1. The School of Information Resources and Library Science, ‘SIRLS,’ offers both a
master’s and a doctoral program. Our master’s program is fully accredited by the
American Library Association. Most students take between 18 and 24 months to
graduate; many graduate in 12 months. SIRLS is proud of its 87% graduation rate!
Master’s Degree Requirements:
• Completion of 12 courses or 36 credits with a GPA of at least 3.00
• Completion of an Electronic Portfolio (not graded)
Admission Requirements:
• A Bachelor’s Degree (in any field) from an accredited college or university
recognized by the University of Arizona
• A GPA of at least 3.00
• Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores (this requirement is waived if you
have another master’s or a doctoral degree)
• For additional information, please go to http://sirls.arizona.edu/program/masters/
mastersAdmissions
• International applicants must complete a financial guarantee form and submit
TOEFL scores. For more information, please see
http://grad.arizona.edu/admissions/admissions-requirements/international-students
Admission Process:
Prospective students must apply to both SIRLS and to the UA Graduate College. An
online admission application form is at https://apply.grad.arizona.edu/ and can be used
for both SIRLS and the UA Graduate College. The UA Graduate College requires an
application fee; SIRLS does not.
In addition to the application form, prospective students must submit:
• A current resumé or curriculum vitae
• Two letters of recommendation
• A written statement of introduction
• Two official transcripts from each college you have attended
• GRE scores
Before students can actually register for courses, the UA requires proof of immunization
against measles, rubella, and mumps if born after 1956; if born prior to 1956, you are
exempt from this requirement. The UA also requires proof of residency status.
Arizona’s First University – Since 1885

2. Deadlines:
• To begin in the Fall Semester, complete applications must be submitted by
February 1st
• To begin in the Spring Semester, complete applications must be submitted by
September 1st
• To begin in the Summer Session, complete applications must be submitted by
February 1st
Starting SIRLS:
All students must start their program of study with our introductory course, IRLS 504:
Foundation of Library and Information Services. It is offered three times per year, twice
in the summer and once in the Winter Session. IRLS 504 begins online with two weeks
of independent reading assignments followed by a seven-day residency period during
which all new students spend seven days (from 8am to about 6pm) on the UA campus in
Tucson. For information about IRLS 504, please see http://sirls.arizona.edu/IRLS504
Financial Aid:
SIRLS offers both scholarships and graduate assistantships to new and continuing
students. Prospective students are encouraged to apply for financial aid at the same time
they apply for admission. The deadlines are the same for admission. For more
information, please see http://sirls.arizona.edu/program/admissions/financial
Online and Traditional Course Options:
Following successful completion of IRLS 504, students may select from online,
traditional, or blended options according to their needs and learning styles. Many
students complete their program of study virtually without ever returning to Tucson.
Students preferring more traditional learning opportunities may attend face-to-face
courses in Tucson and in Phoenix. To review sample semester course offerings, please
see http://sirls.arizona.edu/schedules
Tuition and Fees as of Spring Semester 2009:
For MA residents of Arizona, tuition and fees for one course is about $1550. For nine
credits, or three courses, it is about $4700. Three courses or nine credits is considered a
‘full load’ for a regular semester. For more information about tuition, please see
http://www.bursar.arizona.edu/students/fees/
Non-residents pay more than double the cost of residents for each course.
Questions?
Please see our website at http://sirls.arizona.edu or call us at 520.621.3565 or email our
Admissions Officer, Geraldine Fragoso, at gfragoso@email.arizona.edu.
Arizona’s First University – Since 1885