Master of Library Science (MLS) Program Concentration
The Master of Library (MLS) Science program is designed for students seeking employment as librarians and information professionals in Pre-K–12 schools, universities, community colleges, public libraries, and related settings. All students are eligible for North Carolina Public Library Certification upon completion of the MLS degree requirements. The MLS requires a minimum of 39 semester hours (s.h.) of credit. Eight core courses (24 s.h.) are required of all students: LIBS 6010, 6014, 6016, 6019, 6026, 6031, 6048, and 6991 or 6992. Students may choose from three professional concentrations for the MLS degree: Academic Library, Public Library, and School Library.
Academic Library
This academic concentration is for students who want to pursue a career in a college or university library. Students should refer to their plans of study provided in Degree Works upon admission in consultation with their advisor. In addition, the Graduate Catalog for a student’s year of admission provides the requirements for that academic year. When searching the catalog, choose the Graduate Catalog for the year of admission from a drop-down menu in the upper right of the website. Then search for the library science program.
For students admitted in 2020-21 and 2021-22 academic years:
In addition to the eight required courses of the degree, academic library concentration students are required to take LIBS 6810, 6856, and LIBS 6872, and two electives (6 s.h.) selected in consultation with an advisor.
Students interested in the Graduate Certificate in Community College Instruction must apply to the Coordinator of the Adult Education Program. Instructions to apply for admission into this certificate program are available at: https://gradschool.ecu.edu/forms. Students in the Academic Library concentration may benefit from earning this certificate. Students should consult with their academic advisor for more details.
It is possible to add a certificate in community college instruction without taking additional courses. MLS students in the academic concentration who are pursuing this certificate may substitute LIBS 6856 for ADED 6240 which is required. The two other required courses, ADED 6450 and ADED 6453 can serve as the two electives in the Academic Library concentration.
Public Library
The public library concentration is for students who want to pursue a career in a public library. Students should refer to their plans of study provided upon admission in consultation with their advisor. In addition, the Graduate Catalog for a student’s year of admission provides the requirements for that academic year. When searching the catalog, choose the Graduate Catalog for the year of admission from a drop-down menu in the upper right of the website. Then search for the library science program.
For students admitted in 2022-23 academic year:
In addition to the eight required courses of the degree, public library concentration students are required to take LIBS 6855, 7030, 7050 and two electives (6 s.h.) selected in consultation with an advisor.
School library media (courses required for public school licensure)
The school library concentration is for students who want to pursue a career in a school library (K-12). A school focused sequence of courses within the 39 hour MLS including the following courses specific to school librarianship LIBS 6135,6137,6142 and 6144; and one elective (3 s.h.) to be selected in consultation with an advisor. The 076 Media Coordinator license also requires a satisfactory score on the Praxis II Library Media Specialist test (5311). LIBS 6989 Early Internship is a prerequisite for students seeking media coordinator licensure and lacking an initial teaching licensure.
Prospective school concentration applicants who hold an undergraduate degree or graduate degree in another discipline must complete the full MLS degree requirements, as specified above (39 or 42 s.h.).