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The School of Library and Information Science offers a program that includes all the competencies and skills which are necessary for an Educational Media Specialist to perform at a high level of proficiency. Educational Media certification is granted by the Florida Department of Education. All candidates for educational media certification are required to take the Florida Teacher Certification Examination in School Media. To receive certification as an Educational Media Specialist in Florida, the student must also be certified as a teacher in Florida. Students seeking certification are encouraged to enroll in the School of Library and Information Science accredited master's program and take the 39 semester hours of course work that lead to the M.A. degree.

Completion of the USF/SLIS program results in (1) a Master of Arts degree accredited by the American Library Association, which will allow the recipient to work in all types of libraries, (2) a program for Educational Media Specialist approved by NCATE, the National Commission for the Accreditation of Teacher Education, and (3) appropriate coursework for passing the state examination for certification as an Educational Media Specialist for Grades K-12 in the state of Florida.  The following 39 hour master's degree program contains the courses recommended for school media specialization.

• LIS 5020 Foundations of Library and Information Science
• LIS 6271 Research Methods in Library and Information Science
• LIS 6303 Preparing Instructional Media
• LIS 6455 The Organization and Administration of the School Media Center
• LIS 6511 Collection Development and Maintenance
• LIS 6542 The Curriculum and Instructional Technology
• LIS 6565 Books and Related Materials for Young Adults
• LIS 6564 Materials for Children
• LIS 6603 Basic Information Sources and Services
• LIS 6735 Technical Services in Small Libraries
• LIS 6946 Supervised Field Work *

  *An elective may be substituted for LIS6946 if student is already working as a media specialist, has significant experience in a media center, or will be taking EDG6947 for first time teacher certification.

• Elective course chosen with approval of advisor**
• Elective course chosen with approval of advisor**

  **Recommended: LIS 5315 Instructional Graphics (or LIS 5937 Web Design for Libraries)

Students who have substantial experience in one or more of the areas above may be able to substitute other courses if their advisors approve.

To become a certified media specialist students must hold a valid Florida Teacher’s credential. For students who have never held a valid Florida Teacher's credential, an additional 12 hours of elective course work are required along with a supervised internship experience.

• EDF4430 Measurement for Teachers or EDF6432 Foundations of Measurement
• EDG4620 Curriculum and Instruction
• EDF6211 Psychological Foundations of Education or EDF6215 Learning Principles Applied to Instruction
• EDF6517 Historical Foundations of American Education or EDF6544 Philosophical Foundations of American Education or EDF6606 Socio-Economic Foundations of American Education
• EDG6947 Internship

For students who do not wish to pursue the M.A. degree, the School offers an 18 hour certificate in School Media (http://www.outreach.usf.edu/gradcerts/certinfo.asp?ccode=XLM).  Those earning a school media certificate are still required to take the Florida Teacher Certification Examination in School Media. http://www.fldoe.org/asp/ftce/

Program Facilities

The School of Library and Information Science is housed in modern, well-equipped facilities that provide excellent support for the educational media certification program. Two fully-networked computer labs and a media production lab are housed in the School's office suite. All students are given full Internet access, and the School is equipped to provide instruction in all current graphic, video, and electronic media production technologies.

For the convenience of students who work or commute, the School offers a flexible schedule of evening, daytime, alternate Saturday, and weekend certification courses in Tampa, at the USF extension campuses, in the East Coast Program, at various sites throughout the state, and through the Internet.

To allow USF students even more flexibility in planning their degree programs, USF will accept up to 6 hours of approved transfer credit for courses taken from other Florida public universities, and from selected private universities.

Educational Media Specialist Program Goals

1. Prepare Educational Media Specialists who can plan for and manage a media center effectively.
• Work with educators, parents, and when appropriate, students to provide direction for the school library media program.
• Effectively manage school library media center personnel, including aides, students, and volunteers.
• Conduct program assessments to reveal operational strengths and weaknesses and make changes based on the findings.
• Communicate the school library media program to the students, educators, and community.


2. Prepare school library media specialists who can provide for maximum access to a comfortable, appealing center with a well-organized collection of resources.
• Create an orderly, attractive, friendly, atmosphere that is conducive to learning.
• Employ accepted methods for classifying, cataloging, and housing materials and equipment for easy access.
• Establish and use an accurate and efficient circulation system.


3. Prepare school library media specialists who can develop and maintain an appropriate collection of media and equipment.
• Identify and follow approved selection policies.
• Use professionally approved selection tools and procedures when selecting print and non-print materials and accompanying equipment.
• Obtain educator and student input to identify titles, topics, and needs for purchase.
• Provide for on-going inventory, mending, repair, and/or preventative maintenance of print and non-print materials and accompanying equipment.


4. Prepare school library media specialists who can deliver an appropriate program of library media skills instruction.
• Use a comprehensive developmental library media skills continuum in planning library media skills instruction.
• Develop library media skills lessons cooperatively with classroom teachers in order to provide student activities related to classroom subject matter.


5. Prepare school library media specialists who can provide a program of media center services to students and teachers.
• Provide reference assistance.
• Provide motivation and guidance in reading, viewing, and listening.
• Provide input and assistance to individuals and committees in the design of instructional units and programs.
• Provide equipment and supplies for media production and consult with teacher and students on the design and/or preparation of instructional materials.