Frequently Asked Questions For Graduate Students

• What are the requirements for my degree?
  Requirements for your degree are in the Advising Handbook that you received when you began your program. If you did not receive a copy of the handbook, please stop by the Graduate Student Support Office or give us a call at 315-443-6137.  Please take some time to read the Advising Handbook. If you still have questions after reading the Hanbook, please contact Jose Tavarez in the Student Services Office (114L Hinds Hall).

• I would like to pursue another master's degree concurrently with my degree at the School of Information Studies. How many credits do I need to complete dual degrees?
  "In cases where two or more distinct master's degrees are to be awarded by Syracuse University to one student, the minimum number of credits needed must be at least 80% of the combined total of Syracuse credits normally required for each of the separate degrees." (Academic Rules and Regulations, 46.6)

  If you are enrolled in a 42-credit hour degree program such as Information Management, you must complete 33 credits in the School of Information Studies. In addition, you must complete 80 percent of the other degree's required credits.

   

• How do I waive credit hours from my degree?
  Students in the IM or TNM program may file a Petition to Waive Credit Hours - IRM and IM (pdf : 73k) and Petition to Waive Credit Hours - TNM (pdf : 66k) to waive credits from their degree based on appropriate full-time professional experience. Detailed information on waiving credits can be found in the program-appropriate Advising Handbook. The waived credits reduce the credit hours needed to graduate. They do not appear on your Syracuse University transcript. The Petition to Waive Credit Hours form, along with a copy of your resume, must be turned in to Jose Tavarez. Jose will provide you with a preliminary assessment of the petition and then pass it along to the director of your degree program for final approval. A copy of the approved/denied petition will be mailed to the your mailing address, and a copy will be placed in your file to be included with the graduation paperwork for the Graduate School. The Petition to Waive Credit Hours is available from the Graduate Student Support Office, Hinds Hall 114. According to guidelines set by the American Library Association, credit cannot be waived for work or "life" experience in the MSLIS program.

• How do I transfer credits to my School of Information Studies degree? How many credit hours may I transfer?
  Students in the MSLIS and TNM programs may be eligible to transfer up to 6 hours of graduate credit toward their degree. IM students may transfer up to 9 hours of graduate credit. Coursework must be directly relevant to the degree program, have been taken within 7 years of the date the student will receive the degree, must be graduate level, and must show a grade of "B" or better. A Petition to Transfer Credits (pdf : 66k) may be downloaded or obtained from the Student Services Office. An official transcript complete with a grade for the course(s) must be submitted to the Jose Tavarez in order to have the course(s) officially count towards the School of Information Studiess degree requirements. The transfer institution and total credits transferred from that institution will appear on your Syracuse University transcript.

   

• How do I register for an independent study?
  Students may register for an Independent Study (IST 690) by completing a Proposal for Independent Study form, available from the Graduate Student Support Office. This form requires the signature of the faculty member sponsoring the independent study and the student. Other signatures needed on the form can be obtained from Jose Tavarez. The form must be submitted to the Student Records Office, 106 Steele Hall for full-time students, and to University College, 700 University Avenue for part-time students. The registration is pending until the completed form has been submitted. Since the Proposal for Independent Study form is required to register for an independent study, registration for the course cannot be done online.

   

• When should I see my faculty advisor?
  Students are assigned a faculty advisor shortly after they have been admitted to the School of Information Studies. The faculty advisor serves as a mentor to the student for academic and professional development. You may see the faculty advisor for questions about specific course content, questions regarding which courses to take to fulfill a specific career goal, etc.

   

• Can I change my faculty advisor?
  Certainly, at any time! A simple Change of Advisor Form (pdf : 30k) is all that is needed. The form is to be filled out and turned in to the Graduate Student Support Office. Paper copies of the form are also available at Graduate Student Support.

   

• How do I take a leave of absence or withdraw from the University?
  Please see Jose Tavarez, Hinds Hall, 114 L. An exit interview with Robert Heckman, associate dean for academic affairs, may be requested.

   

• How do I apply for School Library Media/Public Library Certification?
  An application for School Library Media or Public Library Certification may be obtained from Graduate Student Support. Please consult the MSLIS Advising Handbook for specific details.

   

• What kinds of financial aid are available from The School of Information Studies? How and when do I apply?
  Merit-based financial assistance is available to qualified matriculated graduate students from the School of Information Studies. These are: Graduate Assistantships (full-time PhD and master's students); Syracuse University Scholarships (full-time students) and grants toward tuition (full-time and part-time students). Deadlines for these merit-based awards are November 1st for the spring semester and March 1st for the summer/fall semesters. An Application for Graduate Awards (pdf : 98k) may be downloaded here and is available from Graduate Student Support. Visit our financial aid pages for more information.

   

• What paperwork is required for graduation?
  Please see the graduation deadlines section of our web site.

   

• Where do I inquire about the status of my application?
  Bridget Crary can tell you if your application has been received and its status.