Thank you for your interest in obtaining a license as a school library teacher at the Simmons Graduate School of Library and Information Science (GSLIS). Simmons has two post-Master's degree programs available for School Library Teacher Licensure.
Program for people who hold a Master's degree in Library Science and who are now seeking licensure by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education as a School Library Teacher
The courses listed below are required as a part of the licensure. (If the student has taken them in his/her Master's in Library Science degree program and received a grade of B or higher, the applicant will not be required to take them over again.) The courses the student needs to take will be determined by the Director of the School Library Teacher Program through an analysis of the student's transcript(s). Please see the Admission process for details about when this analysis will occur.
- LIS 406: Management of School Library Programs
- LIS 407: Reference/Information Services
- LIS 415: Information Organization
- LIS 426: Curriculum and the School Library Teacher
- LIS 431: Instructional Strategies for the School Library Teacher
- LIS 460: Technology and the School Library Teacher
- LIS 481: Children's Literature and Media Collections
- LIS 483: Young Adult Literature
- LIS 498: Practicum (preK-8)
- LIS 499: Practicum (7-12)
Before students are allowed to complete their practicum experiences, they will need to pass the Communication and Literacy Skills Test of the Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure (MTEL). This test is administered in various places but only in Massachusetts. You can obtain further information at the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education website.
Program for teachers who currently hold a Master's Degree in education and an initial or professional Massachusetts License as a teacher, a Master of Arts degree in teaching, or a Master's degree in a related field along with an initial or professional Massachusetts Teacher License. At the time of application for the School Library Teacher License you must have a minimum of three years of teaching experience in a Massachusetts public school.
The courses listed below will prepare students to become licensed as school library teachers in Massachusetts. These courses, together with an existing initial or professional teaching license and three years of teaching experience in a Massachusetts public school, will enable students to obtain licensure from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education as a school library teacher.
- LIS 406: Management of School Library Programs
- LIS 407: Reference/Information Services
- LIS 426 Curriculum and the School Library Teacher
- LIS 460: Technology and the School Library Teacher
- LIS 481: Children's Literature and Media Collections (For those planning to work with elementary students)
- LIS 483: Young Adult Literature (For those planning to work with middle school and high school students)
If the student's prior teaching license did not require him/her to take and pass the Communication and Literacy Skills Test of the Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure (MTEL), he/she will be required to do that prior to applying for the school library teacher license.
Application Process
If you would like to apply for either of the above post-Master's degree programs, please email the GSLIS Admission Office at gslisadm@simmons.edu and include the program for which you wish to be considered, as well as the term you would like to start that program. Admissions will then send you the appropriate application.
Each applicant must submit the application, as well as transcript(s) from the appropriate master's degree granting institution(s). Applicants who took classes other than at Simmons GSLIS must also submit course descriptions. Completed applications must be received in the GSLIS Admission Office by the following deadlines:
- May 1 — for Fall
- September 15 — for Spring
- February 15 — for Summer
The Director of the School Library Teacher (SLT) Program will evaluate the applicant's official Master's Degree transcript and course descriptions (if the applicant enrolled at an institution other than Simmons). After this evaluation is complete, the applicant will be notified of which classes will be required to complete the SLT licensure program. The applicant must then confirm whether he/she intends to pursue the licensure program.
Once students complete the admissions process, they will be eligible to begin taking courses. Registration instructions will be sent to the student at that time.
Tuition
Students who are admitted to the licensure will pay 50% of the current master's degree tuition.
Current tuition rates can be found here.