Application
The Admissions Committee of the School of Library and Information
Science reviews each applicant's entire record. The committee considers
academic performance, background, talent and other attributes that are
needed by the information professions. Readiness to engage in academic
work, analytic and conceptual thinking ability, strong writing skills
and a commitment to the application of new techniques and concepts to
the information professions are also considered. These qualities are
exemplified in the following components of the application:
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Completed Application for Admission to Graduate Studies, which can be found at http://admissions.cua.edu/application, accompanied by a $55 nonrefundable application fee.
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A GPA of 3.0 or above (on a 4.0 scale) for an undergraduate degree
is preferred. Academic work at the undergraduate level should reflect a
broad general education from a regionally accredited college or
university. The transcript sent must show coursework completed, grades
obtained and the basis of grading in effect at the institution. It
should be sent by the institution from which you graduated directly to
the Office of Graduate Admissions, The Catholic University of America,
Washington, D.C. 20064.
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We welcome students holding advanced degrees. Admission is based on
the same criteria as for those without graduate work. We urge you to
see the statement below titled Previous Graduate Degree.
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We need test scores only from students whose undergraduate GPA is
under 3.0. Those who earned less than a 3.0 in undergraduate work can
demonstrate to the admission committee that they are qualified for
academic work by earning a combined score of 1,000 on the verbal and
quantitative sections of the Graduate Record Examination, sent directly
by the Education Testing Service. (The ETS code for CUA is 5104.) It is
important for you to know that there are some university scholarships
that you can compete for only if you have submitted GRE scores.
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A short (fewer than 500 words) personal statement about how your
current and/or past academic and work experiences, including volunteer
work, have influenced your ability to become a leader in the
information professions.
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Three letters of reference from persons who are familiar with your
employment (paid or volunteer) or academic success should be sent
directly to the graduate admissions office by the author.
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A pre-admission interview may be requested by the school after all written material has been reviewed.
International Students
Applicants from non-English-speaking nations whose previous
education has not been at institutions of higher education in the
United States or other English-speaking nations are required to certify
their proficiency in English by submitting scores from the Test of
English as a Foreign Language, TOEFL or the International English
Language Testing System, IELTS. A minimum score on the TOEFL of 580
(paper-based test) or 237 (computer-based test) is expected. On the
IELTS an Overall Band score of 6.5 or higher is required. The school
may recommend that the student take advantage of intensive English
instruction on campus either as part of the admission process or after
a campus interview. International applicants are not required to take
the Graduate Record Examination.
All of the above materials should be sent to:
The Catholic University of America
Office of Graduate Admissions
Washington, DC 20064
Application Deadlines
To ensure consideration, we recommend the following dates for applications:
| April 1 |
Applicants for starting in Summer Sessions |
| Aug. 1 |
Applicants for fall admission |
| Nov. 1 |
Applicants for spring admission |
For the most current information on registering for visiting student
status or for post-master's study, please call the School of Library
and Information Science at 202-319-5085.
Financial Aid
University Financial Aid
While much financial aid available to students is administered by
the School of Library and Information Science (see Special Scholarships
below), students should apply directly to the university Office of
Financial Aid for loans to fund their education and for any need-based
financial aid administered by the university (e.g., the campus
work-study program) for which they might qualify. All documents
intended to satisfy requirements for such financial aid should be sent
directly to:
The Catholic University of America
Office of Financial Aid
Washington, D.C. 20064
202-319-5307
For more information see Financial Aid in these Announcements or call the financial aid office at 202-319-5307.
Special Scholarships
In addition to scholarships identified in the Financial Aid section of the Announcements,
the students at the School of Library and Information Science are
welcome to apply to the dean's office for consideration for
scholarships distributed by the school. The application letter should
include your permission to review your admission materials. The dean's
office nominates students for university scholarships as described
earlier in these Announcements. There are several one-half
tuition scholarships for study in the School of Library and Information
Science. Students who want to be considered for university scholarships
must submit the General Aptitude Test scores from the Graduate Record
Exam even if the scores were not needed for admission.
Additional scholarships from endowments that have been contributed
to the School of Library and Information Science are administered
through the school. The school's Rovelstad Scholarship provides a
year's tuition to a continuing part-time student who is, like most
financial aid recipients, selected on the basis of merit. Other such
scholarships typically are granted in amounts ranging from $200 to
$1,000 as funds become available.
The school also makes funds available on a short-term basis from a loan fund administered by the school.
An up-to-date compilation of sources of aid is available directly
from SCOLE, American Library Association, 50 East Huron Street,
Chicago, IL 60611. A limited number of loans are given each year by the
local chapters of the Special Libraries Association and the District of
Columbia Library Association and other professional groups. For
information concerning the availability of scholarships and loans,
contact the Office of the Associate Dean.
Graduate Library Professional Program and Scholarship
The Graduate Library Preprofessional Program, GLP, administered by
The Catholic University of America Libraries with the cooperation of
the School of Library and Information Science, provides selected
students in the library and information science program with
preprofessional work experience in the university libraries. The
library staff includes several GLP positions in the university
libraries. These become available in January, May or September, as
those holding the positions complete their degree programs. A similar
program is administered by the Judge Kathryn J. DuFour Law Library of
the Columbus School of Law.
The GLP Program allows students to complete their degree
requirements within a two-year period and combines full-time, salaried
work with part-time study. Participants receive the Graduate Library
Preprofessional Scholarship, which provides six credit hours of tuition
per semester.
Candidates for the GLP positions should be new students officially
admitted to the Master of Science in Library Science program. Full
details and applications may be obtained from the administrative
office, The Catholic University of America, 315 Mullen Library,
Washington, D.C. 20064, 202-319-5055.
For more information about GLP positions in the law library, contact
the circulation librarian or head, technical services, The Catholic
University of America, Judge Kathryn J. Dufour Law Library, Columbus
School of Law, Washington, D.C. 20064, 202- 319-4331 or 202-319-5547.
Special Tuition
A Catholic School Teacher's Tuition Waiver for one half of the
student's tuition is available to fulltime teachers, administrators,
librarians and guidance counselors who are employed by a Catholic
elementary or secondary school.
The School of Library and Information Science is able to offer
students who work with the following organizations special tuition
discounts:
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Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (public libraries)
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Loudoun County Public Schools
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District of Columbia Public Schools
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Library of Congress
For further information contact the SLIS Office.
Degree Requirements
A total of 36 semester hours of graduate credit is required for
receipt of the master's degree, for which 30 semester hours must be
taken in the School of Library and Information Science at The Catholic
University of America and completed with a minimum grade point average
of 3.0 (B).
The university normally expects that requirements for master's degrees will be completed within three years.
Computer Competency Requirement
Competence in basic computer applications (e-mail, word processing,
use of the Internet, use of library online catalogs) is required for
students in library and information science. Many of our entering
students are already proficient. For those who are not, a series of
workshops are offered on Saturdays at the beginning of each semester.
These workshops are free, and cover a series of topics (including both
background information and hands-on experience) from the basics of
computing at SLIS to the creation of Web pages. Students are expected
to be familiar with the information covered in the workshops; this
material will not be taught in regular library and information science
classes.
Core Courses
All students are required to complete with a passing grade the
following core courses: CLSC/LSC 551, 553, 555, and 557. These courses
cover the central elements of the curriculum: acquisition and
organization of information, retrieval and dissemination of
information, technological applications, information sources and
services, and the important policies, standards and ethical issues
facing information professionals. A core course requirement may only be
waived if the student has comparable transfer credit. Students are
urged to complete the core courses within the first 18 semester hours
of coursework.
Elective Courses
The school offers a rich array of specialized courses and
joint-degree programs. Students will work with their academic advisers
to design a sequence of courses appropriate to their professional
objectives.
Comprehensive Examination
Candidates for the M.S. in L.S. degree must pass a comprehensive
examination. Students may not register for this examination earlier
than the final semester of coursework. Registration for the examination
requires a minimum GPA of 3.0 for courses taken in the School of
Library and Information Science, with no provisional reports of
incomplete (I) remaining on the student's record.
The school sends written notification to students informing them of
the results of the comprehensive examination. Those who fail must
retake the entire examination in a subsequent term. Candidates who fail
a second time are no longer eligible to receive a master's degree.
The comprehensive examination tests a common knowledge base that
will qualify the candidate to perform professionally and provide a
foundation for the individual to acquire greater expertise as needed.
Questions from former semesters and more details are available on the school's Web site.
Courses at Off-Campus Sites
Through an arrangement with the State Council of Higher Education
for Virginia, the School of Library and Information Science currently
offers courses leading to the M.S. in L.S. degree in various locations
in Fairfax and Loudoun counties and in Richmond, Va.
The school also offers courses at the Library of Congress in
Washington, D.C. These courses are open to nonemployees of the Library
of Congress on a space-available basis.
All students should expect to earn credits on the campus of The
Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., as not all courses
can be available at an off-site location. Information about off-campus
programs and specific course offerings for a given semester is
available from the school office and the Web site. In fall, spring and
summer sessions, SLIS usually offers two to four courses at each
off-campus site. The school also offers a few online courses most
semesters and a few hybrid courses in which online material substitutes
for some class meetings.
Grading
Letter grades are given to students taking courses for credit unless
these courses are graded "pass-fail." The quality of a student's
performance in a particular course, including such factors as ability
to meet deadlines and participation in class discussion, is the only
basis for a grade. Faculty will provide feedback to students evaluating
the performance on which a grade is based.
Students are cautioned that any grade below a full B (3.0) is
considered marginal in the School of Library and Information Science
programs, and grades of C are viewed with grave concern. Students
receiving two grades of C or a single grade of F will be dismissed from
the program. Students receiving low grades should consult with
instructors and advisers immediately about ways of improving their
academic performance.
Students at the School of Library and Information Science are
expected to be aware of and adhere to the information in the General
Section of these Announcements on grades and grade reports
(including incompletes, unethical practices, academic honesty, change
of grade, dismissal) and change of enrollment (including leave of
absence, change of course, withdrawal from a course and withdrawal from
the university).
Incompletes
A provisional report of I (incomplete) may be given to a student
who, for legitimate reasons, has not completed course requirements,
provided that work already completed is of passing quality. Students
receiving more than one incomplete may not take further coursework
while more than one provisional report remains on their record.
Students granted provisional grades of I (incomplete) must complete
all work and have permanent grades reported to the registrar by the
midpoint of the next academic term (i.e., the midterm date specified in
the registrar's academic calendar), whether the student is enrolled
during that term or not.
If by that date the incomplete (I) is not replaced by a passing
grade, the grade of F (failure) will be recorded for the course. Any
request for an extension of this deadline must be made in advance of
the deadline and approved by the dean as well as by the instructor.
Students are reminded that grades of F normally result in dismissal from the program.
Independent Study
Academic credit may be earned for concentrated study in a subject or
problem to meet a student's special need or interest. Students enroll
in a formal course (LSC 891-902) and work under the direction of a
tenure-track faculty member. Arrangements must be made with the
instructor well in advance of registration. Except in unusual
circumstances, Independent Study should be taken in fall or spring
semester, not in summer.
Practicum
Through its practicum, the school offers a unique opportunity to
gain professional experience in one of the many libraries in the
Washington metropolitan area. Students may earn three graduate credits
by working 120 hours under the supervision of a professional librarian
who is not their direct supervisor at their place of employment. Hours
of the practicum may be arranged at the mutual convenience of the
student and supervisor. A variety of public, academic, school and
government libraries, as well as special libraries and archives, have
served as practicum sites.
A student may usually take one practicum as part of the M.S. in L.S.
program. All students who are planning to work as school media
specialists must plan to take a practicum (LSC 908) course. Further
details about the practicum and a partial list of previous sites are
available on the school's Web site or the practicum coordinator.
