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Thank you for your interest in the ALA accredited MLIS program at The University of Alabama’s School of Library and Information Studies (SLIS). 

Students who complete the MLIS at UA go on to work as information professionals in a wide variety of careers including academic, school media, public and special libraries, archives, digital libraries and special collections, and more.  For a glimpse of the range of career possibilities open to graduates of the MLIS program, you might want to take a look at national listings of jobs such as the ones found at LISjobs.com (use the Job Seekers tab) or ALA.org (use the Education & Careers tab).

Two thirds of our students attend classes face to face and one third study online.  Students interested in attending class on campus, as resident or commuting students, are admitted on a rolling basis beginning with any semester.  Students admitted for on-campus study will take all required courses face-to-face in Tuscaloosa and/or Birmingham.  Electives can be scheduled in synchronous online classes or face-to-face in Tuscaloosa or in weekend format at The University of Alabama’s Gadsden Center.  The application deadline for face-to-face study is 6 weeks prior to the first day of the semester in which studies will begin.

There are two options for online study, both of which are designed to accommodate working adult students who wish to study part-time. 

  • Sixty students are admitted each fall term for the national online cohort.  This cohort will complete studies online after a required on-campus three-day orientation session, the only on-campus requirement for the degree.  The highly selective national online cohort offers courses in real time via Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) and web-based 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.  Students must apply by April 1st to begin studies in the fall term. Students begin the 100% online national cohort in the fall. 

  • An additional 40 students are admitted each spring term for the regional cohort.  Members of the regional cohort must commit to completing one required course online for each of 6 consecutive terms (two calendar years), and must schedule at least 3 of their 6 electives face-to-face at The University of Alabama’s Gadsden Center.  Courses at Gadsden are offered in weekend format (one course requires 4 weekend sessions scheduled Friday from 6 to 9 PM and Saturday from 9 AM to 5 PM).  Online core courses are offered in real time via Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) and web-based Wimba software. All students in the regional cohort must attend a one-day orientation. Application materials are due November 15th.  Students begin this 75% online regional cohort in the spring.

    Requirements for online cohort members include access to a personal computer, high-speed broadband internet access, a headset with microphone.  Online courses at SLIS are synchronous so students must have a quiet place to “attend class” uninterrupted with the freedom to speak and listen online for about 3 hours (per class) each week. 

    Apply online by following instructions and accessing forms at the Graduate School website.  Use the following checklist to gather and submit your application materials:

  • Application form

  • Statement of Purpose

  • Transcripts from all prior academic work

  • Admissions test score no more than 5 years old [either the GRE or the Miller Analogies Test (MAT)] This requirement cannot be waived.

  • Three letters of recommendation via the graduate school’s electronic form or sent directly to UA-SLIS, Box 870252, Tuscaloosa AL 35487-0252

  • Please also submit a resume to UA-SLIS at the address above.

    Current tuition rates are posted online and are subject to change without notice. 

For information about departmental financial assistance as well as an application form, visit the SLIS Financial Aid Information page of the website.  Information about the scholarships offered through the College of Continuing Studies can be found on the CCS website. 

Check application status online by using these instructions. 

A great deal of important communication at SLIS takes place through the list-serv.  Subscribe to SLIS-L to become part of this important communication channel.

Please feel free to contact ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­Beth Riggs, Assistant to the Director, briggs@slis.ua.edu with questions as you  make decisions about graduate study.

Additional Information