Master of Library Science

The Master of Library Science is designed to prepare competent professionals for school librarianship; encourage and support scholarly research and publications; promote and participate in professional development; offer educational services to schools, libraries, and the community; and plan, implement, and evaluate the academic curriculum, teaching effectiveness, physical resources, program policies, and the learning environment.

Graduates of the M.L.S. program will also have the required coursework necessary to sit for the School Librarian Certification exam. Students interested in the certification must have a valid classroom teaching certificate and two years of classroom experience before taking the exam.

For Spring 2020 Applicants: 

Applicants seeking admission to the graduate program in library science must submit the following directly to the Office of Graduate Admissions:

Admissions Review:

1. Graduate Application 
2. Application fee
3. Official transcript from the baccalaureate institution with a GPA of 3.0 or higher. If GPA is lower than a 3.0, the last 60 hours of education can be used. 

Program Review:

1. Pay the $35 Texas Education Accountability System for Educator Preparation Programs Fee (paid to the TEA as required by TAC 229.9.7) if seeking Texas School Librarian certification
2. A copy of a valid Texas teaching certificate must be uploaded to Tk20 by Watermark. 
3. Teacher Service Record from your school district's Human Resource Department with 2 years of certified teaching experience preferred (Must be submitted to Tk20 by Watermark).
4. Interview 
5. Writing Sample

For Fall 2019 Applicants ONLY: 

Applicants seeking admission to the graduate program in library science must submit the following directly to the Office of Graduate Admissions:

Admissions Review:

1. Graduate Application 
2. Application fee
3. Official transcript from the baccalaureate institution with a GPA of 3.0 or higher. If GPA is lower than a 3.0, the last 60 hours of education can be used. 

Program Review:

1. Pay the $35 Texas Education Accountability System for Educator Preparation Programs Fee (paid to the TEA as required by TAC 229.9.7) if seeking Texas School Librarian certification
2. A copy of a valid Texas teaching certificate
3. Teacher Service Record from your school district's Human Resource Department with 2 years of certified teaching experience preferred
4. Interview 

For instructions regarding the application process, please contact the Department of Library Science at (936) 294-1151 or visit the Office of Graduate Studies program page.

This 36-hour master's degree provides instruction for the preparation of PK-12 school librarians. Graduate students who are on track to complete a Master of Library Science (MLS), must complete a portfolio. Every graduate program requires a final product for its course of study.  For the electronic portfolio Library Science students are expected to analyze, synthesize, and evaluate the body of knowledge gained during their courses in the MLS program. Library Science graduate students must be enrolled in a course during the semester that they satisfactorily complete the Portfolio. Portfolio is a competency, in lieu of comprehensive examination, that must be completed in order to meet the requirements for the MLS degree.