Beth Patin
Program Director
(315) 443-2911
igrad@syr.edu

Website

https://ischool.syracuse.edu/academics/certificate-of-advanced-study-in-school-media/

Overview

Students who already possess a master’s degree in library and information science from Syracuse University, or another accredited institution, can be certified as school library media specialists after being accepted into the program and then by completing the following coursework, fieldwork, required workshops, and exams. Students must first undergo a thorough review of their graduate library science degree transcript to determine if the core graduate course requirements and the undergraduate course requirements have been fulfilled. If all requirements have not been met, additional courses will be required.

School librarians provide active curriculum support services and library and information skills instruction in elementary and secondary school settings. School librarians serve as intermediaries between the information needs of students, faculty, administration, and community and the information systems and resources required to fulfill those needs. In this capacity, school librarians provide print and non-print media in support of the curriculum; collaborate with classroom teachers by teaching research/information literacy skills in the context of the general curriculum; guide students in selecting reading materials and provide literacy support; and introduce and facilitate effective use and delivery of current and emerging technologies.

School librarians are competent in:

• designing, delivering, and assessing instruction that motivates students to acquire and use skills needed for learning in an information environment.
• planning inquiry-based learning experiences.
• selecting and using information resources and instructional technologies to facilitate student motivation and inquiry-based learning.
• connecting instruction to national and state standards.
• integrating instruction across the curriculum.
• providing instructional leadership, collaboration, and support in the area of information and inquiry skills in schools and districts.
• collection management based on a unified media concept.
• teaching, support, and guidance in the use of information resources from a problem-solving perspective.
• promotion of print, media, and digital literacy.
• curriculum consultation and technology innovation.
• information management beyond the walls of the centralized library facility; and program management.

The educational focus on inquiry-based lifetime learning, critical thinking skills, and multiple literacies directly links overall educational goals to the services and resources of the school library program.

The nationally ranked (U.S. News & World Report) School Media Program at Syracuse University prepares students for the exciting and challenging role of the school librarian.

The current educational focus on inquiry-based lifetime learning, critical thinking skills, and multiple literacies directly links overall educational goals to the services and resources of the school library program.

Student Learning Outcomes

1. Mission, Vision, and Core Values - Develop, advocate, and enact a shared mission, vision, and core values of high-quality education
2. Ethical Principles and Professional Norms - Act ethically and according to professional norms
3. Equity and Cultural and Linguistic Responsiveness - Strive for equity and inclusivity of educational opportunity, and culturally and linguistically responsive practices
4. Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment - Design, deliver and support intellectually rigorous and coherent systems of curriculum, instruction and assessment
5. Community of Care and Support for Students - Cultivate an inclusive caring and supportive school community
6. Professional Capacity of School Personnel - Develop their personal professional capacity and practice to best support other school personnel
7. Professional Community for Teachers and Staff - Foster development of a professional community of teachers and other professional staff
8. Meaningful Engagement of Families and Community - Engage families and the community in meaningful, reciprocal, and mutually beneficial ways
9. Operations and Management - Manage resources and operations to promote each learner’s academic and/or professional success and well-being by creating an inviting environment, providing a flexible program, developing the collection, curating and organizing the resources, integrating digital and technology access, managing appropriate funding and encouraging critical thinking to create a community of lifelong learners
10. School Improvement - Act as agents of continuous improvement
11. Literacy and Reading - Promote reading for learning, personal growth, and enjoyment (and) are aware of major trends in children’s and young adult literature. They select reading materials in multiple formats to support reading for information, pleasure, and lifelong learning. They use a variety of strategies to reinforce classroom reading instruction to address the diverse needs and interests of all readers. Literacy takes many forms (EX: digital, information, cultural, etc.) that all rely on the foundational literacy of reading Literacy and Reading - Promote reading for learning, personal growth, and enjoyment (and) are aware of major trends in children’s and young adult literature. They select reading materials in multiple formats to support reading for information, pleasure, and lifelong learning. They use a variety of strategies to reinforce classroom reading instruction to address the diverse needs and interests of all readers. Literacy takes many forms (EX: digital, information, cultural, etc.) that all rely on the foundational literacy of reading
12. Technology Competence - Integrate and effectively use current and emerging technologies for teaching and learning to support other school personnel

Curriculum

The graduate certificate in school library media requires the completion of 21 total credits.

Required Courses: 18 credits

The following courses provide a foundation in children’s and youth literature, school library services, instructional design, teaching methods, support to students with disabilities, collaboration with teachers, information technologies in education, and information literacy.

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
IST 564	Accessible Library & Information Services	3
IST 611	Educational Technology in Libraries	3
IST 612	Youth Services in School and Public Libraries 1	3
or RED 512	Children's and Adolescent Literature
IST 717	Library Leadership and Management (Students can petition to substitute this course is a management course was taken in prior LIS degree. A petition is required for approval)	3
IST 662	Instruction, Facilitation, and Program Design	3
IST 668	Literacy Through School Libraries	3
Total Credits		18

Electives: 3 Credits

Students allowed to substitute for one of the above courses must choose one course from the list below for 3 credits.

Approved courses from School of Education examples:
RED 512 Children's and Adolescent Literature
Others with program director approval

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
IST 626	Information Justice & Community Engagement	3
IST 635	Collection Development and Management	3
IST 671	Research Project Design: Frameworks, Ethics, Methods	3
IST 672	Public Libraries	3
IST 674	Academic Libraries	3
IST 682	Community Responsiveness in the Information Profession	3
IST 773	Reflective Portfolio	3
Approved courses from School of Education examples:
RED 512	Children's and Adolescent Literature
Others with Program Director approval

Exit Requirements: 3 credits

Students must complete 480 hours of fully supervised and evaluated school-based library experiences at the elementary and secondary levels (240 hours each). Those with a teaching degree can complete 50 hours at either elementary or secondary.

Students with a minimum of one academic year of work experience in a school librarian capacity may be exempt from IST 972: School Media Practicum. A petition is required for approval.

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
IST 972	School Media Practicum	3

Fieldwork: 100 hours

School library media students must complete a total of 100 (non-credit) hours of fieldwork in elementary and secondary school libraries before their first practicum experience. A minimum of 15 of the 100 clock hours of field experience must include a focus on learning differentiation.

Additional Requirements for NYS School Library Media Specialist Certification

Students must complete the school media competencies checklist at the following times:

• The beginning of the program
• After the second fieldwork experience
• After their first practicum experience and
• After all coursework, fieldwork and practica have been completed.

This instrument is used as a means for documenting student growth and as a guide for fieldwork and practicum placement.

Completing the School Media Program plus the requirements below qualifies students for certification as a School Library Media Specialist in New York State elementary or secondary schools.

Required for Certification:

• Three workshops that must be completed through approved training hours or coursework. Verification must be posted to TEACH if done externally. More information: Workshops Required for Educator Certification:Submitting Documents:Certification:OTI:NYSED
  • Child Abuse Identification and Reporting Workshop
  • Dignity for All Students Act (DASA) Workshop
  • School Violence Prevention and Intervention Workshop
• Four Child Safety Milestone Workshops
  • Alcohol/Drug/Tobacco Prevention
  • Child Abduction Prevention
  • Fire and Arson Prevention
  • Highway/General Safety
• NYS certification exams*
• Fingerprint clearance*

*May be completed after graduation