Library Science

East Carolina University

United States of America, Greenville

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Duration2 year(s)

Tuition Fee

USD 39,466 / Year

Next IntakeAugust 21, 2023

Library Science

About

Would you like to serve your community as an expert in how information is developed in a globally connected, technological society? Do you want to make a difference while you make a living?

Through ECU's Department of Interdisciplinary Studies, you can earn a Master in Library Science (MLS) degree completely online. Since 1939, the library science program at ECU has prepared librarians and school media coordinators to meet the information and educational needs of their communities, especially rural and underserved populations in eastern North Carolina. Today, our high-tech/high-touch program emphasizes librarianship in combination with current technologies to provide a web-based course of study. Our program is especially attuned to the needs of nontraditional students seeking to become school library media coordinators, as well as academic and public librarians in a global community.

As a student in the library science graduate program, you can specialize your professional preparation work in academic library, public library or school library concentrations. If you are a service-oriented, intellectually and technically curious person, you will find a great benefit as a student in the MLS program. With an MLS degree, you can be a librarian, a library administrator, an information specialist, a subject/special interest researcher, or one of many other library specialties in the field.

The school library media coordinator concentration leads to the North Carolina licensure and is recognized by the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) and the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE). The public library concentration leads to the North Carolina Public Library Certification. The accreditation by American Library Association (ALA) supports needed credentials for public and academic librarians in the United States.

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College Website
How Do I Apply
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Program Coordinator: Lindsay Mattock (207-A Ragsdale Hall; 252-737-2486; [email protected])

The Library Science, MLS is a 100% online degree program 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 NC Public Library Certification upon completion of the MLS degree requirements. Seven core courses (21 s.h.) are required of all students to be taken in a consecutive series.

The degree requires a minimum requirement of 39 s.h. as follows:

1. Core - 21 s.h.

LIBS 6010 - Foundations of Library and Information Studies
LIBS 6014 - Introduction to Reference
LIBS 6016 - Technology for Library Services
LIBS 6019 - Research Literacy in Library Science
LIBS 6026 - Organization of Information in Libraries
LIBS 6031 - Library Administration and Management
LIBS 6048 - Collection Development

2. Concentrations - 18 s.h.

Select one concentration from below:

a. Academic librarianship:

LIBS 6810 - Academic Libraries
LIBS 6856 - Information Literacy and Library Instruction
LIBS 6872 - Research Methods in Library and Information Studies
LIBS 6992 - Academic and Public Library Internship: Seminar
6 s.h. of approved electives
6 s.h. of approved electives

b. Public librarianship:

LIBS 6855 - Library Advocacy
LIBS 6992 - Academic and Public Library Internship: Seminar
LIBS 7030 - Financial Management of Public Library Organizations
LIBS 7050 - Seminar on Public Libraries
6 s.h. of approved electives
6 s.h. of approved electives

c. School librarianship:

The following courses are required for public school licensure:

LIBS 6135 - Materials for Children
LIBS 6137 - Materials for Young Adults
LIBS 6142 - Instructional Foundations of the School Library Media Program
LIBS 6144 - Instructional Strategies and Leadership for School Media Specialists
LIBS 6991 - School Library Internship: Seminar
3 s.h. of approved electives
3 s.h. of approved electives

Notes:

The 076 Media Coordinator license also requires a satisfactory score on the Media Coordinator Praxis/NTE (National Teacher's exam). is a prerequisite for students seeking media coordinator licensure and lacking an initial teaching licensure. Prospective school pathway 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.).
Applicants holding a graduate degree in library science who are seeking school licensure are required to submit transcripts for evaluation. Upon review, a course of study will be determined to meet the competencies of the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction and the American Association of School Librarians of the American Library Association working with the Council for Educator Preparation.

For more information about this degree visit the university's academic catalogs.

Requirements

Entry Requirements

In order to be considered for admission, international graduate applicants follow the same steps as a U.S. applicant with a few exceptions as identified in Red font. Step by step instructions are identified below:

Complete the ECU Online Graduate School Application: One application fee and one set of supporting documents should be submitted for each program of study applying to.
Pay the Application Fee: Payment will be made through the self-service portal prior to submission of the application. The payment portal accepts debit or credit card only.
Provide Foreign Transcript Evaluation:

An official course by course credential evaluation of all foreign transcripts indicating that, at minimum, the US equivalent of a bachelor’s degree has been awarded by an accredited college or university is required.

Provide Official Transcript(s) & Diploma Copy: A copy of your transcript(s) and diplomas showing a full education history issued in your native language as well as a notarized or certified copy in English must be uploaded to your application.
Provide Evidence of English Proficiency: If English is not your native language and you have not completed at least one year of education (minimum of 18 credit hours) at a United States school, you are required to take a standardized English language exam or complete the ECU Language Academy (ECULA).
- Language Exam Options: The Graduate School accepts either the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), the Duolingo English Test or Pearson Test of English (PTE) and scores must be forwarded to the Graduate School by the testing service. The paper- or computer-based TOEFL exam is accepted by request only.
ECU Language Academy: You may choose to attend the ECU Language Academy instead of taking the TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE. Also, if you do not obtain the required score on the TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE, at least one session of the ECU Language Academy may be required prior to the start of your program. Successful completion of all levels of the ECU Language Academy is required for admission without TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE scores. More information on the ECU Language Academy, including the ECULA application, is available on the Intensive English Program website. Individual programs may have higher minimum requirements.
Provide Official Standardized Admissions Test Results: If required by the program you’re applying to, please arrange for an official score report to be sent directly to the Graduate School by the testing service (GRE or GMAT). ECU’s institutional code is 5180. ECU does not have departmental codes.
Upload Statement of Purpose: If required by the program you’re applying to, please upload a copy of your personal statement (why you believe you would be a good candidate for the program) to your application. You may want to use resources to help you write a personal statement in English such as this webinar.
Provide Letters of recommendation: If required by the program you’re applying to, please arrange to have LOR’s submitted electronically with the online application. Review your program’s application requirements to determine the number of letters, if any, that they require.
Upload Resume: If required by the program you’re applying to, please upload a copy of your most recent resume to your online application.
Provide Financial information: If/when you are admitted to a graduate program at ECU you will be required to provide certified evidence of financial resources adequate to cover educational costs and living expenses. Documents only need submitted if/when an offer of admission is extended.

English Requirements

PTEMin 65
IELTSMin 6.5
TOEFLMin 78

Career

Graduates with this degree are successful in many fields and careers, including the following:

Library Science/Librarianship
Library Science Teachers, Postsecondary
Education and Training
Communications, Entertainment and Information

Career Opportunities

ECU has developed resources to help you learn more about career opportunities and job market outlook. In addition, the websites below provide specific information on careers in the various majors from which students may choose:

NC Tower

This website provides graphs and tables of in-depth information on employment rates, wages and ongoing higher education enrollment of graduates from the North Carolina Community College System and from the University of North Carolina system schools. NC Tower includes data on former UNC students who are working in roughly 90% of all jobs in North Carolina. This database excludes information for graduates who are:

Self-employed;
Work for the federal government, including the military: or
Work outside of North Carolina.

US Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook

This website also provides in-depth information regarding pay, projected new jobs, required education, growth rate and on-the-job training information on various occupations.

Degree-specific internships

For information on internship information for specific majors, go to the home page of the department in which the major is located and, as available, find the link to the information on internships in that major.

Fee Information

Application Fee 75

How to Apply

Thank you for your interest in a graduate program at East Carolina University!

Contact information for each program, along with their application deadlines, can be found on the Find Your Program feature.

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Library Science

East Carolina University

United States of America, Greenville

Go to Official Website