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To take classes at OU, students pay tuition and various fees. Here is more Info about OU's tuition and fee structure.
For undergraduate students, full-time student status is defined by 12 or more credit hours. OU uses a flat rate tuition for full-time undergraduates. This means students pay tuition for 15 credit hours per semester and can then take from 12 to 18 credit hours of classes. If students take fewer than 30 hours during the fall/spring, they may be eligible to use their extra hours in the summer at no extra cost. These are called “Banked hours”. Click for more info on the Undergraduate fee structure.
For graduate students, 9 credit hours is considered full-time, while 6 credit hours is full-time for Graduate Assistants who are working 20 hours per week.
OU participates in the Academic Common Market for some degree programs. Students in some other states are eligible for Oklahoma in-state tuition for eligible programs. For more information on the Academic Common Marketplace visit this page.
The University of Oklahoma Financial Aid Services office “administers federal, state, institutional and private aid programs.” You may find a variety of loans and other aid through this office.
Scholarships are awarded competitively on the basis of demonstrated academic merit and potential for leadership. The SLIS Admissions and Scholarships Committee considers all applications for scholarships in the spring of each school year. Applications for student scholarships are due through the OU CASH database by February 1 for the following academic year. The application window opens in October.
The Oklahoma Library Association offers two different scholarships and may award several winners each year. Their scholarship information for OLA is here.
The Friends of Libraries in Oklahoma (FOLIO) offers scholarships to full or part-time employees in public, academic, or special libraries. The application deadline is in January. Click here for more information on the FOLIO website.
The American Library Association compiles an annual directory of awards from state library agencies, national and state library associations, local libraries, academic institutions, and foundations who give some form of financial assistance for undergraduate and/or graduate education programs in library and information studies. Please click here to access this directory.
Additional External Funding Resources for Graduate Students
Graduate research and teaching assistantships offer valuable experience to students, pay a monthly stipend, and assistantships of 20 hours per week include a tuition waiver for up to the number of hours required to finish the degree (for example, the MLIS is 36 hours). GA positions do not waive fees.
OU SLIS offers graduate assistantships on both the Norman and Tulsa campuses, and GAs are usually chosen in Spring for the following academic year. An application will be distributed to current and admitted students when a position becomes open.
Students may also be hired for hourly positions which are generally 10 to 20 hours per week. These jobs pay minimum wage and do not include a tuition waiver.
SLIS students are hired in graduate assistantships and hourly student jobs in a variety of locations across campus. Many of our students are employed by OU Libraries, OU IT, and the College of Arts & Sciences. In addition to the main library, Bizzell, there are a number of branch libraries, archives, and museums across campus that have hired SLIS students including (but not limited to) the Carl Albert Congressional Research Center, the Western History Collection, the Ballet Russes Archives, the American Organ Institute, the Sam Noble Museum, the History of Science Collection, and more. Following are some links to help you find graduate assistantships and hourly student jobs on campus:
Many SLIS master's students work as part-time staff members in libraries, archives, and museums around the region. The Pioneer Library System (Norman and surrounding counties), the Metropolitan Library System (Oklahoma City), Tulsa City County Library System, the OU Health Science Center (in Oklahoma City), are some places where our students work. One place to check for openings is the Oklahoma Department of Libraries Jobline .
OU students have access to the full set of services offered by the University Career Services Center, including assistance with resumes, cover letters, and interview skills. Career Services also maintains internship and jobs posting boards and placement services. These services are available in person, or through email and videoconferencing.
Many library-focused position announcements from local and regional organizations are sent directly to the School. We post these announcements on the SLIS-jobs listserve. Current students are automatically subscribed to this email list. If you are an alumni and would like to receive these emails, please email: SLISinfo@ou.edu.
Many library-focused position announcements from local and regional organizations are sent directly to the School. We post these announcements on the SLIS-jobs listserv. Current students are automatically subscribed to this email list. If you are an alumni and would like to receive these emails, please contact the SLIS office by emailing us at SLISinfo@ou.edu or 405-325-3921.
Most OU SLIS graduates choose to work in Oklahoma. Here are two sources of job advertisements
