Requirements for the MS Degree in LME LMS Concentration: The Master of Science in Library Media Education LMS Concentration requires a minimum of 30 semester hours of core courses, professional specialization courses, and a research course/tool for a total of 33 hours. Eighteen hours of Library Media Education coursework is required with 15-hours in core courses. Courses on a student’s approved program of study must be completed within a period of six years from the date of enrollment in the first course(s).

 
Master of Science Core Courses: Fifteen semester hours are specified core courses:

LME 501 Program Organization and Administration
LME 512 Issues in Library Media Education
LME 535 Survey of Educational Technology Practices (Note: Prerequisite for LME 537)
LME 537 Principles of Educational Technology Applications (Not offered in the summer. Prerequisite: Completion of LME 535.)
LME 590 Practicum (Note: Permission of the instructor; completion of 24 hours of course work including LME 501, 512, 535, and 537; and admission to candidacy.)

Research Tool: The research tool requirement is met by successful completion (grade A or B) of EDFN 500-Research Methods, LME 519 Research in LME, EXED 534 Research in Exceptional Education, or an equivalent.

LME 590 Practicum: The LME 590 Practicum course is the capstone experience required for completion of the degree program.

Transfer Credit: No more than 12 hours of previous graduate coursework, whether transferred from another institution or from a previous master’s degree from WKU (or a combination of the two), or as a non-degree seeking student at WKU can be used to fulfill program and research tool requirements. Transferred courses cannot be older than 6 years by the time the requirements for the degree are completed. Transfer credit cannot be used in place of LME 537 Principles of Educational Technology Applications because it requires development and implementation of an instructional design project that is a foundational component of the LME 590 Practicum.

Library Media Specialist Certification: In addition to completion of the 15-hour core and the research tool for the MS degree, the certification requirements for certification as a school library media specialist in most states and as a School Media Librarian P-12 in Kentucky include the following:

Library Media Specialist Professional Specialization (9 hrs. required):

LME 502 Collection Management
LME 506 Classification and Cataloging
LME 508 Information Sources and Services

Elective Courses (Minimum of 6 sem. hrs.):

LME 518 Advanced Children’s Literature
LME 527 Advanced Young Adult Literature

(Other appropriate LME courses or courses outside of LME may be selected with the approval of the graduate advisor.)

Certification Examination:

While a certification examination is not a requirement for the Master of Science in LME, Kentucky does require a passing score on the PRAXIS II Subject Assessments-Library Media Specialist for certification as a school media librarian. Students outside of Kentucky are responsible for determining the requirements for certification in their states.

Additional Requirements for Initial Certification in Library Media Education for students without prior teacher certification:

A person with a bachelor’s degree but no prior teacher certification at the undergraduate level can obtain the certification as a P-12 Library Media Specialist in Kentucky with the Master of Science degree. The following requirements must be met:

1. Admission to Graduate Studies at WKU
2. Admission to the LME program at WKU
3. Admission to Teacher Education: The process for being admitted to Teacher Education is based admission to the LME program and completion of a teacher education admissions packet that includes a criminal background check and a health screening among other things. Completion of the program certifies the individual only as a P-12 LMS in Kentucky and not a classroom teacher.
4. A minimum score of 640 on a PRAXIS II: Subject Assessments-Principles of Learning and Teaching (PLT: Early Childhood, PLT: Grades K-6, PLT: Grades 5-9, or PLT: Grades 7-12). Students with no background in education may wish to take 1-3 undergraduate teacher education courses in preparation for this examination.
5. A passing score on the Praxis II: Subject Assessments-Library Media Specialist