Richard E. Riedl, Chair and Professor
RiedlRE@appstate.edu

Robert L. Sanders, Program Director and Associate Professor
SandersRL@appstate.edu

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http://www.ced.appstate.edu/departments/les/

The Department of Leadership and Educational Studies offers the Master of Library Science (MLS) in Library Science, General (Major Code: 465*/25.0101) with two concentrations:

• Public Libraries (465C)           
• School Libraries (465B)[T]

The Department of Leadership and Educational Studies also offers graduate programs in Educational Media, Higher Education, and School Administration. These programs are detailed under separate headings in this bulletin.

The Department of Leadership and Educational Studies serves the education community and the public through:

• foundations of education courses for teacher education majors
• research courses to help students develop skills and knowledge needed to understand the design, implementation, and evaluation of educational research
• graduate programs in public school administration; community college and higher education administration, teaching, developmental education and adult education; library science; and educational media/instructional technology

The Master of Arts in Library Science, General (MLS) (465*/25.0101) is nationally accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), approved by the North Carolina State Department of Public Instruction, and regionally accredited by the North Carolina Public Librarian Certification Commission. The program reflects Media Coordinator (School Librarian) competencies required by the state as well as Public Librarian Certification competencies of the North Carolina Public Librarian Certification Commission, depending on the concentration pursued by the student. Completion of the School Libraries concentration (465B)[T] entitles the graduate to apply for licensure (076 Media Coordinator) from the State of North Carolina. Completion of the Public Libraries concentration (465C) entitles the student to apply for Public Librarian Certification from the North Carolina Public Librarian Certification Commission.

The mission of the Library Science program is to make a positive impact on K-12 students and public library patrons by providing the State of North Carolina with appropriately educated school and public librarians who take leadership roles in the state, nation, and world. The Library Science program aspires to be a model 21st century nationally recognized program that blends teaching, service, and scholarship to attract, educate, and graduate reflective life-long learners, world citizens, agents of positive change, promoters of intellectual freedom, and action oriented leaders in the library profession.

General Information for All Students: A student working toward a degree and/or licensure in the Department of Leadership and Educational Studies must develop her/his Program of Study in consultation with an approved advisor. Candidacy forms must be submitted to the Office of Graduate Studies and Research before the student has completed 12 semester hours of course work. Degree students taking courses without being officially assigned an advisor and receiving the advisor’s approval do so at the risk of not having the courses approved as part of the degree program.

All electives must be approved by the student’s advisor in all programs. Students pursuing or holding graduate degrees in other departments, and also seeking administration and supervision licensure, must take the necessary courses and internship prescribed by the Department of Leadership and Educational Studies.

Location of Program: The Library Science program is offered on campus in Boone in the format described in this Bulletin. Off-campus cohorts are started periodically, and follow a part-time extended program format. For information on upcoming off-campus cohorts, please contact the Office of Extension and Distance Education: http://www.ext-dl.appstate.edu.

Courses in the MLS program are offered in a variety of ways including face-to-face, online, and a combination of online and face-to-face. The method of instruction depends on the course and instructor. Students need access to a computer with Broadband Internet access, a head set, and a microphone. Minimum system requirements are a Pentium III (PC) or Intel Core 2 Duo (Mac) processor with 1GB of RAM. Computers less than 2 years old are generally adequate. Additional Software may be required.

 

PROGRAM OF STUDY FOR THE MASTER OF LIBRARY SCIENCE IN LIBRARY SCIENCE, GENERAL (Major Code: 465*/25.0101)

Admission Requirements: Baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university; complete application to the graduate school; official GRE general or MAT exam scores.

Applicants Seeking Licensure (School Libraries Concentration 465B): North Carolina “A” license or the equivalent from another state is preferred. For additional information consult the LES website: http://www.ced.appstate.edu/departments/les/.

Minimum Criteria for Unconditional Admission: GPA of 3.0 in the last 60 hours of undergraduate work and official GRE scores or official MAT scores. OR
Cumulative GPA or last-60-hours GPA below 3.0 but above 2.69, and an official MAT score of 385 or an official GRE Verbal plus Quantitative score of 800.

Location: On Campus and Off Campus; Off-Campus cohorts begin periodically, and follow a part-time extended format.

Other Requirements for the MLS:

• Thesis: None required
• Proficiency: None required
• Comprehensive: A written comprehensive examination is required of all students in the Public Libraries Concentration (465C).
• Product of Learning: Required only for the School Libraries Concentration (465B).