About the degree
Master a new profession
Librarians are professionals with master’s degrees. Programs accredited by the American Library Association might award a master’s of library science (MLS), a master’s of arts (MA), a master’s of librarianship (ML), a master’s of library and information science (MLIS), or a master’s of science (MS). Thirty-two states have ALA-accredited programs. Other programs are most often found in educational units accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE).
Curricula: Programs might require from 36 to 72 hours to earn a degree and qualify for state certification as a school librarian. Programs typically will offer core courses on the basics of librarianship as prerequisites for more specialized courses in school librarianship or school media. In some states, individuals who have never been classroom teachers can qualify by completing additional courses in education.
Admissions: Programs generally require a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution and a minimum grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. Many programs require standardized test scores, such as the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or the Miller Analogies Test.
Financial assistance: Scholarships, teaching and research assistantships, grants, work-study programs, loans, and other tuition assistance are possibilities for students at most programs, either at the institutional or departmental level. Agencies and associations, such as the state library and professional organizations, also typically offer scholarships. Some states have student loan programs for prospective teachers (including school librarians) whose loans can be forgiven by teaching in the state's public schools.
Accredited library schools in the United States and Canada
View a compilation of programs accredited by the American Library Assocation and the National Council for Accreditation for Teacher Education-American Association of School Librarians
