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University of Washington Information School

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Master of Library and Information Science

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MLIS Admissions Overview

  1. Programs
  2. MLIS
  3. Admissions

Commitment to Diversity

 

The Information School believes that diversity, in its many forms, contributes to the intellectual and social enrichment of the school. We welcome applicants who have varied cultural, educational and socioeconomic backgrounds.

We create an environment that fosters appreciation, mutual respect and engagement among and between members of the iSchool, UW community and beyond, with special attention to the needs of vulnerable populations and minoritized and marginalized groups.

We envision a university in which all students, faculty and staff participate fully and meaningfully in campus life without being subjected to discrimination, bias or microaggressions. We do not condone any expressions of racism, sexism, homophobia or transphobia, or any other instances of bias and discrimination against marginalized individuals or groups.

Admissions Timeline

Use the link below to get detailed information about the timeline and process. The application for Autumn 2023 is now open.

Admissions timeline and deadline policy

Application Requirements

All applicants to the MLIS program must meet the following basic requirements:

  • Bachelor's degree* or higher in any discipline (must be equivalent to a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution)
  • Law Librarianship applicants must hold a Juris Doctor degree from an American Bar Association (ABA) approved law school. For questions regarding the ABA status of a degree-granting institution, please refer to this list of ABA-approved law schools. In exceptional cases, the Admissions Committee will consider candidates who have obtained a foreign degree in law substantially equivalent to a Juris Doctor degree awarded by an ABA-approved law school.
  • Non-native English speakers must fulfill the UW English language proficiency requirements
  • Note: The UW Graduate School has a minimum GPA requirement. As detailed on their website, individual programs may consider qualified applicants with a GPA below a 3.0.
    • Applicants with a lower GPA are strongly encouraged to provide additional information in the extenuating circumstances part of the application.
    • Though not part of our standard process, the Graduate School may consider GRE scores for applicants who require a low GPA petition. Therefore, applicants with a lower GPA are also encouraged to submit GRE scores (ETS report code 4854).

*In order to be eligible to apply for autumn quarter, applicants must have earned their bachelor's degree by the end of that summer. Applicants do not need to have earned their bachelor's degree prior to applying for the program.

Application Materials Checklist

  • Online application through the Application for Graduate Study
    • Applicants for the MLIS program should select "Information School — Master of Library and Information Science "
    • Applicants for the Law Librarianship program should select "Information School — Master of Library and Information Science (Law Librarianship)
      • Select mode preference (area of interest) after selecting the program — residential or online
  • Personal statement
  • Diversity statement
  • Essay
  • Short answer response
  • Recommendations (two required, three recommended)
  • Resume or Curriculum Vitae
  • Program mode preference
  • Transcripts
  • Extenuating circumstances (optional)
  • Scholarship information (optional)
  • Official GRE scores (optional)
  • Non-native English speakers - English language proficiency

Get detailed information about these application materials.

Review and/or consideration of incomplete applications or late materials is at the discretion of the MLIS admissions committee. If application materials are missing due to circumstances beyond the applicant's control, the committee will take that into consideration and make its judgment based on the information available.

Application Fee and Fee Waiver

The application fee is $85 USD, payable online by debit or credit card. Qualified applicants can request a fee waiver through the Graduate School following the process outlined on the Graduate School's website. 

All application materials are submitted online or electronically. Please do not mail paper application materials to the Information School.

Meet an iDiversity Ambassador

Information science needs more diverse and equity-minded voices and perspectives in research and the professoriate. In an effort to recruit and support BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color) students and students from other underrepresented minoritized groups, iSchool Diversity Ambassadors — current Information School graduate student volunteers — assist prospective students who are considering study at the UW Information School. Please visit our iDiversity Ambassador page for more information.

More Information

  • Learn more at an information session, online web chat or recruiting event
  • Connect with the iSchool
  • Join the UW iSchool prospective student email list

Resources:

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News

Illustration of a light shining on documents shaped in the form of city buildings

Researchers shed light on city governments' data

Wednesday, January 18, 2023
The idea grew out of a disagreement. Eva Maxfield Brown was an undergraduate student six years ago at the Information School. She was paying close attention to a controversial issue before the Seattle City Council to allow a new NBA arena...
Read more
Julius Cecilia

Informatics student inspired to improve health care

Monday, January 9, 2023
Julius Cecilia has found it hard to watch his sister, who has life-threatening food allergies, end up in the hospital repeatedly. He wanted to find a way to make life easier for her and for other people who suffer from similar...
Read more

Events

Feb 13
 
12:00-1:00PM

MLIS Prospective Student Information Session

Zoom / Online
Feb 14
 
12:30-1:30PM

Women in Tech Workshop

Online
Feb 16
 
3:00-4:00PM

Informatics Program Overview for Current UW Seattle and Transfer Students

Zoom / Online
Feb 17
 
11:30-1:15PM

Faculty Meeting

Bloedel Hall
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Box 352840 - Mary Gates Hall, Ste. 370
Seattle, WA 98195-2840
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