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; 50 hours must be in an elementary setting and 50 must be in a secondary setting.

• 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; 50 hours must be in an elementary setting and 50 must be in a secondary setting.

 

Option 2: Non-Degree Endorsement Only

In spring 2024, the LIS curriculum committee approved a draft update for LIS PK12 endorsement courses. This proposal will be reviewed by other campus curriculum committees during the upcoming year. 

Incoming/current students may view the proposed update here. 

Recommended Course Sequence (18 credit hours)

Initial:

LIS 5050 Foundations of the Information Professions

LIS 5120 Administration of Media Centers

LIS 5130 Curriculum and the Media Center

One or two of:

LIS 5710 Literature and Services for Children

LIS 5720 Literature and Services for Young Adults

One or two electives (to complete 18 credit hours):

LIS 5060 Organization of Information

LIS 5070 Introduction to Reference Services

LIS 5080 IT for Libraries and Information Agencies

LIS 5090 Research Methods in Library and Information Science

LIS 5110 Communications and Media Centers

LIS 5530 Metadata and Cataloging

LIS 5670 Information Literacy Instruction

LIS 5700 History of Literature for Children and Young Adults

LIS 5750 Seminar in Multicultural Materials

LIS 5900 Seminar in Trends and Problems in Librarianship

Another LIS graduate course approved by your academic advisor