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Children's Literature + Library Services to Children

Children's Literature (MA) + Library and Information Science (MS):Library Services to Children is the first and only dual degree program in the country that prepares students and professionals in library youth and young adult services.

Librarians in a library

Enroll in both the Master of Arts in Children’s Literature and the Master of Science in Library and Information Science to meld theory and practice. Work with an advisor from each program to tailor your studies to meet your needs and interests.

Examine literary history and then evaluate a children’s literature collection. Consider far-ranging critical frameworks and assess the right young adult texts to bring to readers. Study the form of the picturebook as the first step in connecting books to child readers. Research contemporary nonfiction to build not only today’s common core but also to tomorrow’s scientists.

Immerse yourself in The Center for the Study of Children’s Literature. Join authors and illustrators at the summer institute, the Horn Book at Simmons Symposium, and the literary events hosted in Boston every year. From Children’s Books Boston to the Boston Book Festival, participate in today’s literary society as you create tomorrow’s readers.

Scholarships, Discounts, Fellowship and Teaching Assistantship Opportunities 

All applicants are considered for a range of university scholarships, including endowed and departmental awards; new and returning students may apply for selective fellowships to help fund their degrees. Students who have completed at least eight credits are eligible to apply for teaching assistantships to gain experience in the classroom and help finance their degree. Additionally, Simmons is proud to offer teachers, librarians, affiliates of partner organizations, and Simmons alumnae/i reduced tuition and other benefits.

Library Science Course Requirements (21 credits)

NOTE: Students interested in pursuing School Library Teacher certification should follow the Library Science courses described below in the “Library Science: School Library Teacher Requirements” section, below

 

Three core courses in Library and Information Science (totaling 9 credits):

LIS415 Information Organization 3
LIS407 Information Service, Behaviors & Ethics 3
LIS488 Technology for Information Professionals 3

Two courses describing children’s library collections (6 credits)

LIS481 Library Collections and Materials for Children 3
LIS483 Library Collections and Materials for Young Adults 3

The program consists of ten courses in Library and Information Science (30 credit hours).

Library Science Course Requirements (30 credits)

LIS407 Information Service, Behaviors & Ethics 3
LIS415 Information Organization 3
LIS460 Technology and the School Library Teacher 3
LIS459 Fundamentals of School Librarianship 3
LIS406 Management and Evaluation of School Library Programs 3
LIS461 Curriculum and Instructional Strategies for the School Library Teacher 3
LIS481 Library Collections and Materials for Children 3
LIS483 Library Collections and Materials for Young Adults 3
LIS498 Practicum (PreK-8) 3
LIS499 Practicum (7-12) 3

Required and Elective Courses

CHL401 Criticism of Literature for Children 4
CHL403 The Picturebook 4
CHL413 Contemporary Realistic Fiction for Young Adults 4
CHL414 Fantasy and Science Fiction 4

4 credits of CHL History coursework

4 credits of CHL elective coursework

In addition to the required courses noted above, students in the dual degree program complete a 4-credit capstone course and 9-12 credits of freely chosen elective coursework (credit count depends on the courses selected

Dual Degree Program Capstone Course (4 credits):

 
CHL437 Critical Positionality 4

Freely Chosen Program Electives ( 9-12 credits )

Students who are not pursuing School Library Teacher certification must select 9-12 credits of elective coursework from among courses offered by Library and Information Science and the department of Children’s Literature.

Our students take advantage of internships in Boston and beyond, building their skills and resumes and learning from mentors in their fields. Students have interned at publishing houses such as Delacorte, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Charlesbridge, Candlewick, Scholastic, Penguin, David Godine, and St. Martin's; at a variety of literary agenc​ies in Boston and New York; and at advocacy groups, such as Reach Out and Read and the Boston Book Festival. Some students also seek professional internships with local schools and libraries.

Programs at the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art

All Children’s Literature degree and dual degree programs are offered on the Boston campus. In addition, the MA in Children’s Literature, MFA in Writing for Children, the dual degree MA/MFA are also offered at the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art in Amherst. Students can complete the MA in Children’s Literature/MS in Library Science with MA courses at the Carle and LIS courses on the Greenfield Community College campus. Founded by Eric Carle, the renowned author and illustrator of more than 70 books, including the 1969 classic The Very Hungry Caterpillar, the Carle is the first full-scale museum in this country devoted to national and international picture book art.

The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art

In collaboration with The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, Simmons offers all four graduate programs in Children's Literature onsite at The Carle. This includes our M.A. in Children's Literature, M.F.A. in Writing for Children, M.A. in Children's Literature/M.F.A. dual degree, and M.A. in Children's Literature/M.S. in Library Science dual degree offered in collaboration with Simmons's School of Library and Information Science program at Greenfield Community College. Founded in part by Eric Carle, the renowned author and illustrator of more than 70 books, including the 1969 classic The Very Hungry Caterpillar, The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art is the first full-scale museum in this country devoted to national and international picture book art. The Carle is located in Amherst, in the heart of the Five Colleges area of Western Massachusetts. Learn more about the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art.

Our Faculty

Cathryn Mercier photo

Cathryn Mercier

Professor and Graduate Program Director of Children's Literature

Amy Pattee photo

Amy Pattee

Professor

Anita Silvey photo

Anita Silvey

Adjunct Faculty

Spotlight on Children's Literature Students and Alums

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An illustration of Gregory Maguire holding a quill pen with images from Wicked in the background

Gregory Maguire ’78MA Defying Gravity

Gregory Maguire '78MA, best-selling author of Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, reflects on his time as one of the first graduates of the Master of Arts in Children’s Literature program at Simmons, now celebrating its 50th anniversary.

Shelves full of children's books. Photo by Zoshua Colah on Unsplash.

Alumnae/i Receive Awards from American Library Association

The American Library Association (ALA) announced winners of the 2025 Youth Media Awards, including Breanna J. McDaniel ’14MA, Gabe Cole Novoa ’19MFA, Stephanie Seales ’09MA, and Sacha Lamb ’20MS/MA.

Horn Book creator Bertha Mahoney and a poster celebrating 100 years of the Horn Book magazine

Blowing the Horn for Children’s Literature: One Hundred Years of The Horn Book Magazine

In October of 1924, the first issue of The Horn Book magazine appeared. It began as a newsletter from the Bookshop for Boys and Girls, one of the first children’s book shops in the United States, established in 1916 by...

Three piles of books with sticky notes hanging out between the pages.

From Mock Printz to the Real Deal: Simmons Dual Degree Student Shares Her Awards Committee Experience

Elena McVicar ’11MA/MS shares her experience serving on the 2021 Printz Award Committee, and how her Simmons studies uniquely prepared her to work in the Children's Literature field.

A gallery in the Eric Carle Museum

Children’s Literature Alumna Receives Mentor Award at 2024 Carle Honors

On September 26, Elissa Gershowitz ’00MA, Editor-in-Chief of The Horn Book, received a Mentor Award at the Carle Honors ceremony in New York City. Bestowed by The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art these annual awards celebrate individuals and organizations who have elevated the art of children’s picture-book making.

The logo of The Boston Globe Horn Book Awards

Simmons Children’s Lit Alum on Judging the Horn Book Awards

Rodney Fierce ’12MA, a Humanities Teacher at Sonoma Academy, shares what led him to study children’s literature, his work at the Academy, and his recent experience on the Horn Book Awards Committee.

Shelves full of children's books. Photo by Zoshua Colah on Unsplash.

Children’s and English Literature Alumna Named Agent of the Month

Amy Thrall Flynn 95’MA, ’21MA, Senior Literary Agent of Aevitas Creative Management, has been named “Agent of the Month” (for October 2024) by Writing and Illustrating, a blog devoted to children’s literature authors and illustrators.

Stacy Whitman stands in fron of a mural holding a bag from her bookshop The Curious Cat

Children’s Literature Alum Celebrates Bookshop’s First Anniversary

Stacy Whitman '05MA celebrates the first anniversary of her brick and mortar bookstore, Curious Cat Bookshop in Winsted, CT, with an article in the CT Insider.

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