Graduate Program: Library & Information Science (MA)

General Information

Admissions Information

Admissions Requirements

 

Please complete this online application for admission to the Graduate College with a mandatory application fee.  As part of the online application, you are required to submit the following materials.  Please do not email or mail these materials to the School of Information or Graduate College.  These materials are to be uploaded to your online application:

• Upload unofficial transcripts from ALL higher education institutions attended in ‘Supplemental Questions’ section;
• Upload unofficial GRE scores in ‘Supplemental Questions’ section (optional);
• Upload unofficial TOEFL scores in ‘Supplemental Questions’ section (international students only);
• Upload a current resumé or curriculum vitae (CV) in the ‘Supplemental Questions’ section;
• Write a 750-1000 word written statement of introduction and interest in the program in the ‘Supplemental Questions’ section;
• Provide email addresses and contact information for two (2) recommenders in the ‘Letters of Recommendation’ section.

Please email official e-Transcripts to si-transcripts@email.arizona.edu directly from the institution or mail one (1) official transcript to the following address (do not send to the Graduate College).  Official transcripts from ALL higher education institutions attended are required.

School of Information
The University of Arizona
Harvill 409
1103 E. 2nd St.
Tucson, AZ 85721

 

 

Standardized Tests

GRE scores are not required, however the School of Information will consider them as supporting evidence if provided. The GRE does not take the place of the minimum 3.0 GPA requirement.

 

 

Financial Aid

Priority deadlines for School of Information financial aid applications are below. Financial aid applications received after the priority deadline will be considered on a funds available basis. Students and applicants are strongly encouraged to apply for financial aid even if the priority deadline has passed.
No financial aid is available for Winter or Summer.

Fall Semester: February 15

Spring Semester: October 15

All students must complete the online FAFSA application.  Financial aid, awarded for both academic achievement and financial need, is available from School of Information. Please see the School of Information Financial Aid webpage for information: https://ischool.arizona.edu/graduate-student-aid. 

Both current students and new students accepted for admission are eligible for financial aid.  School of Information financial aid is awarded in the fall for the ensuing academic year. A majority of students receive aid of some type but you must apply on time.

General Eligibility Requirements: Students receiving financial aid are required to maintain full-time enrollment status (6 credits) and maintain satisfactory progress toward their degree, defined at a minimum as a GPA of at least 3.0. Students who have not matriculated into a School of Information degree or certificate program are not eligible for financial aid.

Special Eligibility Requirements: Individual scholarships may impose additional or other eligibility criteria.

 

Admissions Deadlines

Admission Deadlines:

Fall Semester: February 15

Spring Semester: October 15

Summer Semester: March 15

 

International Admission Deadlines:

Fall Semester: February 15

Spring Semester: September 1

Summer Semester: March 1

***International Applicants: Per immigration regulations, students admitted to a graduate program must enroll in a total of 9 units, of which 6 of those units must be courses taught in-person and only 3 online units may be used toward full-time enrollment. For questions regarding enrollment, please contact the School of Information (si-info@email.arizona.edu) for assistance.***

 

International Conditional Admission

International applicants may be considered for conditional admission to this program at the department's discretion.

Other Information

The GRE Institution Code for The University of Arizona is 4832

Completion Requirements

Degree Requirements

The Master of Arts in Library and Information Science requires a total of 37 credits to complete.  Please see the requirements below.  More information can be found on the SI Policy - Graduate webpage, http://ischool.arizona.edu/master-arts-library-and-information-science.

Core Courses (15 credits)

504: Foundations of Library and Information Services - 3 credits

506: Research Methods for Library and Information Professionals - 3 credits

515: Organization of Information - 3 credits

520: Ethics for Library and Information Professionals - 3 credits

698: Capstone Internship Exit - 3 credits
 

Distributed Electives Areas (9 credits)

Students must take 9 credits of electives, distributed over 3 categories. The curriculum committee approves the courses that fulfill the distribution requirement in each category.

• Cultural Perspectives on Libraries and Information - 3 credits
  We live in a multicultural, multi-ethnic, and increasing global world. SIRLS offers a range of courses that look at library and information issues from cultural perspectives. Learning to view knowledge and information issues through various cultural lenses makes it easier to understand that there are always multicultural perspectives to library and information issues, services, and technologies. One course is required from approved courses in this area to satisfy this requirements.
   
• Evaluation of User Needs and Management of Information Services - 3 credits
  A primary task for library and information professionals is to evaluate the quality of information resources. For example, whether they are working at the reference desk or making collection development decisions, librarians need to be able to select appropriate materials that will effectively meet the information needs of the patron.  Library and information professionals are invariably called upon to act as managers of information services and frequently become managers of information-based institutions. As a result, they need to be familiar with the basic principles of management and how these principles apply in the context of an information service such as a library. It is strongly recommended that students fulfill the management requirement in the second half of their studies. One course is required from approved courses in this area to satisfy this requirement.
   
• Information Technology and Networked Digital Information - 3 credits
  Information technologies and digital networked information are an increasingly important part of the knowledge and information environment of the 21st Century. Library and information professionals need to understand these technologies and be able to use them to manage both print knowledge and information records and the increasingly ubiquitous digital information resources. One course is required from approved courses in this area to satisfy this requirement.

Electives (12 credits)

Twelve credits of electives can be selected among any graduate-level courses offered within the School of Information.  Students can choose to focus their electives within a certain concentration of interest. Six credts of electives can be used toward 'Other Curricular' options.  More information can be found in the SI Policy-Graduate webpage, http://ischool.arizona.edu/master-arts-library-and-information-science

Final Requirements (1 credits)

909: ePortfolio (Electronic Portfolio) - 1 credit

 

Minor Requirements

No minor program required for the Master of Arts in Library and Information Science program.

 

Student Handbook

http://ischool.arizona.edu/master-arts-library-and-information-science