School of Library and Information Management (SLIM) Applying for Master of Library Science

Required Application Materials

• Complete the Graduate School Application

*In completing the application, students may choose a concentration to supplement their MLS. A concentration is not required. If a concentration is not desired, leave the concentration section blank on the application.*Additional information – Graduate School Admissions Requirements and Application

• Submit official transcripts from all college/universities attended. Transcripts are considered official when they arrive at the Graduate School in a sealed envelope from the issuing institution or are received through a secure electronic transcript service to gradinfo@emporia.edu. If the official transcripts need to be mailed, send to:
  • Emporia State University
    Graduate School
    Campus Box 4003z
    Emporia State University
    1 Kellogg Circle
    Emporia, KS 6680-5415
• Grade Point Average (GPA) requirements for admission.
  • A minimum 3.0 GPA in the last 60 semesters hours of study or an overall GPA of a minimum of 3.0 for a completed master’s degree.
  • Probationary admission to the Graduate School is permitted if the student has a GPA between 2.2 and 2.99 in the last 60 hours of study.
• ID Verification is required for all graduate students in a distance program (either off-campus or online). ID Verification may be uploaded through the Graduate Application Portal.
• A current resume.
• Two letters of recommendation or the names and email addresses of two recommenders.
• Statement of Purpose – Please complete the following prompts to create your statement of purpose.

Format:

• 12-point Font – Arial Preferred
• Double Spaced
• One-inch Margins
• Heading in upper right-hand corner – name, email address, and the semester you would like to begin your studies.

Part I - Limit to 500 words. Part I may also be used to apply for the Graduate School’s New Graduate Student Scholarship.

• Describe the experiences – academic, professional, and/or personal – that have shaped your desire to earn an asynchronous online MLS degree from ESU School of Library and Information Management and what being a librarian would mean to you and your professional goals.

Part II – Please respond to two of the following prompts. Limit to 250 words per prompt.

• Find a current job opening that you could see yourself pursuing upon completion of the MLS degree. What is the job and how will the MLS program prepare you for it?
• If you do not have experiences volunteering/working/interning in the field, how do you know a career in librarianships is a good fit for you?
• Librarians must be adaptable to a changing work environment and world. Describe a time when change impacted you. What was the outcome and what did you learn from the experience?
• How has a background, skills and/or experience prepared you to interact effectively with individuals of diverse communities and perspectives?

Additional information about the MLS program is available on the SLIM Master of Library Science Page.