School Library Information Specialist concentration

Admission to the School Library Information Specialist concentration requires a State of Illinois Initial or Standard Teacher certificate, or admission to the College of Education and completion of the professional education and general education sequence necessary for initial teacher certification.

Completion of the MSLS program with a School Library Information Specialist concentration will qualify certified teachers and those seeking initial teacher certification for the State of Illinois Initial or Standard Library Information Specialist Certificate (K-12, Type 10).  Program completion for certified teachers and those seeking initial certification requires passing the State of Illinois Certification Tests in Basic Skills, Library Information Specialist, and Assessment of Professional Teaching (Special K-12).

The School Library Information Specialist concentration meets the standards of the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE).

General requirements for all students

·  Fulfillment of the general requirements for admission to the graduate program.

·  All degree requirements must be completed within six years.

Requirements applicable to certified teachers

 ·  Certified teachers are required to submit proof of a passing score report on the Illinois Certification test of Basic Skills passed anytime since 1987.

·  Certified teachers must complete LIB5005-Clinical Experiences in School Library Media Centers with a grade of B or better.

Requirements for non-certified candidates seeking initial certificationNon-certified candidates seeking initial certification must complete courses in general and professional education as follows:

·  Three credit hours in each: composition II, speech, college level mathematics, biological science and physical science (at least one science course must include a laboratory)

·  Nine credit hours from at least two disciplines in the humanities: fine arts (art, music, theater) , foreign language, literature, and philosophy

·  Nine credit hours in the following  social sciences: US history or American national government; child and adolescent psychology; and one course from history, geography, economics, political science, anthropology, psychology, or sociology.

·  One course incorporating multicultural or global perspectives

·  Professional education courses including: ELCF 1520, ELCF 2000, ELCF 4500; PSYC  2020, SED 4301 and SED 4303; READ 4290, and LIMS 5004.

 Specific course requirements

Survey of Technology for Libraries	LIMS 5050 (CM 400)
Communications and Media Centers	LIMS 5090 (CM 450)
Cataloging and Classification	LIMS 5020 (LIB 402)
Library Literature and Research	LIMS 5050 (LIB 405)
Collection, Development, and Usage of Reference Materials	LIMS 5190 (LIB 419)
Management and Organization of Libraries	LIMS 5280 (LIB 428)
The Library in Society	LIMS 5520 (LIB 452)
Clinical Experiences in School Library Media Centers	LIMS 5005 (LIB398G)
The Curriculum and the Media Center	LIMS 5140 (LIB 414)
Literature and Related Media for Children and Young Adults	LIMS 5240 (LIB 424)
Administration of Media Centers	LIMS 5300 (LIB 430)
1 elective in Library Science and 1 elective in Media Studies – MS 5100 (Advanced Media Production) is recommended