School Library Studies (MA)

The School Library Studies program offers a master's degree for those who wish to become teacher librarians and qualify for the K-12 teacher librarian endorsement in Iowa. This program prepares students to become teacher-librarians who use their acquired knowledge of children and young people, books and information technologies, curriculum and the power of collaboration to enhance the learning experiences of students in their schools. 

New cohort to begin Fall 2013

View/download flyer with program details

Program highlights

  • The program is distance-friendly, yet retains a sense of identification with UNI and establishes for our students a network of colleagues throughout the state. Many of our students work full time and are able to complete the master's within a few years.
  • Courses are designed using the Quality Matters set of professional standards based upon research and best practices for course design.
  • All courses in the sequence incorporate technology skills and curricular technology integration, preparing our graduates for the multiple roles school administrators are looking for in today's teacher librarian.

Program outcomes

School librarianship has continued to be a specialty among the "teacher shortage areas" in Iowa, according to the most recent data available from the Iowa Department of Education. Graduates of the program most frequently work in schools as teacher librarians. This role includes:

  • teaching a curriculum that prepares children and young adults to become critical consumers of information
  • collaborating with teachers to plan and deliver instruction, to support literacy and to integrate technology into learning and teaching

Some graduates take positions as youth services librarians in public libraries where the role includes:

  • designing and delivering programming to engage children and young adults with literature
  • developing programming to involve young children and young adults in using information technologies

Convenient course delivery

Fall and spring courses are offered via interactive video conferencing (Adobe Connect). Some courses and coursework are offered online using eLearning, a Blackboard learning management system requiring Internet access and a web browser. Some courses may require limited on-campus attendance 1-3 days. Delivery methods are subject to change. While most students encounter very few technical difficulties, our team of support specialists is available to assist you as needed.