School Library Information Specialist Specialization of the M.S. L.I.S. Degree Program

Completing an option within the School Library Information Specialist concentration will prepare you for an exciting career in school librarianship. The competencies you develop in the program will enable you to develop and administer school library media services in a multicultural and technological society. Consider this recent feature on CSU alumna K.C. Boyd, School Librarian of the Year. #CSUProud

Admission requirements to the program vary depending on your background. If you do not already have a State of Illinois Professional Educator License, you must apply for admission to the College of Education and complete the professional education and general education sequence necessary for initial teacher licensure. Licensed teachers may apply for regular graduate admission.

Chicago State University currently offers three pathways to becoming a Library Information Specialist recognized by the state of Illinois to work in school libraries.

Option 1. MSLIS for Licensed Teachers. Current holders of an Illinois Professional Educator License with a teaching endorsement can earn an MSLIS with a Library Information Specialist endorsement valid for grades K -12 through our school library specialization of the MSLIS degree program.

Option 2. Endorsement Only (Non-Degree) for Licensed Teachers. Current holders of an Illinois Professional Educator License with a teaching endorsement can earn the Library Information Specialist Endorsement through our school library endorsement-only sequence. This is a non-Masters degree option that allows you to teach in a school library for the grade range currently on your license.

Option 3. MSLIS for Non-Teachers (Initial Licensure). Applicants without an Illinois Professional Educator License can earn their Illinois Professional Educator License with a Library Information Specialist Endorsement through our MSLIS concentration in School Libraries. This requires an additional professional education sequence including student teaching. To receive licensure from the state of Illinois and to complete the program under this option, you must also pass the State of Illinois Test of Academic Proficiency (TAP), Library Information Specialist content area exam, and Assessment of Professional Teaching (Special K-12).

The School Library Information Specialist concentration meets the standards of the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE).

The Master of Science in Library and Information Science program at Chicago State University is accredited by the American Library Association Committee on Accreditation, with the status of initial accreditation. The next comprehensive review visit is scheduled for Spring 2026.

General Admission Information

Application to the program is through the Graduate School
You must fulfill the general requirements for admission to the Graduate School.
All degree requirements must be completed within six years.

Option 1: MSLIS for Licensed Teachers

You are required to submit proof of a passing score report on the Test of Academic Proficiency (TAP) or the Illinois Certification test of Basic Skills taken any time since 1987.
You are required to posses a valid Professional Educator License with teaching endorsement
Students must complete LIS 5180 Clinical Experiences in School Library Media Centers regardless of prior experience. A minimum of 100 field hours total must be completed across grade ranges.
Application to the program is through the Graduate School
You must fulfill the general requirements for admission to the Graduate School.
All degree requirements must be completed within six years.

Required Courses (15 credit hours)

LIS 5050 Foundations of the Information Professions	3 cred. hrs.
LIS 5060 Organization of Information	3 cred. hrs.
LIS 5070 Introduction to Reference Services	3 cred. hrs.
LIS 5080 Information Technology for Library and Information Agencies	3 cred. hrs.
LIS 5090 Research Methods	3 cred. hrs.
Specialization Courses (minimum 16 credit hours)
LIS 5710 Literature and Services for Children	3 cred. hrs.
LIS 5720 Literature and Services for Young Adults	3 cred. hrs.
LIS 5520 Cataloging and Classification	3 cred. hrs.
LIS 5120 Administration of Media Centers	3 cred. hrs.
LIS 5130 The Curriculum and the Media Center	3 cred. hrs.
LIS 5180 Clinical Experiences in School Library Media Centers	1 - 2 cred. hrs.
LIS 5185 Exam Review Course (optional/not counted towards degree)	1 cred. hr.
Concluding Courses (4 - 7 credit hours)
LIS 5980 Project	Min. 3 cred. hrs.
LIS 5990 Capstone Portfolio	1 cred. hr.

Option 2: Non-Degree Endorsement Only

Introductory courses

LIS 5120 Administration of Media Centers

LIS 5130 Curriculum and the Media Center

Select two:

LIS 5710 Literature and Services for Young Adults

LIS 5720 Literature and Services for Children

LIS 5750 Seminar in Multicultural Materials

LIS 5770 Storytelling and Folk Literature

Two electives

LIS 5110 Communications and Media Centers

LIS 5530 Metadata and Cataloging

LIS 5540 Collection Development

LIS 5590 Information Visualization

LIS 5610 The Library in Society

LIS 5650 UX and User-Centered Design

LIS 5670 Information Literacy Instruction

LIS 5930 Community Engagement

Another LIS graduate course approved by your academic advisor

Option 3: Requirements for MSLIS Candidates Seeking Initial Licensure

Candidates seeking initial teacher licensure must satisfy all of the following requirements:

Library Information Specialist content area exam, and Assessment of Professional Teaching (Special PK-12)
Students must also complete a minimum of 100 field observation hours; 50 hours must be in an elementary setting and 50 must be in a secondary setting. These hours may be completed in LIS 5180 Clinical Experiences in School Library Media Centers

General Education Requirement (33 -36 credit hours)

Three credit hours in each: composition, oral communication, college level mathematics, biological science and physical science (at least one science course must include a laboratory)
Nine credit hours from at least two disciplines in the humanities: fine arts (art, music, theater) , foreign language, literature, and philosophy
Nine credit hours in the following social sciences: US history or American national government; child and adolescent psychology; and one course from history, geography, economics, political science, anthropology, psychology, or sociology.
Professional Education Requirement (24 credit hours)
ED 1520 (2 cred. hrs), ED 2000 (3 cred. hrs), ED 5200 (2 cred. hrs.), PSYC 2020 (3 cred. hrs), SED 5301 (2 cred. hrs.), SED 5303 (2 cred. hrs.), and READ 5280/5290 (3 cred. hrs.)
LIS 5190 Student Teaching (6 credit hours)
MSLIS Program and Specialization Course Requirements (minimum 36 credit hours)
LIS 5050 Foundations of the Information Professions	3 cred. hrs.
LIS 5060 Organization of Information	3 cred. hrs.
LIS 5070 Introduction to Reference Services	3 cred. hrs.
LIS 5080 Information technology for Library and Information Agencies	3 cred. hrs.
LIS 5090 Research methods in Library and Information Science	3 cred. hrs.
LIS 5710 Literature and Services for Children	3 cred. hrs.
LIS 5720 Literature and Services for Young Adults	3 cred. hrs.
LIS 5520 Cataloging and Classification	3 cred. hrs.
LIS 5120 Administration of Media Centers	3 cred. hrs.
LIS 5130 Curriculum and the Media Center	3 cred. hrs.
LIS 5980 Project	At least 3 cred. hrs.
LIS 5180 Clinical Experiences in School Library Media Center	1 - 2 cred. hrs.
LIS 5185 Exam Review (optional; not counted towards degree)	1 cred. hr.
LIS 5990 MSLIS Capstone (portfolio)	1 cred. hr.

Credit Hour Summary for Option 3

General Education Courses	33 - 36 credit hours
Professional Education Courses	18 credit hours
Information Studies Courses	36 credit hours (minimum)
Student Teaching	6 credit hours
Total	93 - 96 credit hours (minimum)

For additional information, please contact:

Ms. Barbara Belisle

Licensure Office

Education Building, Room 203

Phone: (773)995-2492

Email: bbelisle@csu.edu