The Master of Education (MEd) in Library Media, K-12 Certification, will prepare you for a successful career in the school library setting. Plymouth State offers a comprehensive program, the only of its kind in the state, for those new to the school library setting or for seasoned professionals wishing to renew New Hampshire state certification.
In the combined curriculum of academic and supervised practical experiences, faculty will address administration, uses of information, collection development, teaching and learning, and literature.
Use the Course Planning Matrix to see when Library Media courses will be offered.
In addition to this K-12 Certification option, students may also choose from the following:
- Library Media, non-certification: Students would complete ED 6900 Graduate Capstone Project in place of LM 5210 Practicum in School Media as listed below.
- Education Technology Integrator – K-12 and Library Media Specialist – K-12, dual-certification
- Library Media Specialist – K-12, certification only: Students would complete 18 credits as listed below, excluding the master’s core component and the elective component.
Program of Study
- Master’s Core Component – 9 credits
3Seeks to examine the manner in which the behavior, feelings, or thoughts of one individual are influenced by the behavior or characteristics of others. Topics to be considered include social perception, attitudes, gender, social cognition, conflict, social influence, intercultural awareness, prejudice, discrimination, aggression, and group behavior. Fall, spring, and summer.
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3This course will provide an in-depth study of the social/cultural basis of behavior and examine the role of mythology as a vehicle for intrapersonal and interpersonal understanding. The major theoretical, empirical, and applied lines of work in the following topics in contemporary social psychology will be explored, including social cognition, interpersonal perception, attitudes, stereotyping and prejudice, the self, and interpersonal and group relations. Mythology will be employed as a mechanism for cross-cultural comparison and as a unifying construct to enhance multicultural understanding.
3A study of the historical, philosophical, and social-philosophic foundations of education. Emphasis is placed upon the ideas of the classical, medieval, Enlightenment, and post-Enlightenment periods that have influenced types of American educational systems relative to their mission and purpose. Analysis of how these systems have defined ethics and the characteristics of the virtuous person.
3ED 5030 Research DesignKnowledge and understanding of the commonly accepted research designs. Study of research instruments and statistics used in educational research. Wide reading in various types of research design. Critical analysis of research design.
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3This course is designed for students in the Educational Leadership and Counseling programs. Students will gain knowledge of statistical concepts, including reliability and validity, scales of measurement, measures of central tendency, indices of variability, shapes and types of distributions, and correlations. Each student will develop a complete proposal for a program in their profession, including a needs assessment, data collection design, review of related literature, and plans for implementation and evaluation.
- Library Media Specialist Component – 15 credits
3LM/CE 5010 Learning Resources Centers and ServicesThis course will focus on the role and functions of technology in K-12 schools. The topics covered will include the problems of organization and management, the types of learning resources and services, and federal and state programs and standards. We will also look at the developments and trends in technology and how it impacts school media centers.
3LM 5020 Cataloging and ClassificationThis course will introduce the principles of organization of information and information retrieval systems. Topics covered will include organization of print and non-print collections, Dewey Decimal Classification, Library of Congress Classification, Library of Congress and Sears Subject Headings, Anglo-American Cataloging Rules and MARC records. Emphasis will be placed on cataloging and classification of school library materials. Library automation systems and their management, copy cataloging, and trends in technology will also be covered.
3LM 5030 Reference and ResearchThis course will introduce student to concepts, principles and current developments in reference and information services for the school library/media center. This will include the most important and used reference materials in both print and electronic format, evaluation of reference sources, the reference interview, bibliographic instruction, and readers' advisory.
3LM/CE 5040 Integrating Technology in the SchoolThis course is designed to provide School Media Specialists and Technology Integrators with hands-on experience with multimedia technology and its effects on the 21st century learner. Current web and multimedia tools will be explored. Other topics to be covered are collaboration/teamwork with other educators and the role of the Library Media Specialist in integrating technology.
3This advanced literature course will survey fiction and non-fiction books for school age students. Genres to be discussed include picture books, traditional literature, modern fantasy, contemporary realistic fiction, historical fiction, multicultural literature, informational books, biographies and graphic books. Students will also explore new issues and trends in literature including technological advancements. The course is designed to help the educator evaluate and select appropriate literature to develop and maintain school library collections as well as classroom and instructional libraries. During this course, students will critically discuss current issues in children's and young adult literature.
- Elective Component – 6 credits
With your advisor, you’ll choose six credits of electives appropriate for your program of study.
- Capstone Experience – 3 credits
3LM 5210 Practicum in School MediaThe practicum is to provide the student with a supervised field experience in one of several cooperating institutions or agencies. The purpose is to gain meaningful work experience through applying knowledge learned in previous coursework to the on-the-job situation. Commitment includes a negotiated number of hours per week. Supervision is by the institution or agency concerned and by PSU faculty.
- Total for MEd in Library Media, K–12 Certification – 33 credits
For more information, visit the Educational Leadership, Learning and Curriculum Department website.
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