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Admissions Requirements for MLS Degree Program

General Requirements (for all applicants)

Our Master of Library Science (MLS) degree program features flexible options that offer (1) both fall and spring admission, and (2) programs online, in a seated environment, or through a mixture of both.

The applicant should have received an undergraduate bachelor degree with a GPA of 3.0 or better by the intended beginning semester. Applications with lower GPA’s may still be considered and granted a “conditional admission” (see below for more information). To apply for admission to the MLS program (including its School Library Media specialization), please submit the following materials by the deadline:

• A completed online application.
• Official transcripts from each institution that you have attended. Applicants who are currently at UB or have studied at or graduated from UB do not need to submit an official UB transcript.
• Two letters of recommendation. At least one letter must be from the instructor of an undergraduate or graduate course. Letters from present or former supervisors are also acceptable, but letters from co-workers, friends, or relatives are not. Additional letters are welcome, although not required.
• A clearly written and thoughtful statement of your career goals. Please write a detailed statement describing your reasons for pursuing a graduate degree in the information and library studies field. Include your professional goals and objectives and indicate any area of special interest within the field.
• Application fee of $50.00 submitted either electronically with your application or by mail to the address on your online application.

Application Deadlines

Applicants are strongly encouraged to complete and submit their applications by the following deadlines:

• Spring admission: October 1
• Fall admission: April 1

Applications submitted after the deadlines may still be considered if space is available.

Additional International Application Requirements

In additional to the materials specified above, international applicants for the MLS program should also submit the following items:

• TOEFL score report (must not be more than two years old from the time you begin classes) with a minimum of 213 for a computer based test, 550 for a paper based test and 79 Internet based test (UB institution code: 2925); IELTS minimum score of 6.5(with no subsection score below 6.0)
• GRE score report (no more than five years old): UB institution code is 2925 - GRE departmental code is 4701.
• 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.
• Proof of degree and original transcripts with certified translations. These transcripts must be translated into the US grading system through the World Education Services at http://www.wes.org/
• Financial documentation: international graduate applicants must document their ability to pay for all costs incurred while studying in the U.S. All financial forms and supporting documentation must be originals with original signatures, and must be dated within one year of the time the applicant intends to enroll at UB. No action will be taken on dossiers of applicants who indicate no financial support. The International Financial Form located at http://wings.buffalo.edu/intled/admissions/forms
• An official bank statement translated into U.S. dollars and/or letters of support.

For additional general information on international admissions see:

• International Admissions
• International Student Resources

Conditional Admit/Provisional Status

A student may be admitted provisionally to the MLS when s/he does not meet all admissions requirements (most often because of an undergraduate GPA below 3.0) but his or her personal statements, transcripts, employment history, and letters of reference demonstrate potential for success. At the end of the semester in which the student has attempted 12 credit hours in the program, the student’s academic standing will be reviewed by a member of the LIS staff.

At the time of the review, if the student meets all the conditions of good academic standing and has no Incomplete or Unsatisfactory grades, provisional status is automatically lifted and the student is considered to be in Good Academic Standing.

See the LIS Academic Regulations for more details.

Special Notes

• Online/Seated option: when filing your online application, please be sure to indicate whether you’re interested in completing the MLS program online or in a seated setting. Information of the online or seated option of the MLS program can be found on our Academic Program page.
• Former/Maiden Name: Please be sure to provide us with your former/maiden name if you have one. When requesting transcripts, please ask the sending institution to indicate your current name and former/maiden name.
• English Language preparation (international students only): International students are strongly encouraged to attend the six-week summer intensive English language program before enrolling in MLS courses. For more information, please visit the Intensive English Language Institute (IELI).

Admissions Requirements for Advanced Certificate

You must have a master's degree in LIS or in a related field. You will also be asked to come for an admission interview to review your program objectives. Current MLS students need not supply transcripts or letters of reference.

The link to apply online can be found on this page.

Please visit the advanced certificate page for more information.

Admissions Requirements for Non-Matriculated Students

Individuals not formally accepted into the MLS or the Advanced Studies Certificate Program, but taking coursework at LIS, may be admitted as Non-Degree Students. If a Non-Degree Student is later admitted into the MLS degree program, a maximum of 6 credit hours of non-matriculating courses may be transferred.

A new online Non-Degree Student application form must be completed each semester.

Please visit our non-matriculated page for more information.