Master of Library and Information Science with School Library Media Specialist License Program
This option within the Master of Library and Information Science degree program is designed to educate students wishing to become school librarians and technology integration specialists. The prescribed course sequence fulfills the requirements for the Minnesota license for K-12 Library Media Specialist.
By pursuing this option, students learn the principles of librarianship in general and service to children and young adults in particular. Developmental psychology of the child, pre-adolescent, and adolescent is woven into the literature courses. The philosophy of education for elementary, middle and secondary school levels is an integral part of the curriculum.
Some of the topics in the curriculum include
- information literacy
- educator collaboration
- integration of the library media program into school curriculum
- instructional technology
- literature-based curriculum
- program administration
- communication
- professional development
Students graduate from this program with a firm understanding of the roles of the school librarian and the library media program within the school context and the extended school learning community. Graduates become educational leaders in their schools and school districts.
Field Experience and Student Teaching in School Libraries
To put into practice the knowledge gained from course work, students are required to complete field experiences in a variety of school library settings. These experiences are designed to meet the Minnesota licensure requirements.
- Initial license candidates complete 100 hours of fieldwork in elementary, middle, and high schools before student teaching. These are embedded in course requirements
- Additional license candidates complete 40 hours of fieldwork at elementary, middle, and high schools prior to their practicum. These are embedded in course requirements
Upon completion of required course work, students must take one of the following:
- LIS 7283 Clinical Experience/Student Teaching (3 credits) is for educators with a current Minnesota teaching license. This is a minimum of 80 hours of clinical observations, as determined by the program to address gaps in experience, and supervised practicum.
- LIS 7286 Clinical Experience/Student Teaching (6 credits) is for students who do not possess Minnesota teaching credentials. This is 12 weeks, full time of clinical observations and supervised student teaching. Requests for alternative arrangements must still meet the equivalent of 12 full time weeks and should be discussed with the St. Kate’s School Library Media Program Coordinator. Such requests must ultimately be approved by the Minnesota Professional Educator Standards and Licensing Board (PELSB).
SLMS Appeals/Grievance Policy
Candidates in the teacher education programs at St. Catherine University are expected to follow the grievance and appeals procedures outlined at the University, found in the current University catalog. Candidates seeking to appeal decisions related to retention in the teacher education program and recommendation for licensure must follow these established procedures.
In order to receive their teaching license, teacher candidates must complete the licensure application process. This involves completing the filing of an application for licensure with the Education Department, St. Catherine University, which will be sent to the Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB) for final approval
Students who leave the School Library Media Specialist track must take LIS 7700 Management of Libraries and Information Centers to complete the requirements for the standard MLIS degree.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| LIS 7010 | Introduction to Library and Information Science | 3 |
| LIS 7030 | Organization of Knowledge | 3 |
| LIS 7040 | Information Access Services | 3 |
| LIS 7050 | Research Methods for Library Information Science | 3 |
| LIS 7210 | Library Materials for Children | 3 |
| LIS 7220 | Library Materials for Young Adults | 3 |
| LIS 7240 | Technology for Teaching and Learning | 3 |
| LIS 7250 | Curriculum and School Libraries | 3 |
| LIS 7730 | School Libraries | 3 |
| LIS 7283 | Clinical Experience/Student Teaching 1 | 3-6 |
| or LIS 7286 | Clinical Experience/Student Teaching | |
| Electives | 6 | |
| Total Credits | 36-39 | |
- 1
Student with a current Minnesota teaching license enroll in LIS 7283 (3 credits). Students who do not possess a Minnesota teaching license enroll in LIS 7286 (6 credits).
Initial licensure candidates
If students do not already hold a Minnesota Tier 3 or 4 teaching license, they must complete the following courses to meet the remaining Minnesota state licensing requirements for the Standards of Effective Practice. These courses may be taken before or at the same time as the core MLIS courses. They can also be transferred in from another institution found in the Transfer Evaluation System (TES). These requirements must be completed before starting student teaching
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| LIS 6200 | Foundations of Teaching and Learning | 3 |
| ECED 5550 | Emergent Multilingualism | 2 |
| PSYC 1000 | General Psychology | 4 |
| PSYC 2025 | Lifespan Developmental Psychology | 4 |
| Total Credits | 13 | |
Additionally, initial licensure candidates must complete a pre-student teaching interview the semester prior to student teaching. Students will also need to complete an edTPA (Teacher Performance Assessment) portfolio.