• Criteria for Admission
• Additional Requirements for School Library Applicants
• Graduate Record Exam (GRE)
• Application Checklist
• Online Submission Instructions
• Follow-up
• Contact Information

For all programs, applicants must have a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university with a minimum 3.0 average on a 4.0 scale on all academic work attempted.

Applicants to the Master of Library Science (MLS) program must submit these documents:

• Graduate School application
• Official transcripts from each college or university attended
• Applicant Essay
• Current resume
• Three recommendations/evaluations
• Score report on the General Test of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). The scores can be sent directly to the University of Maryland.  Our institution code is 5814.

MLS applicants who are not applying to the School Libraries or E-government specializations must answer the following essay questions.  (This is submitted instead of the Personal Statement in the Application Supplemental Form). This 500-word essay should address the following four questions:

• What do you see as the most interesting and/or significant opportunities provided by the information field?
• Why are you interested in the particular degree for which you are applying, and why do you wish to pursue this degree at the College of Information Studies?
• What strengths would you bring to graduate study and to the information profession?
• What are your career plans, and how would this degree advance them?
• You will need to mail sealed official transcript(s) from each college or university attended.

 

Additional Requirements for School Library Applicants

Additional Requirements for School Library Applicants
In addition to the general academic requirements for admission for all MLS applicants, School Library Media applicants will be subject to the following additional requirements.

• GRE scores are required, even for students who might otherwise meet the standards for a waiver.
  Completion of the Foundational Competencies Self-Assessment form
• Completion of the Criminal History Disclosure Form
• Program specific targeted essay addressing the following two questions: Program specific essay addressing the following two questions: What will it mean to be an excellent school librarian in a school? AND what skills do you need to learn to be an excellent school librarian? 

We expect your essay to be well organized and to demonstrate your ability to express yourself as a professional. This includes adhering to the conventions of standard, edited written English.

We will be looking for the following points in your essay:

1. Describe the roles and responsibilities that a school librarian may play in a school, and how do these roles and responsibilities contribute to the overall teaching and learning environment in the school;
2. Address the need for a school librarian to reach diverse learners and maintain a positive and engaging learning environment for all students; and
3. Demonstrate a thoughtful consideration of what skills are needed to be a good school librarian, and what you expect to learn in the UMD MLS program.

After initial application review, applicants still under consideration for admission will be invited to participate in an interview. Student admissions will be granted in accordance with iSchool and University policies.

Applicants in these categories are not required to submit GRE scores:

• Domestic applicants with a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.5 or above
• Domestic applicants with a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or above who have earned other graduate degrees

The cumulative undergraduate GPA is calculated by taking the average from all undergraduate courses taken. 

Applicants who do not fall into the categories above must submit GRE scores.  All international applicants are required to submit GRE scores.

Applicants for the School Library Specialization are required to submit GRE scores.

Scores earned within five years of application are required. These must be sent directly to the Graduate School from the Educational Testing Service.  The University of Maryland's institution code is 5814.

For more information on the GRE test, go to www.ets.org/gre.

The College of Information Studies will evaluate your application only when it is complete (see checklist below). We suggest that you submit your application well in advance of the application deadline. Please note that official admission to the program comes from the Graduate School.  The college only recommends applicants.

Be sure to:

• Complete The Graduate School application form with a $75 check or money order made out to the University of Maryland.
• Upload a current resume.
• Upload three letters of recommendations. Whenever possible, these recommendations should be submitted online using the Application Supplemental Form, discussed below.
• Mail one official copy of your transcript from each academic institution attended sent directly from the institution.
• Complete Maryland In-State Tuition form, if applicable.
• If required, submit official scores of the General Test of the Graduate Record Examination. These should be sent directly to the College of Information Studies - UM from the Educational Testing Service. Our institution code is 5814.

Please mail your unopened, official transcripts to:
University of Maryland College Park
Enrollment Services Operations
Application for Graduate Admission
Room 0130 Mitchell Building
College Park, MD 20742

Immunization records. (If admitted, the records must be received prior to enrollment.)

Online Submission Instructions

Completing the UMD Graduate School Application

Completing the University of Maryland Graduate School Online Application involves creating an account and providing the information requested by the University of Maryland Graduate School Online Application System. Specifically you will need to:

• Provide basic contact and demographics information (under the Demographics tab)
• Specify your intended program (under the Educational Intent tab) by selecting either:
  • Library and Information Services – LBSC
  • Library and Information Services (online) – LBSO*
  • History and Library and Information Services (joint) – HiLS
• Specify your desired area(s) of specialization OR location information by entering one or more of the following (if applicable):
  • Archives, Records and Information Management
  • School Library
  • E-government
  • Information and Diverse Populations
  • Shady Grove **
• Describe your previous education and arrange for the suitable transcripts to be sent to the University of Maryland, College Park - Enrollment Services Operations (under the Previous Education tab)
• Provide information about your residency and eligibility for in-state tuition (under the Residency tab)
• Complete all other required information fields, pay the required application fee, and submit the application

*Students applying for the E-Government Specialization OR School Library Specialization will apply using this code as these are online programs.

**Students who intend to study at the Shady Grove Campus may pursue a general MLS degree or the School Libraries specialization. Please note that some general MLS degree electives may be offered at ONLY College Park or ONLY Shady Grove.

Transcripts

You will need to mail sealed official transcript(s) from each college or university attended.

Please mail your unopened, official transcripts to:
University of Maryland College Park
Enrollment Services Operations
Application for Graduate Admission
Room 0130 Mitchell Building
College Park, MD 20742

 

Submitting your resume, essay, and recommendations

Upon completion and submission of the main online graduate application you will receive access to the MLS Application Supplemental Form (ASF).  In this form you will:

• Provide names and e-mail address for three individuals who will provide online letters of recommendation
• Upload a copy of your current resume
• Write and upload a 500-word essay. Master’s applicants to the iSchool do NOT need to submit the 1,000-2,000 word Personal Statement that is listed in the Application Supplemental Form. 
• Questions answered in this depend on your program of study:
  • Students pursing the general MLS program, the Archives, Records and Information Management specialization, or the Information and Diverse Populations specialization address the following questions:
    • What do you see as the most interesting and/or significant opportunities provided by the information field?
    • Why are you interested in the particular degree for which you are applying, and why do you wish to pursue this degree at the College of Information Studies?
    • What strengths would you bring to graduate study and to the information profession?
    • What are your career plans, and how would this degree advance them?
  • Students pursuing the E-government specialization should address:
    • Current issues and challenges that applicants see regarding digital government information; the role of librarians and information professionals as stewards of digital information; and the interaction between government, technology, and users — particularly through the intersection of e-government services.
    • In the essay, applicants should reflect on current trends regarding e-government services, the digital government information context, open government, and the roles of libraries and librarians as providers of e-government services, curators of government information, and intermediaries between governments and the public.
    • In addition, the essay should address your particular career goals and how participation in the scholarship program will enable you to achieve these goals.
  • Students intending to pursue the School Library specialization should address:
    • What will it mean to be an excellent school librarian in a school?
    • What skills do you need to learn to be an excellent school librarian?
  • Within the essay applicants should:
    • Describe the roles and responsibilities that a school librarian may play in a school, and how do these roles and responsibilities contribute to the overall teaching and learning environment in the school;
    • Address the need for a school librarian to reach diverse learners and maintain a positive and engaging learning environment for all students; and
    • Demonstrate a thoughtful consideration of what skills are needed to be a good school librarian, and what you expect to learn in the UMD MLS program.
  • School Library students should also submit their Foundational Competencies Self-Assessment form AND Criminal History Disclosure Form (under the ASF Information tab).
• Submit this application (Make sure that you have completed the entire supplemental application before clicking “Submit this Application” -- you will not be able to go back in and make changes later).

HiLS Applicants, please keep in mind that each department has their own requirements, and that the above requirements are those of the College of Information Studies only. You will need to consult the Department of History to determine any additional admissions requirements.

Follow-Up

Applicants are responsible for the timely completion of their files. Only complete files will be submitted to the Admissions Committee for review. Please contact the Student Services Office with concerns about missing documents.

The Student Services Office maintains application files until they are evaluated for admission or the application deadline for the requested semester has passed. To be considered for a subsequent semester, the applicant must notify the Student Services Office in writing PRIOR to the beginning of the original entry semester. Otherwise, the application will be withdrawn. An applicant wishing to be considered after the file has been withdrawn must again pay the required Graduate School application fee and reapply to both the Graduate School and the College of Information Studies. The new application will be considered on the basis of admission standards existing at the time of reapplication.

Contact Information

For more information, please contact the Student Services Office of the College of Information Studies at ischooladmission@umd.edu.