Post-Baccalaureate Certificate Program in School Librarianship

Are you a certified teacher who wants to become a school librarian?

Illinois State University offers coursework in school librarianship designed especially for teachers seeking endorsement as Library Information Specialists. By completing the Post-Baccalaureate Certificate Program in School Librarianship, certified teachers complete the 24 credit hours in library science required by the Illinois State Board of Education as part of the endorsement process (the other part consists of passing the content-area exam). Taught by experienced practitioners and University faculty, the courses have been carefully mapped to the Illinois content area standards. 

Courses are taught each semester and scheduled at times convenient for working teachers. Spring and fall semester classes generally meet during the evenings, summer classes during both afternoons and evenings. The core courses are taught largely in an online environment.

Core Courses
Illinois State University provides students with the opportunity to complete 18 hours of coursework in its core library science curriculum, and 6 hours of electives. To see how these courses meet the requirements of the Illinois content area standards for Library Information Specialist.

See: Matrix of School Library Coursework

The following core courses are now taught online on a regular basis. They do not need to be completed in any particular order. Course descriptions may be found in the Illinois State University Graduate Catalog listed under the Department of Curriculum and Instruction: http://www.ilstu.edu/home/catalog/pdf/grad.pdf#ci

Our typical schedule is:
Fall Semester
C&I 442: Organization and Access to Information in the School Library
C&I 444: Reference and Information Services
Spring Semester
C&I 401: Instructional Media and Technology
C&I 445: Information Literacy Instruction for School Libraries
C&I 454: Selection and Use of Materials in the Secondary School Library 
Summer Semester
C&I 440: Management of School Library Media Programs
C&I 449: Selection and Use of Materials for the Elementary School Library

Elective Courses  
Students may also complete the following elective courses as part of the 24 credit hours required for endorsement as Library Information Specialist.
C&I 432: Instructional Technology Design
C&I 434: Instructional Courseware Design
C&I 438: Distance Learning
ENG 370: Studies in the Literature of Young People
ENG 372: Contemporary Literature for Young People
ENG 373: Verse for Children
ENG 374: Storytelling
ENG 375: Studies in Literature for Adolescents
ENG 470: Studies in Children's Literature

Online Courses
Each semester, ISU offers two of its core school library courses online. Students registered for these courses typically meet together in "real time" (synchronously) once a week. Our Elluminate courseware provides opportunities to talk with each other, present and view multimedia presentations, to work in small groups, to text message each other, and to meet off-line. Elluminate is a robust courseware that enhances the online learning experience.

Prerequisites 
Prerequisites for all of the courses are: “Certified teachers or consent of instructor.”

Admission and Registration
Prospective students in the Post-Baccalaureate Certificate Program must:

• Have obtained a 3.0+ GPA in the last 60 semester hours of undergraduate work
• Possess a current teacher certificate
• Prepare a satisfactory 1-2 page Professional Goals statement outlining (1) why you want to be a school library media specialist/teacher-librarian; (2) your goals for your career as a teacher-librarian 
• Submit two letters of recommendation from a professional educator and/or librarian who is knowledgable of your work and goals
• Completed the TOEFL exam (for international applicants only) with scores of at least: 550 paper/pencil test; 213 computer-based test (CBT); or 79 internet-based test (IBT)
• Complete a graduate application online to the Post-Baccalaureate Certificate Program in School Librarianship: http://www.welcome2isu.ilstu.edu/
• On the online application, clearly document your teaching experience (schools; position held; and dates of employment)
• PLEASE NOTE: The GRE is not required
  
  Potential applicants may find more application information online at http://www.admissions.ilstu.edu/. The application form is pretty straightforward. Applications may be submitted online or in paper. Upon admission, students receive a University I.D. number that will permit them to register.  Registration is also easy and completed online.

Master's Degree with School Librarianship Concentration
It is also possible to apply to be admitted as a Master's degree student in Curriculum and Instruction with a concentration in school librarianship. Twelve credit hours from the school library curriculum would count as electives in that program. For more information, contact Dr. Thomas Haynes, C&I Coordinator for Master's Degree Programs at tshayne@ilstu.edu.

Eunice H. Speer Scholarship
Current and potential students may apply for the Eunice H. Speer Scholarship, which has been created to assist certified teachers who intend to complete required coursework at ISU for the Library Information Specialist endorsement. Preference will be given to individuals who are not eligible for reimbursement of program costs from a current employer. See attached application. NOTE: Scholarship applications for the spring semester are due on December 1. 

Contact:
Sharon L. Comstock, Assistant Professor, Librarian
Director, Post Baccalaureate Certificate Program in School Librarianship
Milner Library, Campus Box 8900, #620A
Illinois State University
Normal, Illinois 61790
Email: scomsto@ilstu.edu   ph: 309.438.5464