Online Master's Degree in Library & Information Science

iSchool (College of Information Science and Technology) Frequently Asked Questions

Are Drexel's iSchool (College of Information Science and Technology) programs accredited? 

Yes. Drexel’s LIS degree is fully accredited by the American Library Association (ALA). Drexel University is also regionally accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges & Secondary Schools (the same accreditation as Carnegie Mellon, Columbia, Cornell, New York University, Princeton, Yale and the University of Pennsylvania).

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Do you accept transfer credits into the graduate iSchool programs? 

Yes. Previously attended courses must meet the following guidelines to be eligible for transfer:

• No more than 3 courses (9 credits) can be transferred in to a degree program or awarded as Credit for Work Experience.
• Course completion date must not be more than 5 years ago.
• Grade must be "B" or better to be acceptable for transfer.
• Courses can only be transferred from an accredited graduate degree program.
• Credits, but not quality points, will transfer.
• Please see all criteria on the Request for Transfer of Graduate Credit form, below.

A 3 credit course taken at an institution following a semester schedule will be transferred in as a 3 credit course at Drexel University, regardless of the difference between the length of semesters or terms.

To apply for credit transfer: 

If you are a prospective student: submit a course description with a syllabus for each course and the approval form along with your completed admission file. Contact your admission counselor with questions. If you are a current student: Contact your academic advisor. For more information regarding this policy and to access the appropriate form, please visit http://www.cis.drexel.edu/forms/Transfer_of_GraduateCredit.pdf.

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Do you award credit for work experience? 

Yes. Credit for work experience consists of the following guidelines:

• Credit for work experience is not granted to dual degree students, certificate students, students who have any outstanding incompletes or to students who are on probation.
• Credits only apply to free electives courses.
• Credit will only be granted for relevant professional work experience.
• Work completed as a graduate assistant, during a graduate internship, or during undergraduate study is not applicable.
• Credit is not given for previous graduate degrees; however students may be eligible to transfer courses into the degree program. See Approval of Transfer Credit form above.
• Credit will not be given for work experience accumulated throughout the degree program. It will only be considered for work experience received prior to starting the degree program.
• Students who are approved to receive credit for related professional work experience cannot receive a tuition discount for joining a professional organization that will, in sum, discount their total tuition more than 20%.

For more information regarding this policy and to access the appropriate form, please visit:

http://www.ischool.drexel.edu/CS/GraduatePrograms/CWE/iSchool 

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Is the GRE required for admission?  If so, what is the minimum score required? 

GRE scores 5 years old or less are a required part of our admissions process for all iSchool programs (except those applying to the Certificate or Post Masters programs). However, we offer a preliminary GRE waiver for students who have a GPA of 3.2 or higher for a conferred undergraduate or graduate degree. The 3.2 GPA could be cumulative or attained in the second half of coursework of the completed degree program. This is a departmental decision. The preliminary GRE waiver review does not need to be requested by iSchool applicants.

We have found that scores at the 50th percentile or higher on the verbal, quantitative and analytic tests are generally associated with success in the program. It is important to keep in mind that the Admission Review Board looks at every application holistically and GRE test results are only one of several indicators of acceptance. If the GRE is required, it will be the only standardized text considered. The GMAT or LSAT cannot be used in place of GRE.

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If I do not fulfill all of the Admissions Criteria, do I still have a chance at being accepted? 

Perhaps, the main requirements for admission to our MS programs are that you have a bachelor's degree from an accredited university, a 3.0 GPA in your completed degree and GRE scores in the 50 percentile in all three sections, if required. Generally, MSSE applicants must have a Software Engineering education to be considered for admission. Since we review each application on a case-by-case basis and take all levels of education and experience into consideration, it is possible that we may offer applicants provisional admission at the college’s discretion.

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How does someone with an International degree go about applying to the online graduate iSchool programs? 

In addition to the general admissions requirements, any applicant who does not hold a completed degree from a U.S. institution (Bachelor’s or higher) must take the Test of English as a foreign language and have an official score report (indicating a minimum score of 100 iBT) sent directly from Educational Testing Service (ETS) to Drexel University as part of a completed admission application. TOEFL scores must be less than two years old in order to be considered. Information regarding the TOEFL can be obtained by contacting:

Educational Testing Service
Princeton, NJ 08541
609-921-9000, or 609-771-7100
http://www.toefl.org 

Applicants who have a degree from non U.S. institutions are required to submit a World Education Service (WES) course-by-course transcript evaluation. Applicants are responsible for contacting World Education Service for evaluation of their foreign transcripts and are responsible for supplying all necessary documentation:

World Education Service, Inc. (WES)
P.O. Box 745
Old Chelsea Station, New York, NY 10113-0745
212-966-6311
http://www.wes.org 

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How long does it take to complete an iSchool online master's program? 

The time to complete each program varies from student to student.

The length is determined by your status; part-time (1-2 classes a term) or full-time (3 classes a term) and how many credits are required to complete the program. Drexel operates on a quarter system. We have four 10 week terms in a year (Fall, Spring, Winter and Summer).

• If you are a part-time student taking 2 classes a term for all 4 terms in the year, you can finish a 15 course Master’s program in 2 years or 8 terms.
• If you are a full-time student taking 3 classes a term for all 4 terms in the year, you can finish a 15 course Master’s program in 1.25 years or 5 terms.

Generally, students take 1-2 courses per quarter because of family and work commitments. Students have seven years to complete a graduate level program.

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Can I take one or two classes from one of the iSchool curricula without being fully enrolled in the program? 

The College of Information Science and Technology does not allow students to take courses under the non-matriculated status (non-degree seeking).

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Are there any on-campus requirements for these programs? 

No, students are not required to travel to campus for the graduate iSchool programs, though they are welcome to take classes face-to-face if they choose and the college schedule allows for it.

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How many hours per week are generally spent on coursework for the online graduate iSchool programs? 

Based on student feedback and faculty guidance, students spend about 9-12 hours per week, per class on online coursework, readings, and exams.

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I want to be a school librarian. What program should I apply to? 

Drexel's MS in Library and Information Science is the most appropriate program. Specific requirements to become a school librarian differ from school to school. Some schools might require, in addition to your Master's degree, a teaching certificate. Keep in mind that this program does not offer a media specialist certification. Please contact the school where you plan to work and ask what credentials they require.

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Are there any available tuition discounts for employees or members of partnering corporations or associations? 

Yes. Drexel has a large network of partners all over the country who benefit from reduced tuition rates. To find out if your employer or association is one of Drexel's partners, please contact us toll-free at 877-215-0009 or via email at info@drexel.com.

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Do I need a certain level of computer skills to be successful in the program?

Please use the computer skills prerequisites evaluation to measure your technical proficiency for this program. There is no reply needed. It is for self evaluation purposes only.

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