Choosing UB for your MLS

Dear MLS prospective and currently enrolled students:

The American Library Association has posted "Guidelines for Choosing a Master’s Degree Program in Library and Information Studies" and LIS thought it might prove useful to organize some LIS policies for you in this way. Please do remember to look in the appropriate section of LIS GSE website for the content that you wish to find — not all student policies are listed here. But LIS have listed some around these key areas as identified by the American Library Association.

Page Navigation:
Accreditation
Admissions: Resident and International
Choosing a Specialization
Curriculum/Course of Study
Financial Aid/Graduate Assistantships/Scholarships
Flexibility and Distance Learning
Placement Services
Additional Information

Accreditation

The UB MLS program is accredited by the American Library Association. See the American Library Association (ALA) accreditation process.

Admissions: Resident and International

Required: Bachelor degree from an accredited institution; undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher, two letters of reference, and a personal statement of educational and professional goals. See: additional requirements. (admissions)

Applications are accepted after stated deadlines

  • Applications to all GSE programs are online and can be found here.
  • Applicants may apply to only one program at a time, and are encouraged to submit the application online, which is preferred over paper applications.
  • There is a nonrefundable $50.00 application fee, payable in US funds. This can be paid electronically at the time the online application is submitted, or by check or postal order made payable to the University at Buffalo.
  • Admissions requirements and deadlines are established by each program and can be found on the web, or in the official brochures of GSE. In all cases, a baccalaureate degree or its equivalent from an accredited undergraduate institution is required.

Admission for those residing outside the U.S. and Canada

The Department of Library and Information Studies accepts admission applications from international students. All such applications are evaluated on the basis of:

  • Academic qualifications
  • Admission criteria listed above
  • Proficiency in the English language
  • Passport biographical page
  • Evidence of financial support, and
  • Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores which are required for international students

You must document the ability to meet all education and personal expenses for the duration of the program before the admissions file can be considered.

As proof of English language proficiency, applicants are required to supply a minimum score of 550 in the paper-based Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or a score of 79 or higher in the internet based test (iBT).

Students meeting the minimum TOEFL requirements are also encouraged to attend the six-week summer intensive English language program before enrolling in MLS courses. For more information about the Intensive English Language Institute (IELI), please see their website.

Passport Biographical Page

A copy of the applicant’s passport biographical page is required (the page that shows the holder’s full name, date of birth, nationality, etc.) in order to prepare the U.S. immigration I-20 form based on spellings and dates in the passport.

For additional general information on international admissions see:

Application deadlines at a glance:

Please be aware that applications are accepted after the suggested dates as space is made available.

Master of Library Science (MLS)

  • March 1 for summer
  • April 1 for fall
  • October 1 for spring

Library and Information Studies Advanced Certificate and Non-Degree Students are only on a rolling admission.

For all applicants:

All credentials must be received before the Admissions and Academic Standards Committee can evaluate a candidate. Admissions decisions will be available shortly after the deadline date.

Curriculum/Course of Study

  • 36 credit hours at a 3.00 (B) average or better
  • Certification for School Library Media Specialist requires an additional 3 credit hours of LIS 525 School Media Center Practicum, which may not be counted as part of the 36 credit hours needed for the MLS degree. Pedagogical core courses: 12 hours non-MLS
  • 15 hours of required core courses
  • Waiver of required course possible (see "waivers")
  • Transfer of credit possible
  • Courses are offered in various modes: asynchronous web based, and face-to-face in physical classrooms
  • Real time courses are primarily taught in the evenings (4 p.m. - 9:40 p.m.)
  • Fall and Spring semester length (15 weeks)
  • Five year limit to complete the degree
  • Full-time students: minimum of 12 credit hours at UB (unless holding an assistantship where nine credit hours per semester is considered full time)
  • Practical experiences are available through Practica (LIS 526) and Special Projects (LIS 527)
  • Directed Study (LIS 598) opportunities are also available.
  • Please consult the Academic Regulations page for information on grade requirements, course load, special student status, etc.

Choosing a Specialization

The MLS program at UB is a generalist degree program with opportunities to develop a plan of study that can prepare you to work in a variety of library and information agencies settings. Here is a link to the LIS guidelines to help you select courses for the type of professional librarian and information specialist work you would like to pursue.

These are not required tracks for graduation in preparation for particular jobs but only suggestions to help you plan your course of study. Please remember that the School Library Media specialization requires New York State certification and therefore has a special set of requirements.

Practical experiences are available through Special Projects (LIS 527) and Practica (LIS 526). MLS students are responsible for arranging their own practical experiences. A list of opportunities are available online.

Cooperative Degrees, Special programs

Music librarianship: combines the MLS with an additional Master degree in music theory or music history.

Students are required to meet the graduate language requirements of the Music Department.

Law librarianship: a program in Legal Information Management and Analysis offers qualified students the opportunity to combine studies and professional training in law and library and information studies. The program offers a unique preparation for students interested in careers as law librarians and legal information professionals, and leads to both a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree and a Master’s degree in Library and Information Studies.

Flexibility and Distance Learning

In order to work together with the diverse needs and schedules of all students, LIS may offer a given course in-person during the day, in the evenings (4 p.m. - 9:40 p.m.), web-based asynchronous (ie, not at the same time) courses or through a physical extension in the Rochester area. Course offerings and delivery vary each semester.

Financial Aid/Graduate Assistantships/Scholarships

The Department, the Graduate School of Education, and the University offer a wide range of financial assistance opportunities, as does the State of New York and the U.S. Federal government. For detailed information consult the Graduate School, The Graduate School of Education, and the office of Financial Aid to Students in Hayes Annex B, 3435 Main Street, Buffalo, New York 14214. A limited number of graduate assistantships are available through the school each year. These assistantships provide a stipend for the academic year (September through June) plus a tuition award. The department may also have some scholarships and fellowships available, with the number and amount varying from year to year. Applicants for admission may apply for this assistance by completing a special form in the application process. Part-time work opportunities also are available in many area libraries.

See the University Graduate School site for: additional information regarding financial aid , scholarships and fellowships and jobs and assistantships.

For scholarship information please see the following:

Placement Services

Please see the department web page on Career Services

Other placement services provided by the department are:

Additional Information

This web page is provided as a brief introduction to LIS program to help you decide in selecting the right graduate program for you. Prospective students should consider several factors when choosing a graduate program for a Master degree in library and information studies. These include both personal and professional considerations such as career plans, interest in various specializations, geographic mobility, distance learning opportunities, and financial resources. The information provided here in no way represents the fullest explanation of all of LIS policies, practices, and opportunities.

LIS students are involved in the governance of the department through the LIS Council. Are you interested in student leadership opportunities? LIS students belong to student chapters of professional associations such as ALA, NYLA, SLA, and others. There is much more to the program and the opportunities it affords than what it is listed here. The LIS Department hopes that this introductory page has given you valuable information that will assist you in your decision making. Want to know more? Some suggested sites are:

Whatever you decide, LIS wishes you the best in your in your career and academic choices.