Graduate Admission Process

How to be a Successful Graduate Student

• Choose a program of study. At the graduate level, students have many options for their advance degree program. See the SLIS Programs Page for details.
• Refer to the Graduate Admissions Page for the most current information.
• Read the Graduate Bulletin for specific degree requirements and information concerning admissions policies and procedures, room and board, and tuition.
• Apply Online at the Office of Graduate Studies.
• Check The University of Southern Mississippi Academic Calendar for important application and registration deadlines.
• To research or apply for Financial Aid at The University of Southern Mississippi, go to the university's Financial Aid Page.
• For information on Graduate Assistantships, go to GA Information Page.
• For students with disabilities, contact the Office for Disability Accommodations (ODA) for a coordination plan.

Admission Requirements

A graduate student in the School of Library and Information Science must meet the general requirements for admission to the university graduate program as outlined elsewhere in this Bulletin. Application for admission to the graduate program must be submitted online to the Graduate Admissions Office.

Applications for admission are evaluated by a combination of the following criteria:

Undergraduate Record - Recently, students qualifying for regular admission to the master's program have had a 3.0 (4.0 scale) grade point average for the last two years of undergraduate study. For conditional admission, the School of Library and Information Science adheres to the policies of the Graduate School as stated in this Bulletin.

Graduate Record Examination - The student must submit GRE scores for Verbal, Quantitative, and Written Analytical exams.

Letters of Recommendation - Three letters of recommendation by professionals in the field assessing the readiness of the applicant for graduate work must be submitted to the School of Library and Information Science. These are submitted electronically with your online application.

Statement of Purpose - (minimum 1,000 words) Serves as the writing sample and should discuss the development of the student's interest in library and information science, the types of libraries or other information environments in which they are interested and statements about the student's career goals and potential contributions to the field. This is submitted electronically with your online application.

Resumé - This is submitted electronically with your online application.

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