GRADUATE PROGRAM IN LIBRARY MEDIA EDUCATION

The Master of Science with a major in LME is a dual focus program in information services and educational technology.  It prepares persons for service as library media specialists, training development specialists, educational technology specialists, and information service specialists in schools, colleges, public libraries, and private organizations.

Program Description:  The Master of Science degree is a 30-33 hour program.  A fifteen hour core of courses is required plus a 3 hour research tool.

Students who seek teacher certification in the areas school library media or educational technology must follow the requirements for teacher certification.  Both may be used for the Kentucky Rank II or Rank I salary levels.

Library Media Specialist Concentration:  The LMS concentration prepares professionals for work in information service organizations like public libraries, library media centers in P-12 schools, and positions as library assistants in college and university libraries.  A program of study in information services can be planned to meet the certification requirements for school library media specialists in Kentucky and other states.  It also meets the Kentucky Department of Library and Archives requirements for certification for the Professional Certificate II for public librarians.

Educational Technology Concentration:  The Educational Technology Concentration prepares professionals who work with training and development specialists to incorporate technology into instruction/training, who serve as trainers of employees in the use of technology, and who are certified teachers that are educational technology specialists in P-12 settings.  The Educational Technology Certificate is indicated on the university transcript can be obtained by certified teachers and non-certified students.Certified teachers may obtain the Instructional Computer Technology Endorsement P-12 through the Educational Technology Focus.

Initial Certification as a School Media Librarian in Kentucky:  A person with no prior teacher certification at the undergraduate level can obtain the certification as a P-12 School Media Librarian in Kentucky with the LMS Focus.  This requires students that students be admitted to Graduate Studies and Teacher Education at WKU.  The process for being admitted to Teacher Education is based on gaining acceptance to the LME program and completing an admissions packet for Teacher Education.  Completion of the LME program certifies the individual only as a P-12 LMS in Kentucky and not as a classroom teacher. Select this link for more information on Admission to WKU Teacher Education.

Changes in Kentucky Teaching Ranks:  The certification programs offered by the Master of Science in LME may be used to obtain the Rank II and Rank I by Kentucky certified teachers. If a student earned a Master’s degree as their Rank II and then completes a Rank I certification only program, 60 unduplicated hours must be earned to obtain the Rank I status. However, if a student completes a Rank II certification only program and a Rank I certification only program, 62 hours must be earned to obtain the Rank I.

Kentucky Public Library Certification:  The information service focus meets the requirements of the Kentucky Department of Library and Archives for certification for the Professional Certificate II for Library Director serving a population of more than 15,000.

Program Accreditation:  The Library Media Education Program is accredited by the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) and the Association for Educational Communication Technology (AECT).  It is recognized by the American Association for School Librarians (AASL) as a nationally recognized master’s program for the preparation of school library media specialists.