MASTER OF LIBRARY SCIENCE DEGREE

ala logoEino Sierpe, Program Coordinator

Tel. (203) 392-6883
E-mail: sierpee1@SouthernCT.edu 

The Master of Library Science degree requires completion of a total of 36 credits (or approximately 12 courses). To graduate from this program, all students must complete the six core courses (see below) and six elective courses with a grade of "B" or higher in each course. A course can be repeated once in an effort to achieve a grade of "B" or higher. Failure to receive a grade of "B" or higher in a core course, or if the cumulative grade point average falls below 3.0, may result in academic probation and academic dismissal. Students earn credit only once for a repeated course.

Students in the MLS program may take up to three credits outside the program with prior approval.

The Master of Library Science degree program is accredited by the American Library Association. The school media specialist certification is also approved by the Connecticut State Board of Education and accredited through the School of Education by NCATE. The online MLS program is licensed and accredited by the Board of Governors, Department of Higher Education, State of Connecticut.

Transfer Credit

In addition to university requirements (please consult that section of the catalog), up to 9 transfer credits may be awarded for work completed in other ALA-accredited MLS programs.


Program of Study 

Before an accepted student can be matriculated into the MLS programs, a Planned Program of Study must be completed and approved (signed) by the advisor, department chairperson, and Graduate School. Once the Planned Program is approved, any change in courses to be taken must be approved by the student's advisor.

See pages 160-165 of the 2013-2014 Graduate Catalog for a list of 500 and 600 level ILS Courses.  

ILS Student handbook (pdf)

Core Requirements

All students in the MLS degree program must successfully complete the following six core required courses with the grade of "B" or better:

Electives

Students choose 18 credits of elective courses in Information and Library Science with the ILS course designation that are suited to their career goals. Up to 3 credits in a cognate area outside the ILS course designation with written department approval from the Curriculum Committee is permitted. Pre-approval has been given to the following cognate area courses: IDS 553, SED 594, EDF 520, EDU 566.

Field Projects, Independent Studies, and Internships

Electives in the MLS program include Field Projects, Independent Studies, and Internships. Each of these require advance planning with formal documentation and approval of the plan.

An application for a Field Project or Independent Study must be submitted by April 15th for the fall term and November 15th for the spring term. Students must submit a proposal according to the guidelines established by the Graduate School and the ILS department. The proposal must be approved by an advisor and accepted by a departmental committee as well as by the Graduate School. ILS uses the Independent Study Form on the Graduate School website www.southernct.edu/grad/currentstudents/forms/ for both the Field Project (ILS 585) and Independent Study (ILS 600) applications.

The Library Practice (Internship), ILS 582, is a professional work experience in an academic, public, or special library. A professional work experience (internship) is very strongly recommended for all MLS students. The practicum or internship (ILS 582) is arranged by Dr. Elsie Okobi (okobie1@southernct.edu). Contact Dr. Okobi for additional information and Application deadlines. Following are the documents associated with applying for Library Practice (ILS 582):

NOTE: While ILS 582 may be taken for up to 6 credits (300 hours), only 3 credit of ILS 582 may count toward the MLS degree. It is understood that work/employment in a library may not be used for credit under ILS 582; it is understood that an ILS 582 internship may not be done in a library in which the student may be employed.

TK20 Requirement

 Tk20 was adopted by the School of Education as a tool for documenting evidence for NCATE accreditation. ILS adopted Tk20 for the MLS program following the spring 2010 ALA accreditation visit and the realization that a different kind of documentation system than we were then using was needed for the new ALA accountabilities that would take effect that following fall for programs being reviewed by ALA's Committee on Accreditation (COA). ILS elected to be reviewed under the new accountabilities in spring 2010, ahead of their mandated implementation.

Tk20 is linked to courses you are enrolled in. Currently ILS 501, 503, 504, 506, 565, 580, 581, and 655 participate in Tk20. Tk20 pulls the rosters for these courses from Banner and alerts enrolled students through their Tk20 accounts that a given assignment is due for the course. (In the case of 581 there are also forms to be completed by the cooperating teacher-librarian and the university supervisor, each receive a Tk20 login for this.) The student completes and uploads the assignment. The instructor calls up submitted assignments, the approved, corresponding assessment rubric pops up, and the instructor assesses the assignment against the rubric and submits the rubric scores to Tk20. Tk20 generates needed statistical reports from all the submissions. Administration and accrediting visiting teams are given access accounts and can go in and view the various submissions.

The department also receives statistical reports from Tk20. We then use this along with other data, such as course evaluations, to identify potential changes that may be needed, to monitor effectiveness of implemented changes, and to monitor general progress of students through their programs.

All students in the MLS program are to have Tk20 accounts. Information on obtaining a Tk20 account is available at: http://www.southernct.edu/education/tk20/

The capstone experience Requirement AND PORTFOLIO

All students enrolled in the MLS degree program are required to complete a Capstone Experience of either Special Project, Thesis (per 4-7-11 faculty meeting), or Comprehensive Exam (per 4-7-11 faculty meeting) as one of the University requirements for graduate degrees.

     Special Project Information (pdf)

The Department of Information and Library Science requires all candidates for the MLS to complete an electronic Capstone Portfolio as one of the exit requirements for the degree. The Capstone Portfolio is a well-organized Web- and CD-deliverable demonstration of the body of work a student completes in the MLS program and how this work relates to professional competencies. The portfolio includes the Capstone Experience and samples of assignments and projects from all courses completed for the MLS degree.

The completed Capstone Portfolio is evaluated, using a rubric, by the student's Capstone Experience advisor. The approved Capstone Portfolio is submitted to the ILS Department on a CD and kept on file for review by faculty and accreditation agencies. 

Deadlines for Graduation Application and Capstone Reviews


Degree Application Deadlines:

    Check the registrar's website for graduate degree application deadlines and the link to the graduate degree application.

    In order to be eligible for graduation, a student must submit a Graduate Degree Application to the Registrar's Office by the established deadline.

    All MLS students must all complete the departmental Student MLS Degree Audit Checklist form and file one copy with the department office and one copy with the MLS Program Coordinator within the first two weeks of the semester in which they will complete their program/graduate.

Portfolio  Review:

    A complete review of the MLS Portfolio is required at least two weeks before the end of the semester in which the student expects to graduate.

    Upon approval of the MLS Portfolio, the student submits the Portfolio with the Capstone Experience documentation on a CD to the ILS Department office.    

Continuous Enrollment, Satisfactory Progression, and Performance Assessment

Continuous Enrollment requires that every graduate student maintain at least six credits toward his or her degree program every calendar year (a minimum of three credits in the fall and spring terms respectively) from the time of acceptance by the School of Graduate Studies until completion of all requirements for the graduate degree. Students must register for a course each semester or pay a continuous enrollment fee. Payment of the continuous enrollment fee permits use of the library, computer facilities, and access to faculty advisors during the period covered by the continuous enrollment fee. Students who fail to maintain continuous enrollment status may lose their status as a matriculated student and may need to reapply to the program.

Continuation in any of the department's graduate programs is contingent upon ongoing positive faculty evaluation of a graduate student's grades, professional or scholarly attributes, performance in real or simulated professional situations, and subjective appraisal of the student's progress and potential. A student may be suspended or dismissed from a graduate program for deficiencies in any of these areas. If, in the professional judgment of the faculty, a student demonstrates practices that are harmful to patrons, unethical, or behaves unprofessionally, he or she will be placed on probation or requested to withdraw from the program.

School Media students must maintain good standing in the program in order to qualify for student teaching and a recommendation from Southern Connecticut State University for State of Connecticut teacher certification. They also must demonstrate the following:


Time Limitation to Complete Programs 

All requirements for a graduate degree must be completed within a period of six years prior to the granting of the master's degree or sixth year diploma. Refer to the section entitled "Time Limitation to Complete Programs" in the beginning of this catalog under "Academic Standards and Regulations" for additional information.

Graduate Student Affairs Committee (GSAC)

The Graduate Student Affairs Committee (GSAC) "is a student organization that is committed to "advancing our agenda for excellence" set by Southern Connecticut State University's School of Graduate Studies. It supports activities that enhance the academic, social and cultural experience of Southern's students through the distribution of the activity fees collected from full-time graduate students. The funds support a variety of graduate student activities including student research and conference attendance as well as university and departmental efforts such as guest lecturers, club events, and special events. GSAC also functions as an advocacy group, representing the needs of Southern's graduate student body."

"The Graduate Student Affairs Committee meets on the first Monday of every month of the academic year with the exceptions of January and September. Meetings are held from 3:00 to 4:30 PM in the Adanti Student Center. All graduate students and faculty are welcome to attend. For more information please contact the GSAC Coordinator, Arlene Lucibello at (203) 392-6165."

Updated from the 2013-2014 Graduate Catalog 

Last updated: March 9, 2013