Our popular Leep online option combines rigorous academics with the flexibility to take courses from anywhere in the world. Leep students engage with peers and faculty in real-time virtual classrooms and can pursue an MS/LIS degree as well as our Certificate of Advanced Study without having to move to campus.
In 1996 the Leep program was developed as a way to extend access to our nationally-ranked, professional master’s degree to those students who were not able to relocate to campus. We were among the pioneers in online LIS education, and have continually evolved the program’s structure and technology so our students receive an unparalleled education. In addition to the relationships formed through in-person and online interaction with their peers, students benefit from our strong advising program and supportive network of students, instructors, and alumni spanning across the country and globe.
At the beginning of the program, MS/LIS students travel to the University of Illinois campus for Welcome Weekend, a three-day orientation held on or about the fourth weekend of the fall or spring semester, at the iSchool. This period of face-to-face interactions is instrumental in building community while students are in school and beyond, providing opportunities for developing key relationships.
Admission Requirements
Admission to Leep requires applicants to meet the same admission criteria per degree or program.
Costs
Leep students pay full tuition charges at the in-state or out-of-state rates, depending on where they reside. Tuition for students in the Leep program is charged per credit hour. Detailed information about tuition and cost can be found on the CITL website.
Students budget for books and supplies, technology upgrades, transportation and housing for Leep Welcome Weekend, and internet access. Students are eligible for financial aid such as loans but not for graduate assistantships, which require on-campus residency.
