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DEGREES & PROGRAMS

The School of Information and Library Science seeks exceptional students who have the potential to excel in graduate studies and to become future leaders in the field. We try each year to assemble a student body that is diverse on many levels (i.e., race, ethnicity, age, physical ability, cultural perspective, intellectual background, and work experience) to foster the most dynamic learning and research environment possible so that faculty and students challenge each other to explore and envision the possible.

Requirements

We use many facets of the student’s application to arrive at an admissions decision:

We look for strong, past academic records, judged by the applicant’s past Grade Point Average (GPA), and we examine the coursework on the student’s transcript(s) to determine personal strengths and areas of mastery. Recently accepted graduate students had an average undergraduate GPA of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale. We also use the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores to assess potential success in graduate work. Recently accepted graduate students had an average GRE verbal score in the 84th percentile, an average GRE quantitative score in the 56th percentile, and an average analytical writing score of 5.0.

We emphasize the applicant’s written statement of interest in the field, and we look for questions the applicant wants to answer, areas of specialization the applicant wishes to pursue, and a beginning knowledge of the field and its issues and challenges combined with the ways in which our School (faculty, staff, and resources) might help the student delve into those issues. We want students who are excited, open-minded, and full of questions they wish to explore.

We examine the applicant's resume for evidence of qualifications and skills based on practical work experience or exposure to different cultures and perspectives, and we look for evidence of distinction in the awards and honors applicants have received.

We read carefully the three reference letters that applicants include in their portfolios to see how professors, professional peers, or supervisors assess them and their potential. We look for distinguishing characteristics and experiences in these letters that might mark the applicants as superior and unique.

We are immensely proud of our students. They challenge us – and each other – to expand our ideas, grow our imaginations, and move the field forward in its constant regeneration.

Process

  1. Complete and submit the online SILS/Graduate School application, including the nonrefundable application fee of $73. Applicants who are U.S. citizens or resident aliens should follow the domestic application process; international applicants should follow the international application process. Be sure to complete or upload all of the following items in the online application:
    1. Complete the basic application
    2. Upload a résumé including work experience, special abilities and skills.
    3. Upload a brief essay (500 words maximum) expressing why the applicant is interested in information or library science as a career.
    4. Arrange for three letters of reference. These letters are solicited by entering recommenders' email addresses into the online application. At least two letters should be from persons having first-hand knowledge of the applicant's academic capabilities.
  2. Send the following supplemental application materials to the Graduate School at:
    Graduate Admissions
    The Graduate School
    CB #4010, 200 Bynum Hall
    Chapel Hill, NC 27599-4010
    1. Transcripts of all academic work, sent directly from each institution (this includes an internal transcript from any academic work completed at UNC at Chapel Hill)
    2. Scores on the General Test of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) taken within the past five years, sent from Educational Testing Service. Applicants holding a professional degree (e.g., JD, MD, DDS, Ph.D.) may request a waiver from this requirement.
    3. International applicants must also send scores on the TOEFL and an original copy of the Financial Certificate along with all supporting documentation (this form is required for entry in to the United States; no email or faxed copies will be accepted).
  3. Send supplemental application materials to SILS at:
    Graduate Admissions
    School of Information and Library Science
    CB #3360, 100 Manning Hall
    Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3360
    1. Transcripts of all academic work, sent directly from each institution. Transcripts from work completed at UNC at Chapel Hill do not need to be sent to SILS, only to the Graduated School as outlined above.
  4. Wait for your admissions decision. You will receive letters from SILS and the Graduate School accepting or denying your application. You may submit your application for North Carolina residency within the time suggested by the graduate school.

Applications are not reviewed until all materials (forms, transcripts, test scores, essay and references) have been received. Financial assistance is not considered until the applicant has been approved for admission. It is imperative that your application, including all supplementary materials, be submitted before the deadline.

SILS admits master's students for matriculation in the fall, spring and summer semesters. We recommend beginning the program in the fall semester, since that is when most introductory courses are offered and when most merit-based financial assistance awards begin.

Deadlines

Fall Admission

 

To be considered for Graduate School financial assistance

January 1

To be considered for SILS financial aid

February 15

Last day to submit an application with the graduate school and SILS to be considered for Fall admission

May 1*

 

Spring Admission (January)

 

All applicants

October 15

 

Summer Admission

 

Financial assistance requested

January 1

Financial assistance not requested

March 15*

*During recent years, spaces have been filled earlier than these deadlines. Prospective students are encouraged to apply early even if financial assistance is not being requested.

Additional information and assistance

Prospective students may make appointments with faculty and staff members to discuss admission requirements, program schedules, and curriculum content. The school office arranges appointments within its normal business hours (8 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday through Friday).

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