Admission to the GCIA Program

The Graduate Certificate in Information Architecture (GCIA) program invites applications from:

• college graduates with either a BA or a BS
• students currently enrolled in any masters program
• SLIS graduates and professionals working in the information field

Process of admission

Applicants to the GCIA program must satisfy the admission requirements for a master's degree program in SLIS. Applicants should address their interest in information architecture and their professional goals in the essay accompanying application to SLIS.

Applications that satisfy SLIS admission requirements will be reviewed by the GCIA program directors, who will make final decisions about admitting applicants to the certificate program.

Basic computer skills

SLIS requires that students be computer-literate and familiar with the basic computer skills that will be used in many SLIS courses. Computer skills include word processing, file transfer protocols, e-mail, online and database searching for information retrieval, and basic commands and navigation of Unix file systems. These skills are foundational in the SLIS curriculum and form the basis for skill development throughout a student's academic and professional careers.

Basic web design skills

Students enrolled in the GCIA program should have mastered markup languages such as HTML, CSS and XHTML, either through prior coursework or through practical experience.

Students enrolled in both the GCIA and a SLIS master's program will be expected to satisfy this prerequisite by successfully completing S532 (L571) - Information Architecture for the Web (prerequisite for S512 (L577) - Information Systems Design). Students may have the prerequisite waived by demonstrating proficiency with markup languages and submitting a request for waiver prior to enrollment in the first semesters coursework.