Yes. Our program has been continuously accredited since 1926. In 2007 we received a full seven-year accreditation by the American Library Association (ALA).

Yes. We offer information sessions from August through December. View schedule of dates, times, and locations.

Yes.  Contact the MLIS Academic Advisor for more information on how to connect with a current student.

We recruit and accept students from all academic disciplines.

Students transferring from other institutions are expected to complete the application process as described. They are also required to take a minimum of 42 quarter credits in the School’s curriculum. No more than 12 quarter credits will be transferred from another institution, and the credits must meet certain University requirements. No decision to accept transfer credits will be made until after enrollment. The final decision of accepting transfer credit is made only by the faculty adviser.

Admissions and graduation requirements for the programs are identical. The MLIS program consists of 63 quarter credits and includes a set of nine core courses (34 credits), a portfolio or thesis requirement, and 29 elective credits. Although the Online MLIS (formally called distance) curriculum includes a variety of elective courses, not every elective course will be available in distance format.  MLIS electives will include coursework in organization of information; resources and services; children, young adult and school library services and resources; and technology. Also, online students are welcome to attend on-campus courses at UW's Seattle campus on a space-available basis or to transfer up to twelve credits of approved graduate coursework to satisfy elective requirements.

The average course load per quarter for full-time graduate study is three to four courses. Full-time residential students, on average, complete the MLIS requirements in two academic years. The degree must be completed within a six-year time frame.

The average course load per quarter for the Online MLIS (formally known as distance) program is two courses (6-9 credits). The program is designed for students to complete the requirements for the MLIS degree in three calendar years. The degree must be completed within a six-year time frame. Summer classes are optional and students who elect to complete summer courses or take more than two classes per quarter may complete their degree in less than three years.

All interested applicants are encouraged to apply. In your personal statement, briefly (a few sentences) indicate your reasons for preferring distance mode. International students who are interested in living in Seattle while pursuing their MLIS degree should apply for consideration for the Residential MLIS program as the Online MLIS program can not offer student (F-1) visas.

We admit students only once per year.  The deadline for both the residential and online programs is February 1st, beginning in 2009.  Each year's cohort of students starts the program together in Autumn quarter.

The level of competitiveness for admission into the MLIS program fluctuates from year to year depending on the applicant pool and on the number of admission spaces available. Approximately 40% of the applicants to the MLIS program for the 2007–2008 academic year were offered admission.

All aspects of an individual’s application are considered in a holistic manner. For instance, a high GPA or superior letters of recommendation and an excellent personal statement could potentially balance out low GRE scores. The Admissions Committee reads personal statements and recommendation letters with great care.

We have no predefined, minimum-required GRE score. All aspects of your application are considered. For instance, high GPA or superior letters of recommendation and an excellent statement of purpose could potentially balance out low GRE scores. The UW Graduate School requires a minimum GPA of 3.0 for the most recent two years of academic study. In exceptional circumstances, an applicant who is otherwise well-qualified but who has a low GPA may be considered for admission.

The Admissions Committee does not emphasize any section more than another.

We accept GRE scores of any age; however, we do require that the score report be sent from an official source, such as the Educational Testing Service (for GRE reports) or from a graduate program you previously attended (on university letterhead). If you cannot obtain scores from either of these sources, please contact the Office of Student and Academic Services for additional instructions.

Review of applications begins after the deadline. Early application is encouraged, however, in order to ensure that all of your application materials have been received by the deadline.

The deadline for both the Residential MLIS and Online MLIS programs is February 1st, starting in 2009,  The deadline for international students is November 1. Also, please note that the FAFSA financial aid application must be submitted prior to February 28, in order to be considered for iSchool scholarships.

The Admissions Committee expects to notify applicants to both the residential and online programs about admissions decisions by late-March.

The Online MLIS program has a mandatory residency that takes place during the 1st week of each fall, winter, spring, and summer quarter.  Students are typically on the University of Washington Seattle campus for three to five days during the residency.  After that, the primary mode of course delivery will be Internet-based.  The distance program is asynchronous: there are no standard virtual class meetings where you have to reserve any specific time during the day of evening for synchronous communication.  Note that you may have some instances where you'll want to log in for a web chat, but that is determined by the instructor for that particular course and the timing that works best for the majority of the class. 

Mandatory on-campus residencies take place each fall, winter, spring, and summer quarter. Residencies typically last for three to five days and are scheduled for the 1st week of each quarter.  While students are not required to register for summer quarter, if they choose to they are required to attend the residency.  Residencies are a valuable component of the distance program and we are committed to the quality of learning during the on-campus time. This is a time for students to collaborate and learn together while building a strong academic community. 

Yes, on a space-available basis. In some cases, tuition may vary for classes that aren't offered as part of the online program, and students should contact the office where they are registering to verify the correct tuition rate.

Yes, you can expect to be in classes for most of the day. Because you will only be on campus once a quarter, the instructors want to make the most of this time with you.

Yes, there is often homework or readings in the evening. Please plan accordingly

Online courses that have residency meetings are mandatory and students are responsible for making their own travel and lodging arrangements. There are numerous options for accommodations around the University of Washington. You can also connect with an iSchool student and stay with them during the on campus residency by visiting the iConnect Message Board.

No, students in online programs do not need to provide proof of immunization. If you are requested to provide proof of immunization, students should notify the immunization office (Hall Health) that they are in an online learning program.

Yes, as a student at the UW, you have full access to the UW libraries.

Yes, there is an option to pursue the degree and endorsement concurrently. More information is available on the endorsement webpage.

Yes, details are spelled out on page 9 of the MLIS admissions brochure.

Yes, through University Bookstore's Technology Center.

Several discount programs are available on campus for software that will be used for academic purposes. Microsoft titles are available for free or at a significant discount to iSchool students as described on our software page. University Bookstore offers many brands of academic software at significant discounts. Academic software is typically available for the price of a regular upgrade. The software is usually identical to the regular version, except that the licensing agreement stipulates that you can only use it for academic use. After graduation, you are eligible to upgrade to a regular copy that may be used for non-academic or commercial purposes.

Yes. Please reserve your equipment well in advance, especially for popular dates like residencies. Please note: During Autumn Quarter residency, laptops or tablets may not be available because they are often being re-imaged during the first week of the classes.

The first step for an Online MLIS student who requires tech support is to contact dmlishelp@washington.edu Responses may take 24 to 48 hours. If an assignment is due, don't panic. Contact your instructor and expect to hear back as soon as possible. In some circumstances, requests for technical support made on a Friday or Saturday may require more than 48 hours for a response. If you have lost email access due to technical difficulties, you may contact the User Services Administrator at 206-221-4783