Library Media and Information Technologies (MS)

Program Overview

Welcome to the Masters of Library Media and Information Technologies program at UCA, a fully online degree program, to prepare students to be Library Media Specialists in K-12 schools. The Library Media and Information Technologies program is nationally recognized by the American Association of School Librarians as an exemplary School Library program in the U.S. With a 99% PRAXIS II content pass rate in School Library Media, the LIBM program has one of the largest graduate programs for School Librarians in the state of Arkansas.

While we welcome any out-of-state candidates, completion of any program, other than an initial licensure program, may not lead to licensure or endorsement in Arkansas or in the state in which you reside. It is your responsibility to check with your state’s department of education to determine if the license or endorsement requirements are met through the program of study. If you are a potential out-of-state candidate, please contact the program coordinator directly.

The goal of the graduate program in library media and information technologies is to prepare individuals for professional positions in a variety of information and educational settings. The Library Media and Information Technologies program, located within the Department of Leadership Studies, is designed for individuals who are planning careers in school library media centers at the elementary, middle, and secondary district levels and at regional educational cooperatives.

To achieve this goal, the program seeks to create an environment in which students

1. Acquire attitudes, knowledge, and skills necessary to practice their chosen profession;
2. Become cognizant of the human relation attitudes, knowledge, and skills required to develop, operate, and access information and instructional systems effectively;
3. Develop professional competencies to higher levels of proficiency and in new areas of interest;
4. Are encouraged to pursue life-long learning through information and instruction-related professional organizations; and
5. Recognize the need to continuously evaluate and implement information and instruction-related programs in response to social, economic, and technological changes.

Objectives established for this program reflect specific outcome expectations of those students who complete the Master of Science degree in Library Media and Information Technologies. At an acceptable professional level, graduates should be able to

1. Articulate a philosophy of library media services which reflects an integration of principles of library science, educational media, and instructional design;
2. Design, implement, and market for specified client populations programs of services which further the objectives of the organization by integrating them into the total programming of the institution;
3. Apply principles of management, including planning, to the operation of the library;
4. Select and build a quality collection of resources and equipment that meets the educational objectives of the organization, promotes intellectual freedom, and meets clients’ needs and purposes;
5. Organize and maintain collections of resources and equipment for efficient use reflecting the application of the latest uses of technologies;
6. Provide instructional opportunities, including bibliographic instruction, for various client populations as appropriate;
7. Use information technologies and networks to acquire and share information and for reference and referral services;
8. Analyze research data and use this information to assess and solve library and/or information related problems;
9. Work with other professionals to address instructional and curricular problems, including those involved in establishing activities that enable the patron to increasingly assume responsibilities for planning, understanding, and assessing their own learning, to implement student learning activities reflecting different learning styles, and to ensure a variety of learning environments;
10. Incorporate into programming the resource and service needs of all users (e.g., the culturally diverse, the exceptional populations, the disabled); and
11. Recognize the importance of practicing effective leadership and interpersonal relationships within the educational, local, and professional communities.

Program Outline

As a culminating experience in the graduate preparatory programs, candidates must satisfactorily complete a program portfolio and present satisfactory scores on the appropriate PRAXIS II examination (for teaching licensure in School Library Media) or on the written comprehensive examination. The program portfolio must demonstrate the candidate’s ability to meet competencies as outlined by the program goals, the American Library Association (ALA), and the American Association of School Librarians (AASL). The program portfolio must reflect the candidate’s ability to assimilate competencies demonstrating growth and the ability to collect, evaluate, and analyze data and information. The PRAXIS II examination should be taken the semester prior to the semester in which the candidate plans to graduate. The comprehensive written examination will be scheduled during the candidate’s last semester of work.

The Arkansas Department of Education requires a passing score on the appropriate Praxis exam for P–12 licensure. Candidates will not be recommended for licensure unless a passing score is obtained. Programs in the College of Education require satisfactory completion of all key assessments identified by the program area. Candidates cannot complete their program unless these criteria have been met.

Program Requirements

Candidates pursuing the Master of Science degree in Library Media and Information Technologies must complete thirty semester hours of coursework.

Library Media and Information Technologies Program

This program has been nationally recognized by ALA/AASL. The following courses are required of all students pursuing a degree program in Library Media and Information Technologies.

Core Courses (24 Hours)

• LEAD 6321 Research Methods
• LIBM 6380 Library Management
• LIBM 6325 Copyright, Intellectual Property, and Digital Citizenship
• LIBM 6360 Collection Development
• LIBM 6332 Cataloging and Classification I
• LIBM 6370 Issues and Trends in Children’s, Juvenile, and Young Adult Literature
• LIBM 6371 Introduction to Library Science and Information/Recreational Programming
• LIBM 6330 Global Information Services

School Library Media Specialization Courses (6 Hours)

• LIBM 6353 Teaching and Learning in the School Library Media Center
• LIBM 6390 Practicum

Arkansas Teaching Licensure Information

A teaching license is required as a prerequisite to recommendation for Arkansas licensure as a school library media specialist. Candidates wishing to expand their Arkansas licensure to P–12 Library Media Specialist are required to split their practicum hours (60 clock hours at the elementary level and 60 clock hours at the secondary level).

To be recommended for a degree, candidates must meet the following requirements:

1. Complete all required course work with at least a 3.00 GPA;
2. Complete satisfactorily all student assessments required as part of the state and CAEP (formerly NCATE) accreditation process;
3. Complete satisfactorily the program required exit portfolio;
4. Present score report on the state mandated external national examination and meet at least the minimum score set by the state for licensure or present a passing score on the comprehensive final exam administered by the program; and
5. Present other documentation that is required by the state in order for the department to recommend you for the appropriate license.

College of Education graduate students are expected to maintain continuous enrollment throughout their program of study until achieving program completion. Specifically, College of Education graduate students are expected to be enrolled in at least two of the three semesters in a given calendar year (Spring, Summer I or II, and Fall). If a student must take a time-out, the student is expected to notify his/her home department. If a student fails to register for more than one semester out of three in a given calendar year, he/she may be ineligible for readmission unless granted by the home department.