Graduate Academic
Certificate in Youth Services in Libraries and Information
Settings
100% Online Program: Four
Web-based courses with an Online Tutorial
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)
School of Library and Information Sciences (SLIS) 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 University of North Texas is the
leading university of the Dallas Metroplex, the fourth-largest
university in Texas (more than 27,000 students), and is listed as
one of America's 100 Best College Buys. The UNT School of Library
and Information Sciences is also a top-rated program as ranked by
U.S. News and World Reports.
The Graduate Academic Certificate (GAC) in
Youth Services program is intended for two audiences:
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Master’s degreed library and information
science professionals who want to develop expertise in youth
services in libraries or other settings and receive an
Academic Certificate. |
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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 an Academic
Certificate. |
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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:
School Library
Certification
Program |
Required Courses for the GAC in
Youth Services
(Four courses are required for
a total of 12 Hours)
1. 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.
2.
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.
ONE OF THE FOLLOWING:
3. 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.
OR
slis 5430. Information Services for Youth.
3 hours. Utilization practices and selection. Literature interests
and guidance; curricular correlations and developmental needs.
Extensive focus on either children or young adult programs and
services.
ONE OF THE FOLLOWING:
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.
OR
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.
OR
SLIS 5208 - Learning Resources
Organization and Media
Organization of print and non-print
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.
All twelve hours coursework taken for
this Academic Certificate will apply toward the Master’s Program in
the University of North Texas School of Library and Information
Sciences. SLIS 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 SLIS 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.
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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 SLIS, there is a
two step process for setting up your tutorial.
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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.
-
Requesting the Tutorial.
Once your
EUID is established, you must request the WebCT
tutorial. The form for the tutorial request is located
at: http://courses.unt.edu/cf_courses/tutorial_reg.htm. Simply complete the form and the instructions
for how to access the tutorial will be sent to you within
two business days.
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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. School
of Library and Information Sciences application, which is
available as a PDF document.
3. Required transcripts.
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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 assigned an advisor who will assist you in getting enrolled
for classes and beginning the Graduate Academic Certificate
Program. Visit the Graduate
Academic Certificate in Youth Services in Libraries and Information
Settings Advisees' Webpage for more information.
Academic Certificate
Completion Form and Request to Receive Your
Certificate
Once you complete
your course work, please follow these instructions to receive your
certificate: http://web3.unt.edu/gac.
For
more information, contact:
University of North Texas
School of Library and
Information Sciences
Information Sciences Building, Room
205
P.O. Box 311068
Denton, TX 76203-1068
Phone:
(940) 565-2445
Toll Free: (877) 275-7547
University Metro:
(817) 267-3731, x2445
Fax: (940) 565-3101
Email:
slis@unt.edu
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