Program Overview

Youth Literature and Services Certificate

The Graduate Certificate in Youth Literature & Services trains dedicated professionals with specialized knowledge and skills to support the informational and literacy needs of children, tweens, teens, and young adults. This certificate is advantageous to an information or education professional interested in fostering the literacy needs of youth in library and literacy environments.

Overview

Youth (Children’s and Young Adult) Services is an area of professional practice centered on serving the informational, recreational, educational, and cultural needs of children, young adults, and their caregivers within a public library setting. This diverse area includes library services to youth ages birth up to nineteen.

Requirements

The Graduate Certificate in Youth Literature & Services is a 15 credit hour program with courses that focus on drawing a connection between youth's educational and personal interests and a wide range of creative activities such as puppetry, traditional and digital storytelling, dramatic play, poetry slams, and spoken word performances. The certificate provides the expertise to enhance youth’s literacy skills and learning explorations to celebrate book joy and forge pathways to school, college, career, and civic readiness.

Admissions

• Completed Bachelor's degree with a 3.0 minimum GPA.
• Applications are accepted from students currently holding a Bachelor's degree, those pursuing graduate work in library and information studies and allied disciplines, or those already possessing graduate degrees in related disciplines.
• Application Deadlines:
  • For Spring admissions, the priority deadline for all certificate applications is October 1 and the final completed application deadline is November 16.
  • For Fall admissions, the priority deadline for all certificate applications is February 1 and the final completed application deadline is May 15.

Curricular Requirements

Students complete a total of 15 hours for the Graduate Certificate in Youth Literature & Services. Nine credit hours are selected from required youth services courses and six credit hours are from an approved list of youth services electives.

• Double counting of courses in the required and elective areas is not permitted. If a course is selected as a required course, it cannot be used as an approved elective.
• All 15 hours in the certificate can be applied as electives to the 36 hour MLIS degree program, if the student is accepted into the degree program.

Course Requirements

• Required:
  • LS 520 or LS 521: Early Child Lit & Story Prog or Matl & Serv Children
  • LS 522 or LS 621: Matl & Serv YA or Intercultural Youth Lit
  • LS 541: Youth Programming
  • Credit Hours Subtotal: 9
• Approved Youth Services Electives (Choose 2): 6
  • LS 521 or LS 520: Matl & Serv Children or Early Child Lit & Story Prog
  • LS 522 or LS 621: Matl & Serv YA or Intercultural Youth Lit
  • LS 543: Trad. & Digital Storytelling
  • LS 544: Cultural Div Prog Youth & Fam
  • LS 620: Graphic Novels - Youth
  • Total Hours: 15

Transfer Credit

Transfer credits are not allowed for the Graduate Certificate in Youth Literature & Services.

Time Limits for Degree Completion

• Students completing only the Graduate Certificate in Youth Literature & Services have six years to complete the certificate.
• Students completing the certificate along with the MLIS must meet all requirements for the master's degree with coursework completed in the six years (18 consecutive semesters) immediately preceding the date on which the degree is to be awarded.

Awarding the Certificate

Students are awarded the Graduate Certificate in Youth Literature & Services upon completion of the 15 required hours of coursework.

Academic Misconduct Information

Student academic misconduct is not permitted. In the event of perceived academic misconduct, the University's Academic Misconduct Policy will be followed.

Withdrawal or Leave of Absence Information

Students, who need to withdraw from a course at the university or take a leave of absence, should contact their academic advisor and the SLIS director.

Academic Grievances Information

Academic grievances are addressed according to the "University-Wide Academic Grievance Procedures" outlined in the University of Alabama Faculty Handbook.

Grades and Academic Standing

See the Graduate School Policy information for details on grades and academic standing.