by Beth Staats
Quick Summary
St. Cloud State University offers courses to become a school library media specialist.
Did you know St. Cloud State University offers courses to earn a graduate degree or certificate in its Library Media Program? The classes meet online via Zoom in the evenings during the school year and during the day in the summertime. Some courses are asynchronous.
Graduate Certificates
Library Media Specialist - approx. 28-32 credits
If you are interested in licensure, but not a master's degree - this certificate is for you. It contains all the coursework necessary to be recommended for licensure as a school library media specialist in MN, as an additional license added onto the one you already have. If you take 2-3 classes per semester (fall and spring) plus 1 summer, you can finish in 2 academic years. This includes the 80-hour practicum in a school library media center at the end of the program. More information can be found here.
Foundations in Library Media - 15 credits
If you are interested in taking a few classes to learn more about the field of school library media, but are uninterested or undecided about pursuing licensure, this program may be a good fit. You can finish within one academic year and choose electives that suit your interests. This certificate by itself does not lead to licensure - but if you become interested, all of your coursework will count towards it. More information can be found here.
Graduate Degree
M.S. Library Media - at least 33 credits
This degree contains all the coursework necessary to be recommended for licensure as a school library media specialist in MN, as an additional license added onto the one you already have. The difference between the master's degree and the graduate certificate is that it contains a research methods course and culminating project credits, so that you can earn your master's degree and become recommended for licensure simultaneously. More information can be found here.
Please contact Jenny Hill (jchill@stcloudstate.edu) with any questions regarding certificate options or the master's degree. Jenny is the Program Director for Library Media in SCSU's College of Education and Learning Design.
