Advising
First-year MLIS students are required to take certain core curriculum/required classes during specified quarters. Upon acceptance into the program, students are assigned a faculty advisor. The name of your faculty advisor will be included in your packet at New Student Orientation.
We assign faculty advisors to match up the areas of interest you expressed in your personal statement and the faculty member's areas of interest and research. Faculty advisors serve as mentors and guides for students throughout the MLIS program. One of their most important roles is helping you select courses.
While faculty advisors provide academic advising to assist students in pursuing the coursework which best fits their academic and professional interests, staff in the Office of Student and Academic Services (OSAS) are available to provide more general information and assistance about the MLIS program. Contact Marie Potter, MLIS Academic Advisor.
Students are welcome to change advisors. To change advisors we recommend that you go through the course offerings and see which courses most appeal to what you are interested in and then look to see which faculty member teaches in that field. You can also think back to which instructors you've enjoyed working with. Once you determine which faculty member suits your needs you should contact that faulty member and see if they are willing to take you on as an advisee. If they say yes and this is a good partnership for you, then fill out the Change of Advisor form and email it to stalbert@washington.edu so the appropriate paperwork changes may be made.
Please use the Program of Study form to track your progress through the MLIS program. At the end of the program, during the quarter in which you intend to graduate, you are required to turn in a completed Program of Study form to OSAS.