Search
Southern Home PageAbout Southern Connecticut State UniversityAcademicsAdmissionsStudent LifeAthleticsEmployment at Southern
photo bar
Southern Connecticut State University LibrarySouthern DirectoryCalendar of EventsMySCSUContact Us
Department Banner

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

Applicants for admissions must present, in one packet, a completed application and credentials by the deadlines. Refer to "Application Deadline." Only complete applicant packets will be reviewed by the ILS Admissions Committee. Students who apply by the March 1 deadline can expect a letter with the Committee's decision on or about April 1; students who apply by the September 1 deadline can expect a letter with the Committee's decision on or about October 1.

The admissions application file must provide the following documents:

  • A completed Graduate School application form (available online), online application verification letter and application fee [NOTE: the application form, verification letter, and application fee should be mailed to Dean, School of Graduate Studies, Southern Connecticut State University, 501 Crescent Street, New Haven CT 06515-1355] [IN ADDITION: please include a copy of the Graduate School application in the packet of additional application materials mailed to the ILS Department];
  • Official transcripts of all college-level work [NOTE: each college or university should mail the official transcript to Dean, School of Graduate Studies, Southern Connecticut State University, 501 Crescent Street, New Haven CT 06515-1355] [IN ADDITION: please include an official copy of each transcript in the packet of additional application materials mailed to the ILS Department; request each college or university mail a sealed, official copy to you.  Do NOT open the envelope. Submit the sealed official transcript with your other application materials];
  • 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
  • Graduate Record Exam scores (except for sixth-year applicants); and
  • Praxis I scores (for School Media Specialists Certification applicants only). On July 1, 2007, the Connecticut State Board 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). See Praxis I Waiver Criteria for minimum standards for an academic skills assessment waiver using the SAT, ACT, GRE, or PAA scores.]

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

NOTE: Applying to ILS is a two-level process: department and Graduate School. The Graduate School determines whether an applicant meets Graduate School requirements for admission to the Graduate School. ILS makes a recommendation to the Graduate School for admission to an ILS program. Although ILS sends a departmental letter of acceptance recommendation to applicants, no student is officially accepted into the Graduate School until he or she receives a letter of acceptance and a signed planned  program of study from the Dean or Associate Dean of the Graduate School. ILS includes a planned program of study form with the departmental letter sent to recommended applicants. The planned program of study form must be completed and returned to ILS promptly. The completed planned program of study must accompany the department's recommendation to the Graduate School. 


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:

 

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 overall 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 MLS 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 Office. Students may obtain a copy of Office from the SCSU IT Help Desk.  Other software may be acceptable in specific courses with faculty approval.
 

Updated from the 2008-2009 Graduate Catalog