Prospective MLIS Students
Thank you for your interest in the ALA certified MLIS program at The University of Alabama’s School of Library and Information Studies (SLIS). You will find additional information about the program, including admissions criteria, in the online catalog.
Students interested in attending classes on campus (at the main campus in Tuscaloosa, at the Gadsden Center, or in Birmingham) are admitted on a rolling basis beginning with any semester. Students living in north Alabama, southeast Tennessee, and northwest Georgia can pursue the MLIS by completing some of their coursework at the UA Gadsden Center located in Gadsden, AL. One core course each semester is also offered in Birmingham, AL on the Samford University campus.
Apply online by following instructions and accessing forms at http://graduate.ua.edu. Graduate School requirements for your completed application packet include the following items:
- Application form (found here)
- Statement of Purpose
- Transcripts from all prior academic work
- Admissions test score [either the GRE or the Miller Analogies Test (MAT)]
- Application fee
- Please submit three letters of recommendation directly to SLIS at Box 870252, Tuscaloosa AL 35487-0252
Two thirds of our students attend classes face to face, and one third study online. The online program offers courses in real time via Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) and web-based Horizon Wimba software. Most students in the cohort schedule two courses per semester, attending classes in the evenings from 6 to 8:45 PM central time. At this rate, the 36 credit hour program can be completed in 6 semesters, or two calendar years. The deadline for submission of all application materials for the online program is April 15th, 2008. You may find answers to some of your questions about the online MLIS program through our FAQ page.
Note that all students in the online program must attend a 4 day on-campus orientation before classes begin. The orientation is held in the fall – this year from August 16th to 18th, and is the only on-campus requirement for the degree. Online students can only begin class in the fall.
Current tuition rates are posted online at http://cost.ua.edu, and are subject to change without notice. Students interested in applying for departmental financial assistance should visit the SLIS Financial Aid Information page of this website.
Please feel free to contact Beth Riggs, Manager of Student & Alumni Services at briggs@slis.ua.edu with questions as you make decisions about graduate study.
Additional Information