Admissions Requirements
Application Deadlines
- Fall: July 1
- Spring: November 1
Admission to the Master of Science in Information is highly competitive. The decision is made based on a holistic review of the application, including:
- Minimum 3.0 upper-division Grade Point Average (on a 4.0 scale)
- The upper division GPA is comprised of the grades of the courses taken in the semester where the 60th credit hour is earned and beyond. This worksheet can help you determine your upper division GPA. You do not need to send us your calculated GPA.
- English Language Proficiency Exam Scores (international applicants only).
- The departmental minimum scores are as follows:
- TOEFL iBT: Minimum Total Score of 96
- IELTS: Minimum Total Score of 6.5
- Duolingo: Minimum Overall Score of 125
NOTE: If you have earned a bachelor’s degree or master’s degree from a U.S. institution, this requirement may be requested to be waived.
Application Requirements
To apply, you will need to submit the following:
- University Graduate Application and a $30 Application Fee online via the University Graduate Admissions Application Portal.
- Current Resume
- School of Information Departmental Application
- Statement of Purpose
Please discuss (in approximately 1 page, single-spaced) your motivation for graduate study in this field, your professional plans after completing this degree program, and how this degree program will help you achieve your goals. If there are additional details about your professional, academic, or personal history you wish to be considered as part of the application process, please include them in this document. Please note that while we recognize that AI-based assistance programs can be a valuable editing tool, we do require that application materials submitted be your own original content. The Statement of Purpose should be approximately 1 page in length, single-spaced, with 1-inch borders, and use 10–12-point sans serif font (e.g., Arial, Helvetica).
- English Language Proficiency Exam Scores (international applicants only).
- Official Transcripts
A copy of official transcripts from each college or university attended must be sent directly to the University. If you previously attended FSU, you do not need to submit an official FSU transcript. All official test scores and transcripts must be sent to:
Florida State University
Office of Graduate Admissions
222 South Copeland Street
Westcott Building, Room 314
Tallahassee, FL 32306-1410
If you attended a college or university located in the United States, you should be able to request an official electronic transcript from your institution to be sent directly to the Office of Graduate Admissions at graduateadmissions@fsu.edu.
The Florida State University Office of Graduate Admissions now requires a course-by-course credential evaluation for all applicants who have earned degrees from a non-U.S. institution. International and domestic applicants with degrees earned from non-U.S. institutions must submit their official transcripts to be evaluated through a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES): https://www.naces.org/members .
The Evaluation Company (formerly known as SpanTran), a NACES member company, has created a custom application for Florida State University that will make sure you select the right kind of evaluation at a discounted rate. The pathway will appear on checklist after submitting part 1 of the application. If you choose to use a NACES approved evaluator other than The Evaluation Company (SpanTran), please work with the evaluation agency to ensure that the evaluation provided is a course-by-course credential evaluation.
How to Check Your Application Status
The Online Status Check tool is where applicants can monitor the progress of their applications.
Juris Doctor/Master of Science Degree Requirements
The Juris Doctor/MS joint graduate pathway leads to both a Juris Doctor (JD) Degree from the FSU College of Law and a Master of Science Degree from the FSU School of Information. Graduates of this program will be particularly suited to work in law libraries and other organizations involved with the creation and dissemination of legal information. Students in the joint graduate pathway will receive academic advising from both the College of Law and the School of Information. Students interested in pursuing the joint J.D./M.S. degree must apply to and be accepted by both the College of Law and the School of Information according to each school’s admission criteria. For this joint graduate pathway, the criteria for the College are the same as for the Master’s degree. Students pursuing the joint graduate pathway must first begin their study at the College of Law. Contact the FSU College of Law Admissions Office for application information.
Hours
Total of 109 hours from both programs:
- 79 hours of Law courses
- 30 hours of LIS courses
In effect, 9 hours of graduate course work in Information Studies are credited toward the 88 hours normally required for the Juris Doctor Degree, and 6 hours of LAW are credited toward the 36 hours normally required for the MS degree. This will save the joint graduate pathway student 15 credit hours of coursework which would otherwise be required to complete both degrees separately.
School of Information Master’s/Specialist Graduate Student Handbook
The Master of Science in Information (MSI) requires 36 semester hours, including four required core courses and one technology skills requirement course. Students should fill in their Advising Worksheet using the Course Rotation Schedule linked at the top of the Graduate Course Descriptions page.
Master of Science in Information with a Major in Information Courses
Required Core Courses (12 credits)
LIS 5271 Research Methods in Information Studies (3 credits)
LIS 5411 Introduction to Information Policy (3 credits)
LIS 5408 Management of Information Organizations (3 credits)
LIS 5703 Information Organization (3 credits)
Technology Skills Requirement (3 credits)
The FSU iSchool is committed to educating students to have the technology skills necessary to be successful information professionals. Accordingly, all MSI students are required to take at least one technology-focused course prior to completion of the degree.
LIS 5485 Introduction to Information Technologies (strongly recommended for students with no prior IT background)
LIS 5255 Information, Technology, and Older Adults
LIS 5275 Usability Analysis
LIS 5313 Digital Media: Concepts and Production
LIS 5362 Design and Production of Networked Multimedia
LIS 5472 Digital Libraries
LIS 5484 Introduction to Data Networks
LIS 5486 Managing Makerspaces
LIS 5489 Network Administration
LIS 5765 Data Mining and Analytics
LIS 5775 Organizational Information Security
LIS 5782 Database Management Systems
Elective Courses
The remaining credits may be taken from among any LIS-5000 level course and are selected depending on the needs of the student, the current technology skill level, and the foundation needs to support the student’s professional goals. View a list of our course offerings and course descriptions.
Time to Completion
- Course work for the Master degree must be completed within 7 years from the time the student first registers for graduate credit.
- Any graduate work transferred from another institution must have commenced not more than 7 years prior to completion of the degree for the credits to be applicable to the Master’s degree.
- Exceptions may be appealed through the School of Information.
Programs of Study
To help facilitate course selection, courses have been organized into programs of study along general and specialized areas of interest. These programs of study are not required for graduation and do not result in any further notation on the diploma or transcripts, but rather function as a planning and advising tool for the students. Programs of study may help to guide your course selection in order to facilitate achievement of your career goals. They include:
Certificates Programs
Certificate Programs are also available while pursuing a Master of Science degree within the School of Information. Certificate programs are designed to provide an opportunity for professional development and result in an award separate from the diploma with the successful completion of select coursework for the certificate. Learn more about the types of certificates offered at the School, as well as certificate program requirements.
Thesis Option
Students pursuing the Master of Science in Information or the Master of Arts in Information (see MA Degree Requirements below) have the option to complete a thesis as part of their curriculum. The subject of the thesis must be within the major field and must reveal independent investigation and knowledge of the methods of scholarship.
To complete the thesis-type program, a student must complete all requirements for the master’s degree. Six hours of the required 36 degree hours must be thesis hours (LIS 5971 – 3 hours per semester over two semesters). A student must officially declare that he/she wants to pursue a thesis-type program by emailing School of Information Graduate Student Services requesting a change to thesis-type track and identifying the major professor who will supervise the thesis. The student, in coordination with the major professor, must complete the necessary paperwork to appoint a supervisory committee. The Supervisory Committee consists of at least three members: the major professor; the minor professor (if the student has a minor area); and one or two additional members from the major department. Additional members may be appointed if deemed desirable. All members of the committee must hold Graduate Faculty Status.
Students must also follow the University guidelines for completion of a thesis-type program as listed in the University Graduate Student Handbook as well as all requirements for manuscript clearance.
MA Degree Requirements
A Master of Arts (M. A.) degree may be earned by students who opt to complete 6 or more semester hours of graduate credit in one or more of the following fields: art, classical language, literature, and civilization; communication (not to include speech correction); English; history; humanities; modern languages and linguistics; music; philosophy; religion; and theatre. In addition, they must demonstrate proficiency in a foreign language.
Proficiency in foreign language may be demonstrated by:
- Certification by the appropriate language department, or
- Completion of 12 semester hours in a foreign language with an average grade of at least 3.0 (B), or
- Four years of a single language in high school.
If you are interested in switching from the MS in Information to the MA in Information, please contact iSchool Student Services.
Juris Doctor/Master of Science Joint Pathway Degree Requirements
The Juris Doctor/MS joint pathway leads to both a Juris Doctor (JD) Degree from the FSU College of Law and a Master of Science Degree from the FSU School of Information. Graduates who complete this joint pathway will be particularly suited to work in law libraries and other organizations involved with the creation and dissemination of legal information. Students in the joint pathway will receive academic advising from both the College of Law and the School of Information. Students interested in pursuing the J.D./M.S.I. joint pathway must apply to and be accepted by both the College of Law and the School of Information according to each school’s admission criteria. Students pursuing the joint pathway must first begin their study at the College of Law. Contact the FSU College of Law Admissions Office for application information.
Hours
Total of 109 hours from both programs:
- 79 hours of Law courses
- 30 hours of LIS courses
In effect, 9 hours of graduate course work in Information Studies are credited toward the 88 hours normally required for the Juris Doctor Degree, and 6 hours of LAW are credited toward the 36 hours normally required for the MS degree. This will save the joint pathway student 15 credit hours of coursework which would otherwise be required to complete both degrees separately.
Time to Completion
All coursework for both degrees must be completed within a five-year period and both degrees will be awarded at the same time. With the exception of the 15 special credit hours described above, students will be expected to fulfill all requirements of both degrees.
Graduate Academic Advising
The faculty advisor can be a good resource for advice concerning course selection and/or career opportunities within the profession. Students are encouraged to seek out faculty with similar areas of interest for advice in course selection and/or career opportunities. Find more information about the faculty by visiting their biography pages.
Student Services
iSchool Student Services is the primary point of administrative contact for all graduate students enrolled in the School of Information. Some of the tasks performed include: providing information about admission and program requirements, answering questions about orientation and registration, and clarifying College as well as University policies and procedures.
iSchool Student Services Coordinator, Current Ph.D. Students, Withdrawals, Academic Retention/Dismissal
Kimberly Amos-Tata
Assistant Director – Academic and Student Services
Voice: (850) 644-8121
Email: ischooladvising@admin.fsu.edu
Admission Requirements, Application Process and Application Status
Amy Mosher
Graduate Admissions Coordinator
Voice: (850) 645-3280
Email: ischooladvising@admin.fsu.edu
Current Master’s/Specialist Students, Reduced Tuition Programs, Graduation Checks and Clearances
Jade Stagg
Graduate Academic Program Specialist
Voice: (850) 644-8103
Email: ischooladvising@admin.fsu.edu
Contact Us
School of Information – iSchool Student Services
258 Louis Shores Building (LSB)
School of Information
Florida State University
Tallahassee, Florida 32306-2100
Email: ischooladvising@admin.fsu.edu
Fax: (850) 644-9763
Graduate Funding Information
Cost of Attendance
Estimated Tuition/Fee Costs for the 2023-2024 Academic Year:
Tuition and Fees for all online graduate courses offered by the School of Information include a combination of state-required tuition/fees plus an additional fee called an auxiliary fee that is assessed for online classes. The specific breakdown of tuition and fees depends upon your residency status for tuition purposes. Below are the estimated costs per credit hour for the 2023-2024 academic year.
Master’s Programs
Leon/Gadsden/Wakulla county residents*
Florida Residents – $579.32/semester hour
Non-Florida Residents – $1,210.72/semester hour
*Students residing in Leon, Gadsden and Wakulla counties are assessed additional activities and service fees for available on-campus services, such as University Wellness Center, Leach Center, Parking and Transportation.
All other locations outside of Leon/Gadsden/Wakulla county residents
Florida Residents – $544.26/semester hour
Non-Florida Residents – $1,175.66/semester hour
Reduced Tuition Market Rate (MSI program only) – $644.34/semester hour
Additional Fees
In addition to the per hour rate listed above, the University also assesses the following fees to all students:
- Facilities Use Fee – $20 flat fee per semester
- Technology Fee – $5.16/semester hour
- FSU Card Term Fee (Fall & Spring only) – $5.00 flat fee per semester
Academic Common Market
The Academic Common Market (ACM), a program of the Southern Regional Education Board, is an interstate agreement among southern states for sharing academic programs. Participating states enable their residents who qualify for admission to enroll in specific on-campus and online graduate programs in other states without having to pay out-of-state tuition. Arrangements traditionally are limited to programs not offered by the public institutions within the student’s state of residence. In short, students who obtain ACM certification pay tuition at FSU’s in-state rate.
Currently, the following states will certify ACM for the individual programs listed below.
Master of Science in Information
Arkansas, Delaware, Louisiana, Virginia and West Virginia
Post Master’s Specialist
Arkansas, Delaware, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, West Virginia
Doctoral Program
Arkansas, Delaware, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, Virginia
Visit the Southern Regional Education Board for more information.
Market Rate
The FSU School of Information offers a reduced tuition program to qualified out-of-state students pursing the Master of Science in Information:
- Who cannot receive certification from the Academic Common Market (ACM) in their state, OR
- Whose state of residence is not a member of the ACM.
To Qualify
- You must be a degree-seeking student enrolled in the Master of Science in Information program.
- You may NOT be a resident of an Academic Common Market state through which you could apply for ACM certification for reduced tuition
- You must NOT be the recipient of a Graduate Assistantship, Teaching Assistantship or Research Assistantship at FSU.
This reduced tuition program can only be applied to LIS 5000-level online courses. If you register for courses in another department, regular non-Florida resident tuition rates will apply to these non-iSchool courses. This program is renewable on a semester-by-semester basis and is contingent upon appropriate levels of funding available to The School of Information. You must remain in good academic standing (no academic probation; no dismissal) with the department and the University.
For more information about current Market Rate Program costs, contact Graduate Student Services.
