Required Coursework
Are the master's and school library certification courses available online?
All of the courses are offered online, and specific courses are typically offered
online twice a year. Some courses also are taught face-to-face on the Columbia campus
at Davis College.
Can previously taken education courses be used to meet the requirements for initial
certification?
Undergraduate or graduate education courses taken at other institutions might qualify
if they were taken within six years of when you would graduate from our program and
if you received a B or better. Library school faculty would review a student’s transcript
to make the determination.
Do I have to complete my education courses at the University of South Carolina?
The four education courses required for initial certification may be completed at
other colleges and universities; however, the courses must be approved by your advisor
before you begin taking them.
How long does it take to complete the school library certification program?
It depends on how many courses you take in each semester and whether you take courses
in the summer semester, so it varies widely. Typically, students who work part- or
full-time, need 2.5 – 3 years to complete the MLIS with school library certification,
but it can take longer.
How many classes can you take each semester?
The maximum number of courses allowed is four per semester without special approval.
Most of our students who work part- or full-time can only manage one or two courses
per semester plus courses in the summer sessions. Some financial programs specify
the number of courses to be taken in a semester. Students are responsible for checking
the requirements for loans they are awarded.
Is the CAEP certification applicable for public or other libraries? Schools in other
states?
This certification by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation is
for teacher preparation programs nationally, including those that prepare students
to be school librarians as it does here. This accreditation applies to the school
library certification program you complete at USC and is recognized by other states
as an indication of the high quality of our program. The master’s degree in library
and information science that you complete, along with school library certification,
is accredited by the American Library Association and is recognized by all libraries
in the United States.
Previous Degrees
I already have my M.L.I.S. degree from USC, but I did not pursue school library certification. What courses will I need to take?
You will take courses required for the school library certification program. A school library faculty advisor will review your transcript to determine the courses you had for your degree and the currency of some of the courses.
If I have a Master's degree in Instructional Technology (or a similar field), do any
of those courses count toward a Master's in Library Science?
No. You will be seeking an additional master’s degree.
I have a Master's in Library Science or Information Science from another institution
and have experience in a public library, but now I want to pursue school library certification.
What do I need to do?
You would apply for one of our post-graduate programs to do the required coursework
for school library certification. You can find information about the certificate (18 hours) or specialist (30 hours) post-graduate programs here.
For students seeking school library certification, the specialist degree is recommended because 30 credit hours in a program makes S.C. educators, including school librarians, eligible for a significant pay increase. You can continue to take courses after completing the required school library certification program until the 30 hours is achieved (up to six years from start of the degree program).
What if I have taken post-graduate courses outside of my master’s degree?
Only two courses may be transferred.
How many hours can I transfer?
A student will be allowed to transfer up to six hours of courses to apply toward the Master of Library and Information Science degree.
Procedure
Up to six hours of graduate credit taken at other accredited institutions or credits earned at USC before admission to our school may be transferred under these conditions:
- The credit may not be more than six years old at the time the student will graduate.
- Course work in library science must be earned at an ALA-accredited library school.
- The credit must be germane to the student's career objectives;
- If it's a required course, you will need to present evidence, such as a syllabus, so advisers can determine whether the course is comparable to ours.
- The course must have been taken for graduate credit and recorded that way on your official transcript.
- Courses that have been used to earn other degrees will not be accepted.
- The grade received must be a B or higher.
- You'll need to provide a course description comparable to that produced in the USC catalog.
Applying to the Program
How do I apply?
Directions and applications can be found on the Graduate School website.
What are the application deadlines?
November 1 for spring semester and April 1 for summer and fall.
If I already have a graduate degree from USC, do I still need to take the GRE or MAT
before applying to the MLIS program?
If you have official transcripts showing you have successfully completed graduate work, from any
accredited school, we can waive the test score requirements.
How do I submit GRE or MAT scores that were taken earlier?
You must indicate USC as the school to which your scores shall be reported. USC’s
school code for the GRE is 5818 and for the MAT 1719.
How does a principal submit the letters of recommendation?
Once you provide the principal’s e-mail address in the application, he/she will receive
instructions directly from the Graduate School on how to complete the recommendation
electronically.
How long does the application stay on file?
The Graduate School will hold your incomplete application for one year.
Can I postpone starting courses once I am admitted, and if so, for how many semesters?
Once you are admitted, you may postpone enrollment for one year. If you do not enroll
before the first year (semester to semester), you must reapply. If you plan to postpone,
you must submit an Update Request Form.
What is the tuition?
Tuition and fees can be found on the Bursar's Office website. Students who live in other states will be charged the same tuition as a
South Carolina resident plus $100 per credit hour.
Financial Aid
What are some funding sources available to cover tuition, etc., other than financial
aid?
Please see the following sources.