Admission Information

Admissions Criteria

Applicants are admitted to the Program on a regular or special basis depending on their preparedness for graduate study in the Program.

  • Undergraduate Degree
    A (four-year) bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in any major. There are no course prerequisites to enter the LIS Program as long as the applicant has a bachelor's degree.
  • Scholastic Ability
    Evidence of above average scholastic ability and promise for successful graduate study, shown by graduation with a "B" average or higher.
  • Professional Promise
    Evidence of professional promise as shown in two letters of reference submitted with official UHM MLISc Recommendation Forms (see 7. below).
  • Graduate Record Examination
    GRE General Test scores are recommended but no longer required. Subject area questions not required.
  • Computer Literacy
    Basic computer literacy as evidenced from computer courses for credit, non-credit workshops, or a non-classroom environment.
  • International Students
    TOEFL: Test of English as a Foreign Language
    English language competency as evident by a minimum score of 600.

Special emphasis is placed on recruiting from Asian and Pacific nations because of the Program's location and the University's interest in strengthening ties with the region. About 10 percent of the student body is from this area.

Graduates are expected to assume a leadership role in their country upon program completion, and are accordingly granted an exchange visitor visa valid for the period required to complete the MLISc Program. Applicants from countries other than the U.S. or Canada should plan to spend at least two years to complete their programs, make cultural and educational adjustments, and, if necessary, increase English-language proficiency.

Back to Top

Application Procedures

Follow instructions carefully. Incomplete applications are not processed.
These instructions for application differ slightly from those in the instruction sheets provided by the Graduate Division that are attached to the application forms. Follow these instructions carefully; applications that are incomplete or lacking the application fee are not processed.

The following documents must be mailed directly to:

Graduate Admissions Office
University of Hawaii
2540 Maile Way, Spalding Hall 354
Honolulu, HI 96822
Phone: (808) 956-8544
Email: admissions@grad.hawaii.edu
  1. Application form:
    The application form for the University of Hawaii is available in PDF format. You will need to have the Adobe Acrobat Reader to view the document.

    2. Complete, sign, and date. List all colleges ever attended, including non-degree studies. Failure to do so can result in denial of admission.

  2. Official original transcripts from all institutions listed in the application. They must bear the official seal and the school registrar's signature. For non-English language transcripts, two original language transcripts and two official original translated transcripts in English must be provided. Any unusual transcript records (i.e., low grades, probations, incompletes) must be addressed in the Statement of Objectives. Photocopies, unsealed transcripts, and personal copies are not accepted.
  3. Application fee
    4. Back to Top
  4. GRE scores: (recommended but not required)
    Applicants who earned their undergraduate degree in the U.S. are encouraged to take the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) General Test. the LIS Program bases admission decisions on several factors, including reference letters, Statement of Intent, transcripts, as well as official GRE scores when available.

    Following Graduate Division requirements, you must submit a GRE if at least 25% of your classes were taken at a “non-traditional” university that does not assign numeric or letter grades.

    Scores are accepted up to five years after the testing date. To obtain information about the GRE, phone 1 (800) GRE-CALL, or go to their Web site at: http://www.gre.org

    5. In addition, the LIS Program requires the following documents. Mail these directly to:

    Library and Information Science Program
    University of Hawaii
    2550 McCarthy Mall, Hamilton Library, Room 2
    Honolulu, HI 96822
    Phone: (808) 956-7321
    Email: slis@hawaii.edu

  5. Statement of Objectives: This statement serves as a means of judging the applicant's writing ability and must be in essay form between 500 and 1,000 words long. The applicant need not use the form provided in the packet; however, the applicant's name and the words "Statement of Objectives" should appear on the top of each page of the essay.
  6. Two completed official UHM MLISc Recommendation Forms (clicking this link opens a PDF document) completed by faculty members, librarians, and/or employers sent directly to LIS Program. Applicants should complete the first section before giving the form to references. These letters are to be sealed by the referees and mailed directly to: LIS Admissions, Library & Information Science Program, 2550 McCarthy Mall, Honolulu, HI 96822. Inform referees that Program policy allows students to view their personal folders, which includes these letters, unless the applicant waived the right to examine the recommendation form.
  7. Computer Literacy Checklist (clicking this link opens a word DOC):
    Applicants are expected to have basic computer literacy skills because of their use in the Program's curriculum. If a transcript does not show any computer-related course work, the application should indicate in the Statement of Objectives what has been done to fulfill this requirement (e.g., computer workshops, on-the-job training, etc.). Please fill out the checklist and turn in with your application. This is a page with links designed to help you meet the computer literacy requirements.
  8. LIS Applicant Information Form (clicking this link opens a word DOC)
  9. Resume (optional): A resume or curriculum vitae may augment the Statement of Objectives, especially for applicants who have been out of the academic environment for a number of years or whose academic record is marginal.

Authorization/Confidentiality:
Written consent in the application is required for those wishing to designate a friend or relative who can obtain application status information. LIS Program personnel will not disclose any information without this authorization.

Interview:
Interviews are not required as part of the admissions procedure and carry no weight in the decision-making process. However, applicants are encouraged to phone or visit the Program Chair.

Back to Top

International Applicants

The TOEFL exam must be taken by applicants whose first language is not English - however, those international applicants who have received within the last five years a bachelor's degree or an advanced degree from an accredited/recognized college in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand, Singapore or Australia are exempt from this test. Minimum score required is 600, and the exam must be taken by December for fall semester application; May for the spring. TOEFL scores are accepted up to two years after the testing date. GRE scores are not needed for those taking the TOEFL, but an oral and written English language proficiency exam is required prior to registration. Additional study is required for those whose test results show deficiency. Recommendations from the English Language Institute, the on-campus testing agency, are mandatory.

International applicants must already have an undergraduate degree and have taken the TOEFL before applying; neither can be pending. Applications will not be processed without these.

For other admission requirements for international applicants, go to the Graduate Division: admissions requirements page.

Back to Top

Application Deadlines

Application forms and accompanying documents must be sent to the program by April 1 for the fall semester, and November 1 for the spring. There is no summer admission but a student may start in the summer as an unclassified student if accepted for the fall.

International applicants are urged to apply well before the deadlines owing to the complexity of foreign admissions processing.

Back to Top

Orientation Program

The mandatory new-student orientation program is held the week before classes begin in August and January to coincide with class registration and provides information in the use of the University's libraries and other facilities, academic regulations and procedures, as well as helping new students become acquainted with fellow students and faculty. The program is planned and presented by Hui Dui, the LIS student association, in cooperation with the Program. It is followed by individual academic advising by the faculty for class preregistration. Incoming students who attend Orientation have first choice in registering for courses.

Back to Top