Library and Information Science: School Library Teacher Concentration

In the Master of Library and Information Science: School Library Teacher Concentration at Simmons University, you'll connect students with information resources locally and globally, and use technology for research and project-based learning.

Why study in the School Library Teacher Concentration?

Students in the Master of Library and Information Science: School Library Teacher Concentration engage in intellectually rigorous and stimulating course-work focused on instructional technologies used in today's schools. As a school library teacher, you'll be an academic leader — focusing on information literacy and igniting students' interest in reading and technology.

This concentration cannot be completed entirely online. Students have face-to-face classroom options in Boston and at SLIS West (South Hadley and Amherst, Massachusetts) and can undertake some online courses. Practicums must be completed in public schools in Massachusetts.

The School Library Concentration has exceptional academics, faculty, professional mentors, and customizable program options, making it an excellent choice for students driven to become school library teachers.

U.S. News Best Grad Schools in 2022: Services for Children & Youth and Digital Librarianship

Ranked among the best

Simmons University is one of U.S. News and World Report’s top ranking schools of library and information science in the nation.

What will you learn?

Simmons' School Library Teacher Concentration consists of 36 credit hours. The core curriculum focuses on technology integration, curriculum development, and literacy initiatives in the K-12 learning environment. For more details, see our Library and Information Science course descriptions

Students at Simmons participate in supervised fieldwork in area public schools and a practicum experience at both the elementary and secondary school levels — accumulating 75 hours of fieldwork and at least 300 hours of professional experience throughout the School Library Teacher Concentration program.

What can you do with the School Library Teacher Concentration?

Graduates from our program go on to successful careers as school library teachers in elementary, middle and high schools. 

After completing our program, graduates are eligible to be endorsed by the Simmons School of Library and Information Science (SLIS) to the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) for licensure. The National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification (NASDTEC) endorses our program and external accrediting agencies commend us on the program's outstanding quality.

Learn more about our School Library Teacher Concentration!

Simmons provides exceptional academic and professional training. Our students go on to successful careers as school library teachers in elementary, middle and high schools. Ready to learn more about what the Master of Library and Information Science: School Library Teacher concentration at Simmons has to offer? Request more information today!

Students in the MS (LIS) degree program must complete 36 credits of graduate coursework to be qualified to earn the MS (LIS) degree.

MS (LIS) students must maintain a cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.0 to continue in the program.

Students in the School Library Teacher (SLT) concentration must receive a “B” (3.0) or better in every course. Any course in which the student has received a grade lower than a B must be repeated before the candidate may enroll in a practicum or be recommended for licensure. See “Degree Progress and Academic Sanctions” for further information.

Concentrations and Specializations

LIS students may choose to focus their studies by following a degree concentration curriculum designed to prepare students to work in a variety of information institutions with a diversity of materials and tools. Students who choose to concentrate their studies must complete the LIS core courses required of all MS students as well as a sequence of courses required to earn the degree concentration.

Program Requirements

MS (LIS) students are required to complete three courses equaling nine (9) credits of core coursework in library and information science.

LIS407 Information Sources & Services 3
LIS415 Information Organization 3
 
LIS488 Technology for Information Professionals 3
or, if a student is in the School Library Teacher Program (SLTP)
LIS460 Technology and the School Library Teacher 3

These core courses must be completed within a student’s first twelve (12) hours of coursework. SLT students must complete LIS 407 and LIS 415 within their first twelve (12) hours of coursework and may complete LIS 460 any time during the course of their degree program.

The School has initiated a program to provide a common base of knowledge of the technologies and tools students will encounter during the course of their studies, as well as resources available to them as a Simmons LIS student. All students entering the program are required to register for the 0-credit LIS 400 – Virtual Orientation, which introduces students to the full range of academic, administrative, and social expectations for students, and the environment in which they must meet those expectations. Intended for both online and on campus students, this course describes program requirements; university, school, and program policy; and offers information about the full range of resources available to the students in support of their programs. It also offers basic tutorial and instruction related to the use of Moodle (the learning management system used in online and on campus courses), library resources, and other key tools used to support student learning.


LIS students may choose to focus their studies by following a degree concentration curriculum designed to prepare students to work in a variety of information institutions with a diversity of materials and tools. Students who choose to concentrate their studies must complete the LIS core courses required of all MS students as well as a sequence of courses required to earn the degree concentration.

Archives Concentration Course Requirements

LIS core courses (9 credits):

LIS407 Information Sources & Services 3
LIS415 Information Organization 3
LIS488 Technology for Information Professionals 3

Take the following (9 credits):

LIS438 Introduction to Archival Theory and Practice 3
LIS440 Archival Access and Use 3
LIS442 Establishing Archives and Manuscript Programs 3

One of the following (3 credits):

LIS433 Oral History 3
LIS441 Appraisal of Archives and Manuscripts 3
 
LIS443 Archives, History and Collective Memory 3
OR
HIST527 Archives, History, and Collective Memory 4
LIS456 Records Management Environments 3
LIS471 Photographic Archives 3
LIS472 Moving Image Archives 3
LIS476 Outreach and Advocacy for Cultural Heritage 3
LIS505M Government Archives 3

One of the following (3 credits):

LIS439 Preservation Management 3
LIS444 Digital Preservation 3
LIS448 Digital Stewardship 3

Four elective courses (12 credits)

Cultural Heritage Informatics Concentration Course Requirements

LIS core courses (9 credits):

LIS407 Information Sources & Services 3
LIS415 Information Organization 3
LIS488 Technology for Information Professionals 3

Take the following (9 credits):

LIS432 Concepts in Cultural Heritage Informatics 3
LIS438 Introduction to Archival Theory and Practice 3
LIS477 Digital Asset Management 3

One of the following (3 credits):

LIS439 Preservation Management 3
LIS444 Digital Preservation 3
LIS448 Digital Stewardship 3
Five elective courses (15 credits)

Design Your Own Concentration Course Requirements

LIS core courses (9 credits):

LIS407 Information Sources & Services 3
LIS415 Information Organization 3
LIS488 Technology for Information Professionals 3

Nine elective courses (27 credits) 

Information Science and Technology Concentration Course Requirements

Any two from the complete list below (6 credits):

Systems Oriented
LIS467 Web Development and Information Architecture 3
LIS486 Systems Analysis in Information Services 3
LIS487 Data Interoperability 3
User Oriented
LIS421 Social Informatics 3
LIS455 Usability and User Experience Research 3
LIS462 Digital Libraries 3
LIS465 Knowledge Management 3
LIS475 Organizational/Information Ethics 3
LIS500 Independent Study 3

Four elective courses (12 credits)

LIS core courses (9 credits):

LIS407 Information Sources & Services 3
LIS415 Information Organization 3
LIS488 Technology for Information Professionals 3

Take the following (9 credits):

LIS458 Database Management 3
LIS484 Theories of Information Science 3
LIS485 Introduction to Programming 3

Libraries and Librarianship Concentration Course Requirements

LIS core courses (9 credits):

LIS407 Information Sources & Services 3
LIS415 Information Organization 3
LIS488 Technology for Information Professionals 3

Take the following (9 credits):

LIS404 Principles of Management 3
LIS408 User Instruction 3
LIS453 Collections Development and Management 3

One of the following (3 credits):

LIS414 Special Libraries 3
LIS450 Public Libraries 3
LIS451 Academic Libraries 3
Five elective courses (15 credits)

School Library Teacher Concentration Course Requirements

LIS core courses (6 credits):

LIS407 Information Sources & Services 3
LIS415 Information Organization 3

Take the following (24 credits)

LIS406 Management and Evaluation of School Library Programs 3
LIS459 Fundamentals of School Librarianship 3
LIS460 Technology and the School Library Teacher 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
Two elective courses (6 credits)

After completing the state-approved program as a school library teacher, graduates are eligible to be endorsed by SLIS to the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) for licensure. The academic program is based on the DESE’s standards that must be demonstrated in order to obtain a license. Once you graduate from the program, the School Library Teacher Program will endorse your application for licensure to the DESE.

The National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification (NASDTEC) endorses our program and external accrediting agencies commend us on the program's outstanding quality.

In addition, the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education cooperates with every state and the District of Columbia through the National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification (NASDTEC) Interstate Agreement which facilitates the movement of educators among the states. This Agreement makes reciprocal licensure/certification possible among states. Specific reciprocal requirements vary from state to state. (Individual state departments of education must be contacted to learn specific state requirements.) As a master's degree program endorsed by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, SLIS SLTP graduates can participate in the benefits of this agreement. If you are from outside Massachusetts, however, please check with your state's department of education.

At the conclusion of the School Library Teacher program, graduates are eligible to apply for positions as school library teachers in elementary, middle, and high schools.

Students may complete the master of science degree program in library and information science fully online. Students may choose the DYO (Design Your Own) option, and customize their degree program to reflect their professional goals. Or, they may choose to concentrate their studies in archives management or information science and technology. Students pursuing school library teacher may supplement their on-campus courses with online courses.

Online Courses

Excepting mode of delivery, online courses are identical to face to face courses in content and learning objectives. Online courses are asynchronous, meaning that teaching and learning in the online course environment is not bound to time or place. Just as face-to-face students must meet assignment deadlines set by their instructors and actively engage in learning in the classroom space, online students are similarly obligated to complete assignments on time and participate in learning activities. The difference between the online and face-to-face experience: online students may access and engage with organized learning materials anytime and anywhere they are connected to the Internet.

Because all MS students may register for and participate in online classes, the SLIS online classrooms have become spaces for local and distant students to learn and network.

Attend the LIS Master’s Program at SLIS West in South Hadley, Massachusetts located at Mount Holyoke College.  The SLIS West Campus is primarily a part time program geared towards the needs of working students. The small classes, scheduling flexibility, and cohesive community help our working students succeed in the classroom and in their careers.

Courses are scheduled primarily on weekends, with some evening options available. Depending on the area of specialization, program requirements can be completed entirely at the SLIS West campus, although many students take a course or two online or in Boston. Boston students are also welcome to take classes at SLIS West.

Spotlight on School Library Teacher Concentration Students and Alums

Headshot of Michelle Laflamme

Michelle Laflamme ’22MS Awarded 2021 Audrey Friend Scholarship

Awarded annually by the Massachusetts School Library Association, Laflamme was selected for her passion for education and her desire to model the tenets of social justice, nurture cultural appreciation, promote quality information-seeking behavior.