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Combined M.S. in LIS/K-12 Library Information Specialist Certification ProgramWe equip students with the theories and practices of Library and Information Science (LIS) through the study of the foundations, principles and ideas of the discipline, and the status and expectations of the profession. Our program objectives include teaching graduates to anticipate social and technological changes, and promote change to advance the profession; fostering critical thinking about literature and research in LIS and related fields; encouraging commitment to high standards of practice, conduct, responsibility, and service; and preparing for evaluation and development of services. In addition, the combined program stresses the importance of promoting cultural and ethnic diversity within education, the importance of developing inquiring and reflective minds, the effective application of technology in schools, and the Library Information Specialist's role in fostering a commitment to service. Graduates of the Combined M.S. in LIS/K-12 Library Information Specialist Certification program are qualified to receive an Illinois K-12 Library Information Specialist certificate for library work in a school environment as well as to pursue careers as beginning librarians and information professionals in other work settings. This program is similar to the Master of Science degree program but includes significantly more required coursework. There are, however, a number of electives that K-12 Library Information Specialist candidates may choose in designing their programs. Courseload | Scheduling Options | Financial Aid | Admission Requirements | After Admission CourseloadThe combined M.S. in LIS/K-12 Library Information Specialist Certification Program requires a minimum of 40 semester hours in Library and Information Science, plus the additional courses in Educational Psychology (EPSY), Educational Policy Studies (EPS), Special Education (SPED), field experience (practicum) and student teaching as required for certification. In addition, candidates must complete a CTE Common Assessment Portfolio. For a brief overview of the required courses needed to complete the Combined M.S. in LIS/K-12 Library Information Specialist Certification Program, see Course Requirements Summary. Generally a full-time course load is 12 semester hours during the fall and spring semesters and 12 semester hours during the Summer Session (I and II). It is possible to complete the 40 hours required for the M.S. in two semesters and one summer by increasing the courseload (e.g. 16 hours in the fall, 16 hours in the spring, and 8 hours in the summer). Students seeking the M.S. and K-12 certification should expect to spend at least an additional two semesters on coursework and field experiences. If students do not hold a prior master's, then they should consider satisfying the 40 hours in LIS first, graduating from the M.S. program, and completing their certification requirements as a C.A.S. student. This is recommended based on the payscale for teachers in Illinois which grants raises according to educational level plus hours acheived beyond the master's degree. Master's degree students must complete all requirements for the degree within five years after registering for graduate work. International students are required to maintain full-time status. GradesThe Graduate College requires students to maintain a minimum GPA of 2.75; however, the K-12 Library Information Specialist Certification program requires students to maintain a 3.0 GPA. The credit-no credit option applies only to courses taken outside the Combined M.S. in LIS/K-12 Library Information Specialist Certification Curriculum and to courses taken as "non-degree." Hours taken under the credit-no credit option are not computed into the grade-point average and may not be applied to any degree in library and information science. Scheduling OptionsStudents have two interchangeable scheduling options for the LIS Master of Science degree coursework: a regular on-campus schedule and the LEEP online education option. However, teacher candidates pursuing the M.S. in LIS/K-12 Library Information Specialist Certification will also take coursework in EPSY, EPS, and SPED. These courses may be taken on campus or at another accredited school with prior approval via an Exception to Policy petition (see the Course Credit Procedures section for more information). In addition, the program requires 10-12 semester hours (one full semester) of student teaching. Financial Aid and Enrollment StatusStudents holding fellowships must register as full-time students (12 semester hours in fall and spring and 6 semester hours in Summer Session). Those holding graduate assistantships awarded and/or administered by the School must be registered for a set number of classes determined by the percentage time of the assistantship; students will be advised of the amount upon appointment. Students with graduate assistantships in the library or elsewhere on campus must follow the enrollment requirements of the units employing them. Admission RequirementsIn order to be considered a candidate for an Illinois Type 10 Teaching Certificate, students must apply to the K-12 LIS Certification program. The admissions process includes several steps that allow applicants to show their interest in and qualification for study. Students may apply to the certification program at the same time they apply to the M.S. program or they may elect to apply at a later date, usually during their second semester of study. First, students must submit an official score report (or current teaching certificate) demonstrating a passing score on the Illinois Basic Skills Test. The test is administered by the Illinois Certification Testing System. For further information on testing dates, see http://www.icts.nesinc.com/. Second, students submit the “Part C–Supplemental Application for Graduate Admission” form. The form must be accompanied by copies of official transcripts, letters of reference, and three essays, which are examined by the admissions committee for both content and writing ability.GRE scores are required if the applicant's grade point average was below 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) for the final two years of undergraduate course work. Transcripts and GRE results indicate an applicant's verbal skills and ability to work with quantitative and analytical problems encountered in information environments. Contact the GSLIS admission office with questions about the admissions process: (217) 333-0734. Please see the Admissions section of our website for specific application requirements and forms. Current M.S. students must apply to the K-12 LIS Certification program by October 15 for spring semester acceptance or by January 15 for fall or summer semester acceptance. Computer Literacy RequirementsIn order for us to teach our courses at the graduate level, you are expected to have certain computer skills. You can acquire these skills before you begin the program or by taking special free workshops that are offered by GSLIS and the LIS Library during the early part of the semester. When classes start, you will be expected to have three basic competencies:
In addition, certain skills may be expected to be acquired during your time at GSLIS:
Some individual courses require additional technical competencies such as more advanced database design and programming languages. These skills can be learned through community college courses, informal short courses offered in GSLIS by staff and professional organizations and through self-study. After AdmissionProgram Status and Progress: The CTE Student PortalThe CTE Student Portal allows students in CTE approved programs to monitor their certification progress. The CTE portal allows students to view their status on requirements such as: test scores, Professional Education Assessment, Bloodborne Pathogens Training, Application for Certification, and portfolio completion. The portal also includes information regarding deadlines, announcements, contact information, CTE policies, links to evaluation forms and other links of interest. Criminal Background CheckThe University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign requires field placement in school districts as part of various Education curricula and certificate programs. Illinois school districts are required by state law to conduct criminal background investigations for applicants for certified and non-certified positions with a school district. School districts are requiring that applicants for field placement be subjected to a criminal background review prior to placement in the school districts. Certain convictions are a bar to employment with a school district and are fully set out in the Illinois School code 105ILCS5/10-21.9 as amended. All convictions will be reviewed for compatibility with placement in a school district. As part of this application you will be required to consent to a criminal background review. Failure to consent to the background investigation will result in your not being able to complete a public school certification program and in the cancellation of any admission to the program. For further information on this requirement, call the Council on Teacher Education at (217) 333-2804 or refer to the CTE website. Required Clinical FeeAfter students are formally admitted to the K-12 Program, they confirm their programmatic status by enrolling in EDPR 203 during their first semester as a K-12 student. EDPR 203 does not carry course credit or appear on transcripts but is a means by which students are assessed the required $550 clinical fee (pending BOT approval) for K-12 Certification Program supervision. Course Credit ProceduresTranscript Evaluation (Audit)Students who took courses in education prior to enrollment in GSLIS may have already satisfied some of the requirements of certification. An audit is also useful if you are interested in being certified to teach other academic subjects and feel you have already satisfied some of the coursework for these additional endorsements. To determine whether this is the case, students should make an appointment for a transcript audit with Chet Zych. Appointments can be made by phone at (217) 333-7195. As turn around time for audits varies greatly, students should contact Chet immediately upon entering the program. LEEP students should meet with Chet during the initial on-campus LEEP session prior to the first semester or during the first mid-semester, on-campus LEEP session. Students need to bring official copies of all of their relevant transcripts to the meeting. (GSLIS can copy transcripts from admissions file for students if needed). This evaluation enables the Council on Teacher Education to determine what courses a student needs to take in order to complete their certification requirements. Students will be given a handwritten audit that can be used until they are sent an official copy. Transferring Credit toward Master's DegreeTwenty-eight of the 40 credit hours required for the MLS degree must be taken in library and information science from the University of Illinois. The remaining 12 credit hours may be earned as additional graduate-level library and information science courses from the University of Illinois or in the following ways: as graduate-level course work from another ALA-accredited master's program (eight credit maximum); graduate-level course work from another discipline from the University of Illinois (12 credit maximum); or an extension course from any accredited institution (4 credit maximum). To transfer credit, students must submit the graduate school petition form (requires bluestem authentication). For more information on transfer procedures and policies see the Graduate College Student Petitions Guide. Transferring Credit toward Certification RequirementsStudents who have taken or plan to take a course they feel could fulfill a required education class can determine pre-approval by looking at the approved education courses offered at other universities list. (Refer to the list of required education courses.) If you have found a pre-approved class, proceed to A. If your class is not listed, proceed to B. A. You found the course(s) on the pre-approved list:Email Chet Zych -chetzych, at uiuc.edu- and -lis-k12, at uiuc.edu- and submit the course name and number and indicate what education class you are using this course to substitute. Please indicate that the course is on the pre-approved education course list. Submit an official transcript to Chet Zych, Council on Teacher Education, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 505 East Green Street, Suite 203, Champaign, IL 61820, showing successful completion of the course. Include a note indicating that this course is on the pre-approved list and that you have emailed the appropriate people. B. You did not find the course(s) on the pre-approved list:Contact Chet Zych -chetzych, at uiuc.edu- and submit the course syllabus from the institution where you wish to take/have taken the class and the name and number of the UIUC education course you would like it to substitute. It is preferred that students submit a syllabus from the time the class was taken, however, a current syllabus can be substituted for a past class if the class is still being offered. There is no automatic time limit as to when the course could have been taken. In addition to providing the information listed above, students must submit the Council on Teacher Education Student's Petition.LEEP TutorialLEEP students and on-campus students will need to be able to navigate through LEEP resources. Although on-campus students are not required to participate in LEEP technology, they will need to become familiar with this process in order to attend the virtual Library Information Specialist Orientation and the virtual student teaching meetings. Students should attend a LEEP Live Session Workshop on-campus or complete the online LEEP tutorial by:
Library Information Specialist OrientationNew K-12 Certification Program students will participate in an initial program orientation at the beginning of their first semester. Check your email and the GSLIS homepage for dates and times. Advisor meetingIt is highly recommended that you meet with the Program Coordinator at the beginning of your first semester to discuss program milestones including the CTE Common Assessment Portfolio requirement. The CTE Common Assessment Portfolio is a requirement for students completing the K-12 Library Information Specialist Certification program through GSLIS. It is required by all teacher education programs across campus at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, as specified by the CTE. The CTE Common Assessment Portfolio represents the culmination of a candidate's professional growth through content and professional education coursework and clinical experiences. The CTE Common Assessment Portfolio will contain performance-based documentation of each candidate's knowledge, skills, dispositions, and professional behaviors achieved throughout their entire teacher education preparation program. Students will want to begin developing this e-portfolio at the beginning of their certification program. Course SequencingOn-campus students usually enter the master's program in the fall semester and take one of the required core courses: either "LIS 501: Information Organization and Access" or "LIS 502: Libraries, Information, and Society." LEEP students start in the summer (July) with a required stay on campus. Because not all courses are offered each semester, this chart helps guide students when planning coursework. Please note, however, that these are guidelines and not set in stone. Students may also opt to take more than the suggested course-load each semester and complete the program slightly earlier. EXAMPLE 1: Pursuing M.S. and K-12 certification concurrently
* See course summary for course options EXAMPLE 2: Completing M.S. and then pursuing K-12 certification as a C.A.S. student
* See course summary for course options Early Field Experience/PracticumThe Practicum is a supervised field experience of professional-level duties in an approved school library placement site. It is designed to provide K-12 Library Information Specialist Certification students with the opportunity to work in a school environment under the supervision of an experienced Library Information Specialist and with the guidance of the Program Coordinator. It is also an opportunity to integrate the educational theory and knowledge of course content with the application of best principles and practices for working with youth and young adults. Students will be able to observe real issues, obstacles, and solutions within the K-12 school setting through the interaction with professional colleagues and professional activities while gradually taking on some teaching responsibilities. Students will complete a minimum of 100 hours (up to 25 of which can be devoted to a pre-approved project) and receive a maximum of 2 semester hours of graduate credit. Prerequisites include completion of 14 hours of Library and Information Science coursework, enrollment in the K-12 Library Information Specialist Certification Program, clearing a Criminal Background Check, completion of Bloodborne Pathogen Training, and submission of a Request for Pre-student Teaching Placement form. Clinical Experiences (Student Teaching)Clinical experiences provide candidates participating in the K-12 Library Information Specialist Certification Program an opportunity to acquire an understanding of the teaching process through gradual induction to instructional responsibility. Student teachers will complete two student teaching experiences, one in an elementary library setting and one in a secondary library setting (middle or high school). Each experience will last for eight weeks under the direction of a cooperating Teacher-Librarian and the GSLIS Program Coordinator/ University Supervisor, giving students the opportunity to apply the skills and knowledge learned in the Library Information Specialist Certification Program. Teacher candidates perform the full spectrum of professional activities associated with the work of a library information specialist. Student teaching must take place in Illinois schools. The Student Teaching Handbook is designed to assist GSLIS students, cooperating Teacher-Librarians, and the Program Coordinator/University Supervisor in planning for student teaching. It includes information regarding the procedures for student teaching, and the roles and responsibilities of the clinical experience participants. For More InformationYou can contact the GSLIS admission office with questions about the admissions process: (800) 982-0914 or (217) 333-0734, or see the Admissions section of our website. For questions regarding the Combined M.S. in LIS/K-12 Certification Program email -lis-k12, at uiuc.edu-
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HEADLINESGSLIS Welcomes Two New Staff Members UPCOMING EVENTSLEEP 13.1 Orientation (Jul 10 - Jul 19) LEEP 13.2 Orientation (Jul 17 - Jul 26) Instruction Ends (Jul 31) Final Exam Period (Aug 1 - Aug 2) Working with Leather: Exposed Sewn Binding with Bea Nettles (Aug 2 - Aug 3) IFLA in Quebec (Aug 10 - Aug 14) 2008-2009 GSLIS Orientation (Aug 22) |
www.lis.uiuc.edu | -gslis, at uiuc.edu-
The Graduate School of Library and Information Science
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
501 E. Daniel Street, MC-493, Champaign, IL 61820-6211 USA
voice: (217) 333-3280, fax: (217) 244-3302