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ILS APPLICATION DEADLINE:

MLS, MLS/SMS, and Sixth Year programs: March 1 for Fall; September 1 for Spring

School Media Certification Only (for those holding the MLS) rolling admissions

ILS Application Procedure and Deadlines

Acceptance to the Master of Library Science program requires review by two offices: School of Graduate Studies and Department of Information and Library Science. Therefore, students are required to submit materials to both. Submit the following to the School of Graduate Studies:

  •  Application;
  •  Application fee;
  •  Copies of all official college-level transcripts.

Submit the following, in one packet, to the Department of Information and Library Science:

  • Copies of all official college-level transcripts;
  • Two or more current letters of recommendation (preferably from employers or professors) attesting to the ability of the applicant to successfully complete the program of studies as well as attesting to qualities (scholarship, attitude, integrity, leadership, service) that would contribute to the information field. Applicants should ask their references to return the recommendation letter to the applicant in an envelope, which must be sealed and signed across the seal (back flap) by the reference. Do NOT open the envelope. Submit the sealed recommendations with your other application materials.
  • A statement (250-500 words) describing why the applicant is interested in the intended program of study and career expectations from the professional degree;
  • A current resume;
  • A copy of Graduate Record Exam scores (except for sixth-year applicants); see the GRE information below; and
  • Praxis I scores (for School Media Specialists Certification applicants only). On July 1, 2007, the Connecticut State Department of Education authorized acceptance of minimum scores (1000 combined verbal/math; 450 verbal; 500 math; and 4.5 analytic writing) on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) as a basis for Praxis I waivers. The SAT may also be used as a basis for Praxis I waivers with minimum scores of 1100 combined verbal/math (1000 if taken before March 31, 1995, with no less than 400 in either verbal or math).
  • All students seeking Connecticut School Media Specialist Certification must arrange a personal interview with the ILS Admissions Committee.

Complete application packets, including official transcripts, test scores and waiver certificates, will be forwarded to the Admissions Committee. Incomplete applications will be withdrawn. Application materials should be mailed to the Department of Information and Library Science, Southern Connecticut State University, 501 Crescent Street, New Haven CT 06515.

Graduate Record Exam (GRE)

Applicants to the MLS degree or School Media Specialist Certificate programs are required to take the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) General Test. Students with a master's degree in another field may submit scores from another appropriate graduate admissions exam in lieu of the GRE.

Test of English as a Foreign Language Exam (TOEFL)

Applicants for whom English is a second language need to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) examinations in addition to the GRE quantitative and analytical writing tests. Applicants should have a minimum score of 600 on the TOEFL (213 on the TOEFL-cBT or 80 on the TOEFL-iBT).

Professional Assessments for Beginning Teachers (PRAXIS)

All applicants to the School Media Specialist certification program must pass the state- mandated skills examination (Praxis I) in mathematics, reading, and writing. Details of PRAXIS I examinations are described in the "Admission to Teacher Certification Programs" in the beginning of this Graduate Catalog; under the "Application and Admission" Section.

Reporting Test Scores

All required tests must be sent to Southern directly from the Educational Testing Service
(ETS). Southern's school code is 3662. Information (and test preparation) on the GRE,
TOEFL, and PRAXIS can be found at: 

  • Educational Testing Service (ETS): http://www.ets.org
  • Graduate Record Exam (GRE): http://www.gre.org
  • Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL): http://www.toefl .org
  • Professional Assessments for Beginning Teachers (PRAXIS Series): http://www.praxis.org

 

Department Admissions Criteria

Although acceptance cannot be guaranteed, applicants whose records are complete and meet minimum requirements will be given consideration.

All applicants to the MLS and certification programs in ILS should meet the following minimum criteria:

  • A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university. An undergraduate degree earned abroad must be deemed equivalent to a U.S. bachelor's.
  • A 3.0 GPA (on a 4.0 scale) in all undergraduate studies, and in any subsequent graduate-level work.
  • For applicants for whom English is the native language, submission of GRE General Test scores for verbal, quantitative, and analytical writing.
  • For applicants for whom English is a second language, submission of GRE scores for quantitative and analytical writing tests; and a minimum score of  600 on the TOEFL (213 on the TOEFL-cBT or 80 on the TOEFL-iBT).

All applicants to Sixth Year programs in ILS should meet the following admissions
criteria: 

  • A master's degree from an ALA-accredited program  (Information Studies specialization).
  • A master's degree from an accredited college or university (Art of the Oral Tradition specialization).
  • Two or more current letters of recommendation (preferably from employers or professors) attesting to the ability of the applicant to successfully complete the program of studies as well as attesting to qualities (scholarship, attitude, integrity, leadership, service) that would contribute to the information field. Applicants should ask their references to return the recommendation letter to the applicant in an envelope, which must be sealed and signed across the seal (back flap) by the reference. Do NOT open the envelope. Submit the sealed recommendations with your other application materials.
  • A statement (250-500 words) describing why the applicant is interested in the intended program of study and career expectations from the professional degree.
  • A current resume.

The Admissions Committee will review the required documents to provide an over-all assessment of the applicant's likelihood of successful completion of the intended program of study.

Admission to any of the department's graduate programs is contingent upon positive faculty evaluation of a graduate student's academic history, professional or scholarly attributes, performance in real or simulated professional situations, and subjective appraisal of the student's potential. A student may be denied admission to a graduate program for deficiencies in any of these areas. If, in the professional judgment of the faculty, a student's application materials suggest behavior that may be regarded as harmful to patrons, unethical, or unprofessional, he or she may be denied admission.

Applicants may be asked for a formal interview with the Admissions Committee.

Prior to being admitted to the program, students may take up to 9 credits on a part-time, non-matriculated basis. (Taking such courses does not give the applicant an advantage in the application process.) The recommended courses to choose from are the following core courses:

  • ILS 501 - Introduction to Information Science and Technology
  • ILS 503 - Foundations of Librarianship
  • ILS 504 - Reference and Information Resources and Services
  • ILS 506 - Information Analysis and Organization

ILS 501 and ILS 503 must be completed successfully before either ILS 504 or ILS 506 may be taken.

Students in the school media certification program are allowed to enroll in only two non-ILS professional education courses prior to being fully matriculated into the certification program.

Prior to being admitted to the Sixth Year Professional Diploma program, students may take up to 9 credits on a part-time, non-matriculated basis.

Computer Skills Prerequisite

The Department assumes that students have basic computer skills, abilities, and knowledge of the type that are normally acquired through a college-level computer literacy course. The skills, abilities, and knowledge encompass the use of word processing, email, and web-browser software and a basic understanding of computer hardware, software and telecommunications capabilities. Some familiarity with personal computer operating systems and interfaces is also assumed.

The University standard for productivity software is Microsoft Offi ce. Students may obtain a copy of Offi ce from the SCSU IT Help Desk. Other software may be acceptable in specifi c courses with faculty approval.
 

Updated from the 2009-2010 Graduate Catalog