Online and Distance Degrees > Degree Programs > MLIS Master of Library and Information Studies, concentration in School Library Media

Master of (MLIS)
Library and Information Studies, concentration in School Library Media

Online

Program Overview

Earn your Master of Library and Information Studies with a concentration in School Library Media and equip yourself to broaden horizons in your school.

Program Format
Online
Credit Hours
36
Tuition Per Hour
$440

Open Doors in Your Career

The University of Alabama’s MLIS is highly respected in the field of library science, and the same renowned faculty who teach on campus will lead you through interactive, live evening lectures that are 100% online. The curriculum allows you to tailor your coursework to your interests through electives, including many offered through UA’s College of Education.

Graduates will be eligible for Alabama Class A Certification in School Library Media (or equivalent).

Application DeadlineMay 15 for the fall cohort; Nov. 16 for the spring cohort
Application Priority DeadlineFebruary 1 for the fall cohort and October 1 for the spring cohort.
FeesBEF courses $10 graduate College of Education fee (per hour)
AccreditationAmerican Library Association (ALA)
Orientation RequiredYes
Scholarships and Grants AvailableDiscover a range of scholarships and grants to support your educational journey

Curriculum

The School of Library & Information Studies at The University of Alabama provides a program of study within the MLIS degree that satisfies the Alabama State Department of Education requirements for Class A Certification in School Library Media. There are two preconditions for students seeking a traditional Class A certificate in Library Media: the applicant must have a current, valid teaching certificate and two years of professional teaching experience. In other words, in order to qualify for certification, a student must meet these two requirements in addition to following the approved program of study.

Please note that courses are subject to change.

All MLIS students who enroll in Fall 2025 or later must complete, as part of the minimum 36 hours, the following 6 hours of required courses in the first two semesters of enrollment:

LS 500 Information Science and Technology
LS 501 Information in Communities

In addition, MLIS students must choose and complete one 3-hour Management core course and one 3-hour Technology core course from the following approved list for a total of 12 credit hours of required courses:

BA 505 Introduction to Digital Design (New course starting Fall 2025)
LS 504 Technology Integration in Youth Libraries (New title starting Fall 2025)
LS 552 Digital Preservation
LS 560 Information Technologies
LS 562 Digital Libraries
LS 563 Linked Data
LS 564 Prog. Digital Libraries
LS 566 Metadata Fundamentals
LS 569 Database Management

LS 508 Management Theory and Practice
LS 530 Public Libraries
LS 531 Academic Libraries
LS 532 School Media Centers
LS 533 Spec Lib & Info Centers
LS 535 Records Management & Admin (New title starting Fall 2025)
LS 630 Div Leadership in Info Orgs (New course number starting Fall 2025)

All MLIS students who enroll in Fall 2019 or later are required to complete the comprehensive portfolio.

LS 504 Media Production and Utilization
LS 532 School Media Centers
LS 542 Instructional Design and Development
LS 572 Internship in School Media Centers

BEF 503 History of American Education
BEF 507 Sociology of Education
BEF 534 Multicultural Education
BEF 575 Foundations of Education Through Film
BEF 607 Readings in Sociology of Education
BEF 650 Theories of Race in Education
BEF 667 Multicultural Sociology Educational Leadership
BEF 681 Ethics and Education

LS 502 Research Methods
LS 507 Information Sources and Services
LS 520 Early Childhood Materials and Story Programs (if not previously completed) or LS 521 Materials and Services for Children (if not previously completed)
LS 522 Materials and Services for Young Adults

Note: Students who have not taken a special education survey course will enroll in SPE 500. In addition, the student is required to pass the SLMS Comprehensive Exam and the Praxis II Library Media Exam for certification. Once all of this has been accomplished, the student applies for certification in Alabama through the UA College of Education, which “recommends” the student for certification.

Online students enrolled in the MLIS program are required to meet hardware and software requirements as specified. Access to an Internet Service Provider (ISP) with a high-speed broadband Internet connection is required.

In addition, MLIS students who study online must have

A personal computer
Email access
An up-to-date operating system (Microsoft Windows or Mac OS X)
An up-to-date web browser
A headset with an attached microphone
A quiet place to “attend” class (virtually) without interruption

Admission

Applications are accepted year-round. If you are interested in the program, we strongly encourage you to apply as soon as possible. All application materials must be received before the priority deadlines. Applicants will be reviewed if there is space available in the cohorts.

National online cohorts begin each fall or spring with priority deadlines for admission being February 1 (for Fall) and October 1 (for Spring) and final deadlines for admission being May 15 (for Fall) and November 16 (for Spring). Newly admitted students are expected to attend a virtual orientation in August for the fall cohort or in January for the spring cohort.

This concentration is designed to meet the education requirements for the Class A certificate in Library Media from the Alabama Department of Education. Applicants seeking a Class A certificate must have a valid Class B certificate and two years of instructional experience at the time of application.

To be considered for admission to the program, applicants must have a grade point average of at least 3.0 overall for the last 60 semester hours in a degree program, based on a 4.0 system. The MLIS degree program requires a minimum of 36 semester hours of credit. We do not require a bachelor’s degree in a specific field in order to apply for the program.

A complete application consists of the following items:

Application Form
Statement of Purpose
Resume or curriculum vitae
Application Fee
Transcripts
Two (2) letters of recommendation (these letters should be professional or academic in nature, speaking to your ability to succeed in the MLIS program*)

(*) Applicants who wish to be considered for a Graduate Council Fellowship must submit two (2) academic letters of recommendation from instructors who have taught them in undergraduate and/or graduate courses. Without two (2) academic letters of recommendation, applicants will not be considered for a Graduate Council Fellowship.

Please contact Joi Mahand at (205) 348-1524 or wwmahand@ua.edu for additional questions about the application process.

Find more information and learn about restrictions related to this degree program that may exist regarding licensure in the state in which you reside.