Pace

• Full-time
• two-year program
• 10+ credits per quarter

• Part-time
• Three-year program
• 6-8 credits per quarter
• Students may enroll in additional courses each quarter as their schedule allows, and complete the degree in less than three years.

Delivery

• Classes are held on the UW campus in Seattle, Washington
• Required core classes are delivered in a traditional classroom setting, with the exception of some technological requirements
• Students attend in-person classes at specific dates and times (three to four hours a week)
• Reading and assignments completed synchronously
• Residential students also take online courses throughout their degree program, offering flexibility around Directed Fieldwork, part-time jobs, or personal commitments
• When seats are available, Residential students may also take courses in the other iSchool programs: Informatics, Information Management, Ph.D. in Information Science
• Residential students may also take courses through other degree programs and pursue informal concurrent master’s degrees through other departments at the UW. Interested students must be formally admitted to both programs. Contact advisors from both programs to explore these dual degree opportunities.

• Coursework is completed via the internet from anywhere in the world
• Students have the option to attend some classes on campus if they are in the area
• A good fit for students seeking flexibility in how and when they engage with their courses
• Coursework completed primarily asynchronously, with no specific meeting days or times for synchronous communication
• Successful online students are self-directed and disciplined learners

Enrollment dates & application process

To apply

Application requirements

Application (same application elements and requirements for both modes)

• $90 application fee
• Personal Statement
• Diversity Statement
• Essay
• Short Answer Response
• 2-3 letters of recommendation
• Resume or CV
• Transcripts
• Extenuating circumstances (optional)
• Scholarship information (optional)
• GRE (optional)
• English language proficiency (for non-native English speakers)

New student orientation

• Required
• Occurs the week prior to the opening of autumn quarter (late September)
• Attend in-person
• Must plan for own travel costs and lodging expenses while in Seattle

• Required
• Occurs the week prior to the opening of autumn quarter (late September)
• Attend in-person or online
• Must plan for own travel costs and lodging expenses while in Seattle if choosing to attend in-person

Pathways

Residential and online students have the same opportunities to explore many different pathways. Some of the pathways previously explored include:

• Academic Librarianship
• Archiving / Special Collections / Records Management
• Data Curation
• Database Administration / Development
• Digital Librarianship
• Digital Youth / Children's Librarianship
• Information Architecture / Taxonomy
• Knowledge Organization
• Law Librarianship
• Public Librarianship
• Special / Corporate Librarianship
• User Experience

Student support

Campus resources

Tuition & fees

Tuition and fees are the same for all students, regardless of citizenship or Washington state resident status.

Residential and online modes share the same tuition rates, subject to change at the start of each academic year for both new and continuing students.

A $500 non-refundable deposit is required to accept the offer of admission.

Scholarships

• Applicants are automatically considered for merit-based scholarships upon admission review.
• Applicants can apply for supplemental scholarship awards during the application process.
• Graduate assistantships and student employment opportunities are available.
• Endowed scholarships are available in the second year of the MLIS program.