Welcome
Welcome to the Masters of Library Media and Information Technologies program at UCA, a fully online degree program, to prepare students to be Library Media Specialists in K-12 schools. The Library Media and Information Technologies program is nationally recognized by the American Association of School Librarians as an exemplary School Library program in the U.S. With a 99% PRAXIS II content pass rate in School Library Media, the LIBM program has one of the largest graduate programs for School Librarians in the state of Arkansas.
While we welcome any out-of-state candidates, completion of any program, other than an initial licensure program, may not lead to licensure or endorsement in Arkansas or in the state in which you reside. It is your responsibility to check with your state’s department of education to determine if the license or endorsement requirements are met through the program of study. If you are a potential out-of-state candidate, please contact the program coordinator directly.
State Department of Education Contacts
The site below provides the contact information for the Departments of Education in each U.S. state and territory. Contact your state’s department of education for specific licensing requirements for your state.
www2.ed.gov/about/contacts/state/index.html
| Program Coordinator: | Dr. Erin Shaw | Program Faculty | |
| Phone: | (501) 450-5303 | Kayci Hardnett | |
| Email: | erins@uca.edu | Anne Cowie | acanada2@uca.edu |
| Location: | Mashburn 221 | Ouida Cunningham | ocunningham@uca.edu |
| Brittany Fleming | bnh02001@uca.edu | ||
| Dr. Jeff Whittingham | jeffw@uca.edu | ||
| Rachel Whittingham | rwhittingham@cbc.edu |
General Program Information:
The goal of the graduate program in Library Media and Information Technologies (LIBM) is to prepare individuals for professional positions in K-12 educational settings.
The Library Media and Information Technologies program, located within the Department of Leadership Studies, is designed for individuals who may be planning careers in school library media centers at the elementary, middle, and secondary school levels. (Graduate Bulletin)
Information for Prospective Students:
The Library Media and Information Technologies program is built upon the guiding principles of AASL’s Empowering Learners, the program standards of the American Association of School Librarians, and the program standards for School Library Media by the state of Arkansas. The LIBM degree is comprised of 30 semester hours of graduate credit including a practicum component. The LIBM program may be completed within two years and 100% of the courses are offered online.
To be accepted into the degree program in Library Media and Information Technologies, an individual must:
- Meet the general admission requirements of the UCA Graduate School.
- Provide the department with copies of transcripts of all previous academic work.
- Submit a valid standard educator license ORa two-page, double-spaced letter of intent that includes the reasons for becoming a librarian, reasons for applying to this program, future goals, and three professional references.
The LIBM Program of Study is available here and on the Department’s Student Resources page.
A variety of scholarships and grants are available for LIBM students. For applications and more information, see the Department’s Student Resources page.
The Teacher Opportunity Program (TOP) offers tuition reimbursement grants to Arkansas teachers and administrators. Teachers and administrators may apply for reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses paid for up to six (6) college credit hours completed for each academic year, not to exceed $3000.
Information for Current Students:
Advising – LIBM students are required to be advised every semester prior to registration. As a general rule, it is recommended that students contact their advisor 2-3 weeks prior to registration. For registration information, monitor the Office of the Registrar for the Advanced Registration Schedule. The Schedule of Classes is usually updated 2-3 weeks prior to advanced registration.
DegreeWorks – Review DegreeWorks quarterly. This ensures the student stays on track to graduate.
LIBM New Student Orientation – Link to an overview of the LIBM program and expectations as a graduate student.
LIBM New Student Orientation Presentation – Link to slides in the LIBM New Student Orientation screencast.
Program of Study – The LIBM Program of Study may be used to assist the candidate in planning their course of study.
Student Resources -The Leadership Studies Student Resources web page provides various student resources such as links to the Educational Testing Service (ETS), which will be needed for the Praxis II School Librarian (5312), the Graduate School, Torreyson Library, Technology Requirements for Distance Education, the UCA Writing Center, as well as tutorials for Blackboard, and Anthology Portfolio-Chalk & Wire.
Practicum & Exit Portfolio Information – For additional information, click on the links below.
Practicum Info Sheet and Exit Folio Guidelines
Practicum Application Deadlines
- Sept 15 = Spring Enrollment
- Feb 15 = Summer Enrollment
- May 15 = Fall Enrollment
- An application deadline extension may be granted.