Master of Science in Library Media Education

The Master of Science with a major in LME is a dual concentration program in information services (LMS) and educational technology (EDTECH). 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.

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 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.

Download an LME Graduate Student Handbook

Admission Requirements

Admission to the Master of Science in LME program requires a minimum GAP score (undergraduate GPA X GRE-Verbal + GRE-Quantitative score) of 2500 and a minimum GRE analytical writing score of 3.5.

Applicants with a GAP score below 2200 and/or a writing score below 3.0 will not be admitted nor be considered for alternate admission. These applicants must retake the GRE and raise their GRE scores to at least the ranges for consideration under the alternate admission policy.

Exemptions: GAP and GRE requirement may be waived for any student who has successfully completed a previous master’s or higher degree from an accredited institution.

Alternate Admission: Students with a GAP score of between 2200 and 2500 and/or a writing score below the minimum 3.5 on the analytical writing section must retake the GRE at least once in order to be considered under the alternate admission policy of the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences. After the GRE scores are raised within the ranges for consideration for alternate admission, the applicant must contact a member of LME faculty for information on documentation and procedure required under the alternate admissions policy.

Non-Degree Seeking Status: Applicants may enroll as non-degree seeking students in a maximum of 12 semester hours while awaiting approval for admission to the program pending completion of their admissions packets for deficiencies such as official transcripts or GRE scores. No more than 12 hours of graduate coursework taken as a non-degree seeking student at WKU can be used to fulfill program and research tool requirements for the MS degree.

All applicants enrolled as non-degree seeking students must contact a member of the LME faculty for advisement prior to enrolling in any graduate courses.

Program Requirements

The M.S. in Library Media Education requires a minimum of 30 semester hours plus a research course/tool for a total of 33 hours. Students may transfer up to nine hours of graduate coursework into the LME program with the approval of their advisor. There are certain conditions under which the research tool may be waived. Students must contact the program advisor regarding these conditions.

There are two concentration areas to choose from: the Library Media Specialist focus and the Educational Technology focus. Requirements for each are listed below:

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 and 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 Concentration.

Initial Certification as 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. Eligibility for initial certification requires 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. See the WKU advising page for Teacher Education admission forms.

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 status by Kentucky certified teachers. If a student earned a master’s degree in their Rank II program 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 services (LMS) concentration meets the requirements of the Kentucky Department of Library and Archives Professional Certificate II for Library Directors 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.

Please visit the Library Media Education website for additional certification requirements and information on the professional portfolio process: www.wku.edu/lme/master.html.

Recommended Sequence of Courses

Certain courses may offered on a rotating basis, so please plan your program of study carefully. A complete schedule of course offerings is available at www.wku.edu/lme/. Contact Marge Maxwell, the academic advisor for the program, for additional information on course offerings at marge.maxwell@wku.edu or call (270) 745-3446.

Advising Information

For advising information, forms required for the LME program, and additional information about the program itself, visit www.wku.edu/lme/.

Department Contact Information

Program Coordinator: Dr. Marge Maxwell
Phone: (270) 745-2435
Email: marge.maxwell@wku.edu
Web: http:www.wku.edu/lme/