Library and Information Studies

MLIS Curriculum

Track: School Library Media

The School Library Media program is an optional track within the 36-credit hour MLIS program, enabling students to earn the MLIS degree while qualifying for School Library Media Certification in Rhode Island and other states in the NASDTEC Interstate Agreement (including Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York and Vermont.)

This program is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) with national recognition by the American Association of School Librarians (AASL), is an ALA accredited program and a Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) state approved program.

Requirements

Core Courses

  • LSC 502 (3 credits) Lead, Manage, & Connect Lib Services
  • LSC 503 (3 credits) Collection Management*
  • LSC 504 (3 credits) Searching for Answers; Meeting Users’ Information Needs
  • LSC 508 (3 credits) Introduction to Information Science and Technology**
  • LSC 596 (3 credits) School Library Media Seminar
  • LSC 598 (6 credits) Supervised Internship / Practicum: School Library Media

Fundamentals

  • LSC 520 (3 credits) School Library Media Services
  • LSC 527 (3 credits) Digital Information Literacy Instruction

Focus on Children and Youth

(Select 2 from the list)
  • LSC 513 (3 credits) Social Justice in Children’s and Young Adult Literature
  • LSC 530 (3 credits) Children’s Materials and Services
  • LSC 531 (3 credits) Young Adult Materials and Services

Electives

  • 3 credits free electives

Total = 36 credits

*LSC 503 is required only for students beginning the program in Fall 2018 or later.
**LSC 508 is required only for students beginning the program in Fall 2017 or later.

Practicum and Student Teaching

The Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) requires 12 weeks of student teaching, six weeks at the elementary level and six weeks at the secondary level. This professional experience fulfills criteria for PK-12 Library Media certification. The pre-practicum class, LSC 520, occurs in the fall semester of the final year of the program. LSC 596, the three credit school library media seminar, and LSC 598, a 6 credit, 12 week practicum, is completed in the spring semester of the final year of the program. Sixty hours of pre-practicum field experience will have been completed over the course of several classes.

Directory of participating practicum placement locations for LSC 598​ (this document is not all-inclusive).

Practicum Mentors. If you are a School Library Media Specialist with at least three years experience and are interested in being a practicum mentor, please email Mary Moen, at mary_moen@uri.edu.

PRAXIS Test Requirements

SLM candidates are required to take and pass the PRAXIS II School Library Media Subject Test (5311) prior to student teaching and either the PRAXIS II Principles of Learning and Teaching test (5622 or 5624) prior to completing the SLM program. These tests are administered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS.org).

Note: Those candidates who have a current, valid teaching certificate are exempt from the PRAXIS II PLT test requirement once they provide appropriate evidence approved by the program coordinator. These candidates are still required however, to take and pass the PRAXIS School Library Media subject test prior to student teaching​.

Once candidates successfully complete the SLM program they will have fulfilled all requirements for RI All Grades School Media Certification.