Overview
Coordinator: Dr. Ramona A. Kerby
The school librarianship graduate program is designed to create outstanding teachers, instructional leaders, and administrators of quality school library centers. The degree offers courses in literature for children and young adults, technology, selecting quality materials that meet the needs of diverse learners, administering a school library program, a significant practicum experience, and a digital portfolio course that demonstrate an understanding of our professional standards.
The SLM program is nationally recognized and approved by the American Library Association (ALA) / American Association of School Librarians (AASL) and the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education. (NCATE). The SLM program adheres to the ALA/AASL Standards for Initial Preparation of School Librarians (2010). Embedded in course content and assessments are the five standards: (1) Teaching for Learning, (2) Literacy and Reading, (3) Information and Knowledge, (4) Advocacy and Leadership, and (5) Program Management and Administration.
This comprehensive 37-credit graduate program is approved by the Maryland State Department of Education. Pennsylvania State Department of Education guidelines are addressed during the advisement process for students seeking employment in and/or licensure in Pennsylvania.
Please Note: In July of 2013, NCATE and the Teacher Education Accreditation Council (TEAC) consolidated to form the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). Under this consolidation, NCATE became a subsidiary of CAEP maintaining its recognition by the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation for the purpose of maintaining the accreditation of educator preparation providers until such time as said providers come up for accreditation under CAEP.
Admissions Requirements
Candidates seeking admission to the School Librarianship program must submit the following documentation:
- Application for graduate study with non-refundable fee
- Official transcripts conferring bachelor’s degree with a minimum of 3.0 GPA from an accredited institution; and any official transcripts with courses at the graduate level
- Current and valid teaching certificate such as Early Childhood, Elementary, or Secondary or related fields; or OR MSDE qualifying scores for the Praxis Core Exam, SAT, GRE, or ACT*if not a teacher, a copy of the state-designed qualifying scores for the Praxis I Exam or equivalency*
- An essay of approximately 250 words describing the applicant’s professional goals as they relate to the SLM professional roles as leader, teacher, and information specialist as identified by the American Association of School Librarians
- Three completed reference forms with checklists linked to the Education Preparation Provider’s Conceptual Framework with at least one from the applicant’s principal
*Applicants not holding teaching certification must take a minimum of twelve credit hours in education at the undergraduate or graduate level prior to beginning the SLM program. For help in selecting the required education courses, contact the program coordinator, Dr. Ramona Kerby before enrolling in them.
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