Human Services, EdS (61-872) - Learning Resources Option (0776)

Students who have already earned their master’s degree in library science or education may pursue an Education Specialist degree in Human Services with an option in Learning Resources. Students may complete the requirements for certification while pursuing this degree. Those who already have certification may pursue a wide variety of educational goals.

Vision Statement: The Library Science and Information Services program prepares school librarians who are indispensable in preK-12 schools.

Student Learning Outcomes - The graduate with an Education Specialist degree in Human Services, Learning Resources Option will use the knowledge and skills obtained in the program to:

• Teaching for Learning: Applies knowledge of the academic, personal, social, and cultural characteristics of students and relates them to learning through effective instructional strategies and assessments. Collaborates effectively with classroom teachers and other educators. Documents and communicates the impact of instruction on student achievement.
• Reading and Literacy: Promotes and encourages reading for enjoyment, personal growth, and learning. Provides fiction and nonfiction literatures appropriate to the students and grade levels served. Selects reading materials in multiple formats to facilitate maximum access for all members of the school community. Models a variety of research-based literacy strategies. Advocates for students’ intellectual freedom.
• Information and Knowledge: Provides access to information for students, teachers, staff , and administrators to satisfy all learning needs. Teaches information literacy skills to build proficiency for student-driven research and individual creation of knowledge through critical thinking. Promotes equitable access to resources in a variety of formats and services for a variety of needs.
• Leadership and Advocacy: Provides leadership by articulating ways in which school libraries contribute to student achievement. Advocates for dynamic school library programs and positive learning environments by collaborating and connecting with the school community.
• Program Management and Administration: Administers the school library media program using research-based data to analyze and improve services in alignment with the school’s mission to support student achievement. Selects, acquires, catalogs, retrieves, integrates, circulates, preserves, and deselects information resources. Manages fiscal, physical, and personnel resources. Practices professional ethics with regard to intellectual property and information privacy. Develops policies and procedures in support of the library program.
• Technology Integration: Provides equitable access to technology for the school community. Continually upgrades technological skills to enhance student and teacher learning. Integrates technology tools to communicate and facilitate learning. Promotes digital citizenship instruction to support appropriate academic use of information.
• Professional Development: Seeks opportunities to grow professionally by taking advantage of information, events and services provided by local, state, and national organizations. Seeks opportunities for service through professional associations.

Admissions Process - To be accepted into the program, applicants must have a minimum GPA of 3.25 and a earned master’s degree and an interview. An applicant who does not meet the overall graduate grade point average must be classified as “a non-degree seeking student” until achieving a minimum graduate grade point average of 3.25 during the first nine hours of graduate study in the courses appropriate to the degree program. Candidates admitted to the program must provide three letters from references who can attest to the candidate’s professional and academic abilities.

Students will earn a minimum of 30 semester hours of graduate credit within an approved program of study beyond a master’s degree. At least 18 semester hours of this program must be 5000 and 6000 level courses. A minimum of 6 semester hours must be 6000 level courses. Aided by an adviser in the student’s area of specialization and in consultation with the other members of the student’s advisery committee, each student shall select between 23 and 24 credit hours of courses which may be from the required courses for the Master’s degree in Library Science and Information Services. The program concludes with a formal six to seven hour research component consisting of an action research or other research methods course, a 2 hour research problem, and a 2 hour thesis.