Information and Library Science, MS
Empower communities, preserve knowledge and drive innovation in an ever-evolving world of information and library science.
Find Your Calling
The field of information is vast, and at GSE, you can tailor your studies to match your interests. Our fully accredited online master’s program in Information and Library Science qualifies you for careers in traditional libraries, as an archivist, or in other information-driven organizations. With both full-time and part-time options, you’ll have the flexibility to build a program that fits your life—anytime, anywhere.
Plugged In
By the time Ayiana Crabtree finished her first semester at GSE, she was fully immersed in everything the information and library science program had to offer. She was a graduate research assistant, president of UB’s Information Science Graduate Student Association, a volunteer, and—almost forgot—a student, too. She made the most of her (virtual) time at UB. The online nature of the program allowed her to divide her time in a way that enabled her to take on a lot of different activities outside of her courses.
Points of Distinction
Choose from eight specialized concentrations or joint-degree options in law or music librarianship. Whatever you study, you’ll have a chance to participate in practicums, special projects and directed study programs that provide real-world experience.
Your classes will be online, but you’ll hardly be remote. Student groups and chapter activities, departmental seminars and committees build a sense of community and provide networking opportunities.
GSE’s master’s program in information and library science is fully accredited by the American Library Association, a designation recognized by employers—and one that makes your degree more valuable.
Program Summary
| Academic credential granted | Master of Science (MS) |
|---|---|
| Credits required for completion | 36 |
| Time to completion | 4 full-time semesters |
| Course delivery | Online |
| Application deadline | Fall: May 1 Spring: Nov. 1 |
Required Core Courses (9 credits)
- LIS 507 Information Life Cycle
- LIS 508 Information Users and Uses
- LIS 575 Introduction to Research Methods
Concentrations are available within this program. You can prepare to be generalists or choose courses with concentrations in one or more areas:
- Information management
- Information organization
- Information services
- Information storage and retrieval
- Law librarianship, with a concurrent MS in information and library science and JD degrees
- Music librarianship, which combines MS in information and library science and master's in music
- Public or academic libraries
- Special libraries including those serving business, museums and law firms
Standardized Testing No Longer Required
In an effort to make the application process more equitable, the GRE/MAT is no longer required for admissions consideration. If you still plan to take the GRE/MAT exam, you can send your scores through the testing agency, and they will automatically be added to your application; however, they are not required for admission consideration to this program.
You must have received an undergraduate bachelor degree with a GPA of 3.0 or better by the intended beginning semester. Applications with lower GPA’s may still be considered and granted a “conditional admission” (see below for more information).
Submit your completed online application, which includes:
- Application fee: A $50 non-refundable application fee, submitted electronically through UB's ePayment system.
- Contact information for at least three individuals who will each be asked to provide an electronic recommendation letter.
- Unofficial transcripts from all colleges attended. (UB transcripts are automatically submitted for current UB students and alumni.)
- Statement of education and career goals: A detailed statement describing your reasons for pursuing a graduate degree in the information and library studies field. Include your professional goals and objectives and indicate any area of special interest within the field.
Conditional Admission Status: You may be admitted conditionally to this MS program when you do not meet all admission requirements (most often because of an undergraduate GPA below 3.0) but your personal statements, transcripts, entrance examination scores, employment history and letters of reference demonstrate potential for success. At the end of the semester in which you have attempted 9 credit hours in the program — including two core courses (e.g., LIS 507, LIS 508, LIS 575) (courses with a grade of R/resigned do not count as attempted, but I and U do) — your academic standing will be reviewed by IS staff. At the time of the review, if you meet all the conditions of good academic standing and have no incomplete or unsatisfactory grades, conditional status is automatically lifted and you are considered to be in good academic standing.
Former/Maiden Name: Please provide us with your former/maiden name if you have one. When requesting transcripts, please ask the sending institution to indicate your current name and former/maiden name.
Admission Decision: The admission decision will be communicated to you as soon as review is complete. The decision is based on a number of factors and is the result of a thorough and deliberate process. All decisions are final and cannot be appealed.
In-State Residency Tuition
In order to qualify for the in-state residency tuition rate, you must provide residency documentation indicating you have lived in New York State (NYS) 12 months before your semester start date.
If accepted, you will need to upload three documents to qualify for the in-state tuition rate. See Required Documents for Residency Application for more information.
International Applicant Additional Requirements
- Official original proof of your degree
- A copy of your passport biographical page
- Official test scores—dated within two years of submitting your application—for either the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language), the IELTS (International English Language Testing System) Academic Test, the PTE (Pearson Test of English) Academic, or DET (Duolingo English Test).
- TOEFL minimum score is 250 for computer-based test, 600 for paper-based test and 79 for internet-based test
- IELTS Academic Test minimum score is 6.5 overall
- PTE minimum score is 55 overall
- DET minimum score is 120 overall
- Financial documentation: International graduate applicants must document their ability to pay for all costs incurred while studying in the U.S.
- An official bank statement
All financial forms and supporting documentation with required signatures must be uploaded with your application and dated within one year of your intended enrollment date.
Career settings include:
- Information-intensive Organizations
- Traditonal Libraries
