School Librarian Certification

This is an archived copy of the 2019-2020 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit catalog.shsu.edu.

School Librarian Certification is designed for individuals who have previously obtained a master's degree and are seeking to become a school librarian. This certification program will introduce students to cataloging and classification; reference and evaluative criteria ; policies and procedures for school library administration; and principles for selecting recreational yet informative materials for young adults and children.

Applicants interested in the Certification as a School Librarian must hold a valid classroom teaching certificate and have at least two years of classroom teaching experience before being able to sit for the state certification exam.

Those who do not already hold a master's degree should seek the School Librarian Certification in coordination with the Master of Library Science.

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.
  4. Official transcript from the master degree granting 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. Minimum scores required are listed in the table below.

GRE revised General Test Score Bands to be used for Admission to an Educator Preparation Program under the 10% Exception Rule in 19 TAC §227.10(a)(3)(D)

Self-reported Undergraduate GPA GRE Verbal Reasoning1 GRE Quantitative Reasoning1 GRE Analytical Writing2
B-(2.7 GPA) 143-157 140-155 3.0-4.5

Under these circumstances, the GRE may not be waived.

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 (Watermark).
  3. Teacher Service Record from your school district's Human Resource Department with 2 years of certified teaching experience preferred - must be uploaded to Tk20 (Watermark).
  4. Interview 

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

This 24-hour certification program provides instruction for the principles and procedures common to school libraries and information centers.The primary mission of the Department of Library Science is the preparation of school librarians for grades P-12.

School Librarian Certification
LSSL 5330Collection Development3
LSSL 5332Organization of Collections I3
LSSL 5334Infor Services & Resources I3
LSSL 5337School Library Administration3
LSSL 5360Literature For Children3
LSSL 5366Library Internship3
LSSL 5370School Librarianship3
LSSL 5385Lit For Young Adults3
Total Hours24