Yes. Our program has been continuously accredited since 1926. In 2007 we received a full seven-year accreditation by the American Library Association (ALA).

Yes. We offer information sessions from August through December. View schedule of dates, times, and locations.

Yes.  Contact the MLIS program to connect with a current student: mlis@uw.edu. 

We recruit and accept students from all academic disciplines, and do not require nor recommend a specific undergraduate major.

Students transferring from other institutions are expected to complete the application process as described. No more than 12 quarter credits will be transferred from another institution, and the credits must meet certain University requirements. No decision to accept transfer credits will be made until after enrollment. The final decision of accepting transfer credit is made by the faculty adviser.

Admissions and graduation requirements for the programs are identical. The MLIS program consists of 63 quarter credits and includes a set of nine core courses.  Also included is elective coursework, and either a portfolio or thesis or other culminating experience project (for credit).  Although the Online MLIS curriculum includes a variety of elective courses, not every elective course will be available in an online format.  MLIS electives will include coursework in organization of information; resources and services; children, young adult and school library services and resources; and technology. Also, online students are welcome to attend on-campus courses at UW's Seattle campus on a space-available basis.

The average course load per quarter for full-time graduate study is three to four courses. Full-time residential students, on average, complete the MLIS requirements in two academic years. The degree must be completed within a six-year time frame.

The average course load per quarter for the Online MLIS program is two courses (6-9 credits). The program is designed for students to complete the requirements for the MLIS degree in three calendar years. The degree must be completed within a six-year time frame. Summer classes are optional and students who elect to complete summer courses or take more than two classes per quarter may complete their degree in less than three years.

All interested applicants are encouraged to apply. In your personal statement, briefly (a few sentences) indicate your reasons for preferring the online learning mode.

We admit students only once per year.  The deadline for both the residential and online programs is February 1.  Each year's cohort of students starts the program together in Autumn quarter.

The level of competitiveness for admission into the MLIS program fluctuates from year to year depending on the applicant pool and on the number of admission spaces available. Approximately half of the applicants to the MLIS program for the 2008–2009 academic year were offered admission.

All aspects of an individual’s application are considered in a holistic manner. For instance, a high GPA or superior letters of recommendation and an excellent personal statement could potentially balance out low GRE scores. The Admissions Committee reads personal statements and recommendation letters with great care.

We have no predefined, minimum-required GRE score. All aspects of your application are considered. For instance, high GPA or superior letters of recommendation and an excellent statement of purpose could potentially balance out low GRE scores. The UW Graduate School requires a minimum GPA of 3.0 for the most recent two years of academic study. In exceptional circumstances, an applicant who is otherwise well-qualified but who has a low GPA may be considered for admission.

The Admissions Committee does not emphasize any section more than another.

We accept GRE scores of any age; however, we do require that the score report be sent from an official source, such as the Educational Testing Service (for GRE reports) or from a graduate program you previously attended (on university letterhead). If you cannot obtain official score reports from either of these sources, please contact the Office of Student and Academic Services for additional instructions.

Early application is encouraged, however, in order to ensure that all of your application materials have been received by the deadline.  In addition, once you apply you'll have access to an online status-check, so you can track the materials that we receive. You may begin the application in mid-September, and have through the deadline (February 1) to complete the application.  Review of applications begins after the deadline.

The deadline for both the Residential MLIS and Online MLIS programs is February 1; the deadline for international students is November 1. Also, please note that the FAFSA financial aid application must be submitted prior to February 28 in order to be considered for iSchool scholarships.

The Admissions Committee expects to notify applicants to both the residential and online programs about admissions decisions by mid-April.

The Online MLIS program has a mandatory Orientation Week for newly admitted students that takes place a week before autumn quarter begins; this requires all new Online students to be on-campus in Seattle for 5-6 days.  This is the only on-site requirement during the whole program.  After Orientation Week, the course delivery will be Internet-based.  The majority of the online program is asynchronous, meaning that there are no specific days or times where a student has to be online for synchronous communication. However some instructors may schedule an online synchronous session at the start of the quarter, before moving to a completely asynchronous delivery. Curriculum is delivered through modules that include a set of activities (lectures, readings, discussion and assignments) centered on a theme, topic, or learning objective. Students work on activities in the module at an individual pace, but are expected to complete each module within the deadlines indicated in the course schedule. Assigned readings may include recommended books or electronic resources available through a variety of sources.  Discussion related to readings, recorded lectures, or assignments takes place via asynchronous discussion boards. Assignments vary according to instructors and course materials.

Yes, on a space-available basis. In some cases, tuition may vary for classes that aren't offered as part of the online program, and students should contact the office where they are registering to verify the correct tuition rate.

No, students in online programs do not need to provide proof of immunization. If you are requested to provide proof of immunization, students should notify the immunization office (Hall Health) that they are in an online learning program.

Yes, as a student at the UW, you have full access to the UW libraries.

Yes, there is an option to pursue the degree and endorsement concurrently. More information is available on the endorsement webpage.

Yes, details are spelled out in MLIS Technology Requirements.

Yes, through University Bookstore's Technology Center.

Several discount programs are available on campus for software that will be used for academic purposes. Microsoft titles are available for free or at a significant discount to iSchool students as described on our software page. University Bookstore offers many brands of academic software at significant discounts. Academic software is typically available for the price of a regular upgrade. The software is usually identical to the regular version, except that the licensing agreement stipulates that you can only use it for academic use. After graduation, you are eligible to upgrade to a regular copy that may be used for non-academic or commercial purposes.

Yes. Please reserve your equipment well in advance, especially for popular dates like residencies. Please note: During Autumn Quarter residency, laptops or tablets may not be available because they are often being re-imaged during the first week of the classes.

Online MLIS students who require tech support should contact ihelp@washington.edu.  Responses may take 24 to 48 hours. If an assignment is due, don't panic. Contact your instructor and expect to hear back as soon as possible. In some circumstances, requests for technical support made on a Friday or Saturday may require more than 48 hours for a response. If you have lost email access due to technical difficulties, you may contact the User Services Administrator at 206-221-4783