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Graduate Academic Certificate in Youth Services in Libraries and Information Settings

100% Online Program:  Four Web-based courses

Awards a Certificate Suitable for Framing with the Certificate Credential Appearing on the Official University Transcript

Introduction

A recent American Library Association study produced a document entitled Public Libraries as Partners in Youth Development, which outlines the need for library professionals in the youth services area. In response to this need, the University of North Texas (UNT) Department of Library and Information Sciences is pleased to offer the first Graduate Academic Certificate in Youth Services in Libraries and Information Settings in the nation. The Academic Certificate is approved by the UNT Toulouse Graduate School and is aligned with the national Council on Graduate School guidelines. Academic certificates are a new growth area in higher education and this program offers Master’s-level courses focused toward establishing a core of knowledge in literature, services, programs, and information organization for youth. The courses required are offered year-round and are taught by a team of full-time graduate professors who specialize in courses targeted to the youth population.

The Graduate Academic Certificate in Youth Services program is intended for two audiences:

Master’s degreed library and information science professionals who want to develop expertise in youth services in libraries or other settings and receive a Graduate Academic Certificate.

Bachelor's or Master's degreed individuals who want to develop or enhance their knowledge of youth services in libraries or other settings by taking Master's-level courses and receiving a Graduate Academic Certificate.

IMPORTANT NOTICE:

  • The Graduate Academic Certificate in Youth Services is not the same as School Library Certification and should not be taken by teachers seeking state certification for school libraries.
  • If you are a teacher seeking state certification for school librarianship or if you ever want to work in a school library, you must apply to the School Library Certification Program of Study:  School Library Certification Program

Required Courses for the Graduate Academic Certificate in Youth Services

Four courses are required for a total of 12 Hours
  1. SLIS 5400 -- Information Resources Development (3 hours). Principles and methods of evaluating, selecting and acquiring different kinds of information resources. Development and maintenance of information collections. Bibliographic tools and online databases. Searching and verification; publishers and publishing; censorship issues; acquisition processes. Representative research, problems and practice.
     
  2. SLIS 5420 - Literature for Youth (3 hours). Survey of literature and media, including multicultural and multiethnic materials. Wide reading and use of materials for children and young adults.
  3. SLIS 5440 - Storytelling for Information Professionals (3 hours). Storytelling ethnography, history, theory, methods, and bibliographic resources. Story research, analysis, selection, adaptation, and preparation. Oral performance development and audience dynamics. Program planning, implementation, evaluation, and grant writing for schools, libraries or other information settings.
  4. One of the following:
    1. SLIS 5208 - Learning Resources Organization and Media (3 hours). Organization of print and nonprint collections, including descriptive cataloging, Anglo-American Cataloging Rules, Dewey Decimal Classification, Library of Congress and Sears Subject Headings, and MARC records. Media and media services, including media services to special populations. Library automation systems and their management.
    2. SLIS 5210 - Organization and Control of Information Resources I (3 hours). Descriptive cataloging and subject analysis of different kinds of information resources. Anglo-American Cataloging Rules; Dewey Decimal and Library of Congress classification systems; vocabulary control; subject headings; principles and techniques of catalog construction, maintenance and use; information indexing and retrieval; use of on-line databases; representative research, problems and practice. 
    3. SLIS 5445 - History and Culture of Youth Information Services (3 hours).  History of youth services librarianship.  Theory and methods of ethnographic evaluation.  Community assessment and interviews.  Users and designers of youth information services and systems.  Current trends.
    4. SLIS 5685 - Information Resources and Services in Culturally Diverse Communities (3 hours). Seminar in information resources and services for ethnic cultural minorities. Issues in the provision of information services to ethnic cultural minority communities. Study of the needs and cultural milieu of these communities. Materials and methods for serving these groups.
    5. Another course negoiated with the advisor.

All twelve hours of coursework taken for this Academic Certificate can be applied toward the Master’s Program in the University of North Texas Department of Library and Information Sciences. The Department of Library and Information Sciences offers a Master’s Degree in Library and Information Sciences with a program of study emphasis in Youth Librarianship as well as seven other Programs of Study. The Department of Library and Information Sciences Master's degree requires 36 hours of course work for completion. Information about tuition and fee rate schedules for the Academic Certificate courses can be found on the on the Student Accounting and University Cashiering Services Website.

 

Required Tutorial for Graduate Academic Certificate Students

All of the courses for this certificate are completed online. Students admitted for the Graduate Academic Certificate program are required to complete a tutorial prior to starting their courses.  This tutorial is also completed online and is done via WebCT, which is the platform in which you will take your courses. There is no fee to access tutorial. The tutorial will take approximately 4–6 hours and will walk you through the steps for using WebCT — learning how to use discussion forums, WebCT email, and other functions critical to your success. While some apt individuals may innately figure out how to do the basic functions in WebCT, the tutorial gives you insight into many advanced functions that are not apparent, such as how to compile course content, information management, etc.

Once you are admitted to Department of Library and Information Sciences, there is a two step process for setting up your tutorial.

  1. Setting up your EUID.

    What is my EUID and How do I Get It/Know What It Is?  You will need to set up your EUID before you can register for courses and get your tutorial. Visit https://ams.unt.edu/ to learn more and set up your EUID.  Be sure and remember your EUID and password and set up the password expiration reminder.

  2. Request the Tutorial

    Once your EUID is established, you must request the WebCT tutorial by contacting the advisor at Elizabeth.Figa@unt.edu.

Admission Information

Students must be admitted into the University of North Texas Graduate School and are required to submit the following application materials:

  1. Graduate School application.
  2. Department of Library and Information Sciences application, which is available as a PDF document.
  3. Required transcripts.

Graduate Academic Certificate applicants do not need to submit standardized test scores such as the Graduate Record Exam (GRE), letters of recommendation, or statement of purpose, etc., for admission.  Students who are awarded Academic Certificates and later apply for admission to the Master's program will be required to submit these materials.

Once You Are Admitted

Once admitted, you will be advised by Dr. Elizabeth Figa who will assist you in getting enrolled for classes and beginning the Graduate Academic Certificate program.

Academic Certificate Completion Form and Request to Receive Your Certificate

Once you complete your course work, please follow these instructions to receive your certificate.

For more information, contact:

University of North Texas 
Department of Library and Information Sciences
Dr. Elizabeth Figa
1155 Union Circle #311068
Denton, TX  76203-5017
Phone: (940) 565-2187
Email: Elizabeth.Figa@unt.edu

This page was last modified at 10:49AM on Thursday, June 4, 2009