Admission to the School of Library and Information Science is selective and is based on the faculty's assessment of the applicant's aptitude for graduate study and potential contribution to the profession. The School of Library and Information Science takes an holistic approach to the admissions process. Consequently, an applicant's entire file and interview are taken into consideration before an admission decision is made.

1. A completed USC Graduate School Application and a non-refundable $40.00 application fee. Go to the home page of the Graduate School and click on "Apply Now" or go directly to the Application.

Tranfer Credit

The remaining 12 hours may be taken in other related academic units of the University. Students also have the option of transferring up to six semester hours of graduate course work from colleges or universities other than the University of South Carolina . Transfer credit may be transferred under the following conditions:

•  the credit may not be more than six years old at the time the student will graduate;

•  courses, which have been used to earn another degree, will not be accepted;

•  Course work in library science must be earned at an ALA accredited library school;

•  the credit must be germane to the student's career objectives;

•  in the case of a required course, the student will present sufficient evidence (such as a syllabus or similar material) to permit determination by the advisor that the course reasonably duplicates the USC equivalent course;

•  the course must have been taken for graduate credit and must be recorded as such on an official transcript which has been sent from the granting institution to the USC Graduate School ;

•  the grade received must be a B or higher;

•  the student must provide a course description comparable to that produced in the University catalog.

Students must aslo pass the Computer Competency test or take SLIS 706 and prepare an acceptable Portfolio to be eligible for graduation.

A student who receives grades below B on more than six hours of course work, or an F or U in any course, may not continue in the Master of Library and Information Science program. The student's admission to the MLIS program will be cancelled, and he or she will not be allowed to enroll in any further SLIS courses for at least one year. Additionally, a student's cumulative grade point average on all courses attempted for graduate credit at USC within the past six years, whether listed on the Program of Study or not, must be at least 3.00 (B) in order for the student to graduate with the Master of Library and Information Science degree.

USC Graduate School Policy Manual: 9/07
TRACKING STUDENTS' PROGRESS TO DEGREE

A . ACADEMIC STANDARDS

1. Academic Standards. For purposes of academic standards, cumulative GPA is defined as the grade point average of all in-date graduate-credit courses recorded on the official USC academic transcript. In-date courses are less than eight years old for doctoral students and less than six years old for master's, specialist, graduate certificate, and non-degree students. Revalidated courses are also included in the cumulative GPA calculation. Grades earned on graduate credits transferred from other universities are not included in the grade point average\

2 . Academic Standards for Progression. Graduate courses may be passed for degree credit with a grade as low as C, but a degree-seeking student's cumulative grade point average must be at least B (3.00 on a 4.00 scale).
3. Academic Standards for Graduation. At the time of graduation, the student's cumulative grade point average must be at least 3.00. Additionally, the student's average on all grades recorded on the Program of Study for courses numbered 700 or above must be at least 3.00.

4 . Academic Suspension Policy ("3.00 Rule"). Graduate degree-seeking students whose cumulative grade point average drops below 3.00 (B) will be placed on academic probation and allowed one calendar year in which to raise the grade point average to at least 3.00. Students who do not reach a cumulative 3.00 grade point average during the probationary period will not be permitted to enroll for further graduate course work as a degree or non-degree student.
Colleges and departments may impose more stringent requirements than The Graduate School's Academic suspension policy. Students should consult their advisors to ensure familiarity with departmental regulations.

5. Appeals for Reinstatement. Appeals for reinstatement from students who have been suspended should be reviewed first by the department and/or college and then forwarded to the dean of The Graduate School for review by the Graduate Council.

SLIS students should first contact the Student Services Manager if they seek reinstatement and want to submit a petition for readmission.

Probation and Suspension by the Graduate School

1. A student may be put on academic probation for one year if their GPA falls below 3.00. They may take classes during that year to improve the GPA to 3.00.
   After one year , if the student has not improved the GPA to a 3.00; the student is suspended and all registration rights are cancelled to further enrollment in a degree or non-degree program.

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School Library Media Certification

School library media specialist certification may be different from one state department of education to another. The SLIS program of studies leading to certification is recognized as meeting the standards of the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE). Graduates who have completed this approved program are eligible for certification in South Carolina and any other state which recognizes NCATE standards. Those who want that certification should be sure that they get their program approved by the School Library Media Program Coordinator as early in the program as possible.

The School Media Checklist program of study is required to plan your course of study. The general requirements for NCATE at SLIS are 18 semester hours of foundations in library and information science, 12 semester hours of educational foundations or current certification in some other discipline in education, and 12-18 semester hours of courses related specifically to school library media programs. Those who want certification in South Carolina must take the Special Area of the PRAXIS, but do not have to take either the General Knowledge or Professional Knowledge area. Many other states do require other parts of the NTE, so those considering employment in other states should contact the state department of education in those states as early in their program as possible.

A one-time fee of $173 for initial certification or $65 add-on certification is required by the University for all recommendations for certification regardless of the state in which the individual is applying for certification. A person may request that recommendations be sent to any number of states at any time after paying this fee.