Master of Library and Information Science
Welcome!
We are pleased that you are interested in the Information School at the University of Washington and in an education that will prepare you for a career in the library and information fields.
Library and Information Science (LIS) is a profession, contrary to stereotype, that is full of people passionate about making a positive change to the world around them, and they tend to be wildly happy about what they do. According to one recent survey, over 85% of information professionals questioned said if they had the choice, they’d do it again Regardless of the setting(s) one may choose to work in, professionals in the field are in a unique position to bridge the gaps that all too frequently exist between people, information, and technology. They may do so, for example, by creating reader’s advisory resources to encourage young students to develop a lifelong love of reading and learning; by developing knowledge-organization systems that allow organizations, be they businesses or non-profits, to more easily find and use resources developed by their members; by helping doctors more quickly locate health information in critical situations; by making it easy for people facing personal or family crises to identify sources of help; by guiding scholars to archival and other resources crucial to their work; or in any of a host of other ways, some of which have yet to be imagined. It is the best thing you can do with your life.
The University of Washington Information School’s Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS) program is an ideal place for you, the aspiring information professional, to begin your education and career in the field. We are fortunate enough to be able to keep our student / faculty ratio low, which helps keep our admissions process competitive and the quality of our cohorts – your future colleagues – high. Once admitted, you will find the iSchool works to foster a collegial atmosphere both among students and between students and faculty. You will not find yourself stuck in huge lecture classes; our largest classes typically have no more than 35 students, with most classes having fewer. You will also enjoy opportunities for independent studies, directed fieldworks, thesis projects, and other opportunities to work closely with faculty members and area professionals. And if your intellectual curiosity and professional direction mean you need to take coursework from outside the MLIS program, you can draw on the resources of the iSchool’s Informatics, Information Management, and Ph.D. in Information Science programs, as well as the instructional resources of the University of Washington, a comprehensive university renowned for its commitment to teaching and research in a broad range of disciplines.
The iSchool’s MLIS Program will enable you, throughout your career, to stay intellectually and professionally nimble and, we hope, become a true leader in the field. It features a broad-based curriculum emphasizing both the practical wherewithal to help you prepare for specific areas of professional interest while giving you the theoretical underpinnings necessary to make your education one for your career and not just your first job. During your time here, you will gain
- An integrated understanding of central underlying concepts, theories, processes, models and research with a focus on the people who usethe information services, systems, and resources we create and organize;
- An appreciation of the varied roles, contexts, settings and values in which information work takes place and the inter-relationships among them;
- A principled comprehension of important issues and terms and the ability to learn more about these;
- Professional skills and experiences important for entry-level positions.
Our programs stand out on several fronts, most notably the caliber of our internationally renowned faculty, low faculty-student ratio, our innovative curriculum that focuses on the key aspects of the information life cycle, our emphasis on the social aspects of student learning, and our 100% dedication to preparing the best cadre of tomorrow's leaders of the LIS profession. The MLIS program has been continuously accredited by the American Library Association since 1926, and offers the most extensive ALA accredited degree program in the northwestern United States. Our program has an Advisory Committee that comprises several State librarians as well as library directors and executives from public, academic, school, and special libraries as well as industry. We are a school of one, and believe in people--information--technology. We make information work.
View the MLIS Admissions Brochure.
View a recent US News & World Report article on why librarianship is one of the best career paths.
To join our mailing list, click here. You may also contact us directly with any questions you may have about the MLIS program: mlis@@washington.edu.