How to Apply

Requirements

Students are admitted to the Program in the fall & spring semesters. Applicants must hold a (4-year) bachelor's degree (B.A. or B.S.) from an accredited college or university in any major. Evidence of above average scholastic ability and promise for successful graduate study, shown by graduation with a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or higher is also required.

Applicants interested in pursuing a dual degree must submit separate applications to each program; entry requirements for both graduate programs must be met and both programs must be started in the same semester (except for Law). Consider, also, that while LIS accepts new students in fall and spring semesters, other programs may only accept new students in the fall.

In addition to the Graduate Admissions Application & academic transcripts, the Program requires an Applicant Information Form, two UHM LIS Recommendation Forms, and a Statement of Objectives.

The Statement of Objectives serves as a means of judging the applicant's writing ability and must be in essay form between 500 and 1,000 words long. When crafting your statement, please consider the mission of the Program and indicate why you believe that the Program and its areas of specialization are a good match for your particular background, experience, professional interests, and personal passions and aspirations. Your statement should also include any additional information that may aid the admissions committee in evaluating your preparation and your aptitude for graduate study in the Program. Your name and the words "Statement of Objectives" must appear at the top of each page in the essay.

Application Deadlines

The deadline for application forms and all accompanying documents to be received by the LIS Program office is April 1 for the fall semester, and November 1 for the spring semester (preferred deadline for spring semester international admissions is September 1). Unless otherwise stated, all application materials must be received by the Program office no later than 3:00 P.M. HST.

Because it may take several weeks for the UH Mānoa Graduate Division to evaluate and forward the graduate admissions application and transcripts to the LIS Program, applicants should apply sooner rather than later to ensure that all documents arrive at the Program office prior to the application deadline.

Applicants whose materials are received after the deadline will be considered at the discretion of the LIS admissions committee. To check the status of your application materials, send email to LISinfo@hawaii.edu.

Application Submission Checklist

Follow these instructions carefully; applications that are incomplete will not be considered by the LIS admissions committee. Once materials have been submitted for a specific semester, applications cannot be deferred to a later semester; those applicants who apply but change their minds and wish to be considered for a later semester must reapply.
  1. Complete the UH Mānoa Graduate Admissions Application and pay the application fee. (IMPORTANT: Be sure to select the Masters of Library & Information Science (MLISc) degree option; NOT Graduate Certificate).
  2. Send official transcripts to the UH Mānoa Graduate Division directly from the issuing institution(s). Provide copies of academic transcripts from each post-secondary institution attended, including any study abroad or exchange programs, summer programs, and non-degree work and extension programs. Note: for course work completed at any University of Hawaii campus (including community colleges), transcripts are not required.
  3. Graduate Record Examination scores are not required by the LIS Program. However, the UH Mānoa Graduate Division does require GRE results if at least 25% of your courses were taken at a "non-traditional" U.S. college or university that does not assign numeric or letter grades.
  4. Submit only the following documents via the Graduate Application Supplemental Documents Upload website:
    • Statement of Objectives as a PDF formatted document.
    • Two completed Recommendation Forms (fillable PDF document). Applicants must complete the first section before providing the form to their references, who should be faculty members, librarians, and/or employers. Supplemental letters of reference that expand upon the information provided in the Recommendation Form are appreciated, but not required. Please submit only two recommendation forms; additional forms will not be considered.
    • One completed Applicant Information Form (fillable PDF document).
    • Optional résumé as a PDF formatted document 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.

Once accepted, new students must attend the LIS New Student Orientation the week before the start of the semester they are accepted.

For assistance with the Graduate Application Supplemental Documents Upload website, please contact the UH Mānoa Graduate Division. A video tutorial is also available at https://manoa.hawaii.edu/graduate/content/submitting-your-application

International Applicants

Prior to applying, international applicants should thoroughly review the International Admissions information at the UH Mānoa Graduate Division website for additional requirements.

International applicants must show proof of sufficient funding to cover all educational and living expenses, including expenses for any accompanying spouse or children. For questions regarding this requirement, contact the UH Mānoa Graduate Division.

Transfer Credits

Students who were in an LIS degree program at other ALA-accredited library programs may, in special circumstances, petition to transfer up to 9 credit hours toward their UH Mānoa MLISc degree, provided the work to be credited has been completed within the previous five years. Such requests must be included when applying to the Program.

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 to third parties without this authorization.