores for consideration to justify admission. Scores should be recent and based on exams completed within three years prior to the application. Minimum GRE scores which will be considered for applicants with low grade point average are 500 verbal on old scale (new scale 153), 500 quantitative on old scale (new scale 144), and 4.5 written analytical. See www.gre.org for test schedules.
A minimum GMAT score of 550 achieved on an exam completed no more than three years prior to application may serve to justify further consideration for admission for the student who holds a GPA below entry requirements. The Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) may be submitted in place of the GRE. For information on the GMAT call 1-800-462-8669 or visit www.gmat.org. In the statement of goals or a separate letter of application, a student who has a GPA below that of the stated requirements is encouraged to address the reasons for this deficiency.
Letters of Recommendation Letters of recommendation should be submitted by three individuals who are familiar with the applicant’s academic abilities. 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. The essay must indicate a student’s academic and professional goals appropriate to the desired SLIS degree program. The writing skills indicated in this statement are also considered as part of the admission decision.
We welcome applications from students of all backgrounds. Indiana University prohibits admission decisions being made on the basis of arbitrary consideration of such characteristics as age, disability, ethnicity, gender, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sexual orientation, or veteran status.
Matriculation Applicants may enter SLIS master’s degree programs at the beginning of fall semester, spring semester, or the first and second (eight-week) summer sessions.
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 Nondegree 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 S401 is a prerequisite course to our degree programs, and does not count towards the credits for the degrees offered. Undergraduate and nondegree students may take SLIS S401.
Advising
Upon admission, each student is assigned an official 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.
Application Procedures for International Students
International applicants to SLIS programs in Indianapolis will need to complete an application through the Office of International Affairs. Visit this Web site to begin the application process; www.iupui.edu/~oia/AD/admission_step1.html.
Payment of an application fee is required.
All international applicants for any SLIS degree program must submit a recent official Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test (aptitude). The test must have been taken within three years before application. Minimum GRE scores to meet criteria for consideration of admission are: verbal (500), quantitative (500), and written analytical (4.5). Educational Testing Service provides GRE information and application forms.
Educational Testing Service
P.O. Box 6000
Princeton, NJ 08541-6000
www.gre.org
International applicants whose first language is not English must submit recent official scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). A minimum TOEFL score of 600 is required for admission to SLIS graduate programs. Educational Testing Service administers the TOEFL once each month at locations throughout the world. Information about TOEFL administration schedules may be obtained from Educational Testing Service at the address given above.
Students whose first language is not English must also take an English language placement test upon arrival at Indiana University. The results of this test are used to determine what, if any, remedial English courses must be successfully completed before graduate study begins. International students should understand that all admissions are granted conditionally, upon verification of English language proficiency, and that enrollment in graduate course work is not permitted, or is limited, until all language deficiencies have been removed.
Additional Indianapolis campus information for international applicants can be found at the IUPUI Office of International Affairs.
Application Deadlines for International Students
The SLIS admissions office will not act upon applications until all required documents have been received (including transcripts, letters of recommendation, application fee, and GRE and TOEFL test scores as required). Ordinarily, applications for degree programs are processed within one month of being completed and received at SLIS. They are then forwarded to the Office of International Affairs for review. International applicants must comply with the deadline dates indicated in Office of International Affairs Web site:
Office of International Affairs
902 W. New York Street, ES 2126
Indianapolis, IN 46202
phone: (317)274-7000
fax: (317)278-2213
e-mail: oai [at] iupui [dot] edu
www.iupui.edu/~oia