Library Science Students

Idaho Teacher Librarian Endorsement (K-12):

The Teacher Librarian Endorsement (K-12) endorsement must total 24 credits in the areas of collection development/materials selection; literature for children and/or young adults; organization of information (cataloging and classification); school library administration/management; library information technologies; information literacy; and reference and information services. Additional requirements include meeting or exceeding the state qualifying score on the Praxis II Test 5311 and the completion of, a three-credit practicum. Because library science is not a teaching field, the teacher librarian must also qualify for a standard Idaho elementary or secondary teacher's certificate.

A Grade Point Average (GPA) requirement for entering the program is 2.75 or permission. Library Science course credits earned before 2015 will not count toward the Teacher Librarian Endorsement or Library Science Minor.

When the coursework, practicum, and the Praxis II Test 5311 are completed, and if the student is completing an endorsement for Idaho, they must contact Taylor Raney, the certification officer at Undergraduate Programs and Certification, College of Education, Health & Human Sciences, University of Idaho, 875 Perimeter Drive MS 3084, Moscow, ID 83844-3084 for institutional recommendation signature approval of completion of requirements for the Idaho State Department of Education. Raney's email is tcraney@uidaho.edu. Students must earn a C or better in the courses pertaining to the Teacher Librarian K-12 endorsement to receive an endorsement recommendation by the certification officer.

University of Idaho Library Science Teaching Minor:

The teaching minor in library science must total 27 credits in the areas of collection development/materials selection; literature for children and/or young adults; organization of information (cataloging and classification); school library administration/management; library information technologies; information literacy; and reference and information services.  This teaching minor will qualify the student for the Idaho K-12 Teacher Librarian Endorsement. Because library science is not a teaching field, the teacher librarian must also qualify for a standard Idaho elementary or secondary teacher's certificate.

Courses for Education Professionals (K-12)

Independent Study in Idaho courses may be used toward renewing teaching credentials or for recertification. Contact your state's department of education to determine if ISI courses are applicable.

If you reside in Idaho, contact:

Idaho State Department of Education
650 West State Street
P.O. Box 83720
Boise ID 83720-0027
Toll-free: 800-432-4601
Phone: 208-332-6800
Fax: 208-334-2228
Web: sde.idaho.gov

Teacher Librarian Endorsement for Teachers Outside Idaho

ISI Library Science courses may be approved for endorsements in other states. Teachers outside the state of Idaho should check with their state's Department of Education to determine requirements and to obtain written confirmation that ISI credits are acceptable for their state's endorsement.

If you are seeking endorsement after completing your library science coursework, contact your state board of education to ensure you are meeting current state requirements.

Independent Study in Idaho courses may be used toward renewing teaching credentials or for recertification. Contact your state's department of education to determine if ISI courses are applicable.

Currently, ISI offers the following library science courses:

• LIBS 410/510: Libraries and their Collection: Materials Selection (3 credits)
• LIBS 413: Computer Applications in Libraries (3 credits)
  
  • Prerequisite: LIBS 410/501
  • Corequisites: LIBS 414, LIBS 418
• LIBS 414/514: Reference and Information Services (3 credits)
  
  • Prerequisite: LIBS 410/510
  • Corequisites: LIBS 413, LIBS 418
• LIBS 418/518: Classification and Cataloging (3 credits)
  • Prerequisite: LIBS 410/510
  • Corequisites: LIBS 413, LIBS 414
• LIBS 425/525: School Library Administration, Leadership, and Management (3 credits)
  • Prerequisite: LIBS 433
• LIBS 427: Library and Media Center Practicum (3 credits)
  • Prerequisites: 15-credits of library science coursework completed, Instructor Permission, and Site Permission
  • Corequisite: LIBS 425/525
• LIBS 430: Children’s Literature for Teacher Librarian (3 credits)
  • Prerequisites: LIBS 413 and LIBS 414 and LIBS 418/518; or Instructor Permission
  • Corequisite: LIBS 433
• LIBS 431: Adolescent Literature for Teacher Librarians (3 credits)
  • Prerequisites: LIBS 413 and LIBS 414 and LIBS 418/518; or Instructor Permission
  • Corequisite: LIBS 433
• LIBS 433: Information Literacy for the Teacher Librarian (3 credits)
  • Prerequisite or Corequisite: LIBS 430 or LIBS 431 or Instructor Permission

All 500-level courses require instructor permission for registration. To request instructor permission to register for a 500-level course, please email the following to the Independent Study in Idaho office:

Official or unofficial transcripts from your undergraduate and/or graduate program(s) that include the name of the institution and the degree earned (if applicable)

A brief statement explaining why you are interested in 500-level library science coursework

Library Sciences courses must be completed in sequence. If you wish to request an exception to the required sequence of courses because you think you’ve taken similar courses as part of a different program, please email the following to the Independent Study in Idaho office:

An explanation of your request

Official or unofficial transcripts that include the courses you believe meet the same learning outcomes of UI library science courses

A completed Library Science Course Equivalency Worksheet short description of course/information.

ISI courses are open-enrollment, so you can register for an ISI class whenever it works best for you. It can take up to three business days to complete your registration and receive a registration confirmation email. Instructions for how to set up accounts and log on to your course are included in the registration confirmation email.

Follow these instructions to register:

1. Select a course from Courses.
2. It is recommended that degree seeking students obtain written confirmation that credits earned through ISI will be accepted and applied to their degrees as expected prior to registration.
3. Review Course Fees and Refund Schedule.
4. Register for a class online. It can take up to three business days to complete your registration and receive a registration confirmation email. Instructions for how to set up accounts and log on to your course are included in the registration confirmation email. You do not need to apply for admission to any of the cooperating schools.
5. Order textbooks and other course materials from an online bookseller or from the VandalStore.

No, ISI courses do not qualify for payment via financial aid funds. ISI courses also do not count toward credit-hour load and cannot be used to establish full or part-time status or determine eligibility for financial aid or loan deferment.

Please see Course Fees.

Students have 12 months from registration to finish a course and, if needed, one four-month extension may be purchased. ISI courses match on-campus counterparts in content and standards, with a per-credit workload equivalent to on-campus courses. Expect a minimum of three months to complete most ISI courses.

Students work at their own pace with a weekly assignment submission limit specified on the course Canvas page. Grades are typically received within two weeks, but instructors may take longer based on weekly submission limits. Please allow for additional time during holidays and instructor vacations. For those needing to complete courses in less than three months, email indepst@uidaho.edu before registering.

Students receive grades for assignments within two weeks after the submission date, but instructors are not required to grade faster than the number of assignment submissions allowed per week (see individual course syllabi for details). Additional grading time may be needed during holidays, vacations, or instructor illness.

Some ISI courses host their exams on Canvas, while others require in-person proctoring. If a course requires proctoring, you will need to submit a proctor request form. Email the ISI office for proctor information. Please note: proctored exams are paper-based and are not returned to students.

Student responsibilities for proctored exams:

• Find a qualified person to proctor exams in an education setting and return exams to the ISI office. (Proctor qualifications are listed on proctor request form.)

• Complete proctor request form and submit it at least two weeks before the first exam. Each ISI course needing a proctor requires a separate proctor request form.

• Schedule time with proctor to complete exams.

• Pay any proctoring fees.

• Show government issued ID before taking exam.

• The instructor submits a final course grade after all assignments and exams have been graded.
• An ISI employee processes the grade card, and the student will receive a Course Completion Letter in their Vandal email account. This letter contains information on how to request a transcript through the course sponsoring institution (all completed courses are recorded on a transcript at the institution that sponsors the course).
• Wait at least three business days after receiving the Course Completion Letter before contacting the transcript office; the Office of the Registrar must record the grade before the course will appear on a transcript.
• Official transcripts may be purchased from the credit-granting institution credit-granting institution. ISI does not send out transcripts.
• For contact information and information on which semester a final grade is recorded on the transcript, see Cooperating Institutions and locate the Transcripts section.

Instructors are available to answer questions concerning grading and may be contacted as specified in Canvas. It can take three business days to receive a response from an instructor.

View the Library Science Sequence of Classes to find the order in which to take classes to meet all prerequisites.