Indexes:
Homepage
Professional Index
Personal Index

E.'s Campus Involvement:
UNT / SLIS
LIT Group
TxCDK
Digital Storytelling Group
Beta Phi Mu
UNT Faculty Senator

E.'s National/State Organization Involvement:
Storytelling Association
SHE-SIG
ASIST
ACM
TLA
ALA
ALISE
MLA

Associate Editor:
Storytelling, Self, Society

E.'s Publicly
Available Resources: ¹
Storytelling
Websites

Information Access and Retrieval Resource Websites

History and Culture of Youth Information Services Websites

Graphic Novels &
Comics Websites

LIS Employment
Resources

Terminology Resources
for LIS Professionals

Citation/Bibliographic
Resources

Interviews and Stories

Spring 2004
Storytelling Concert

Mini-Mester 2004
Storytelling Concert

Spring 2005
Storytelling Concert

Mini-Mester 2005
Storytelling Concert

Spring 2006
Storytelling Concert

Summer 2006
Storytelling Concert

¹ Websites publicly available; additions/corrections
are welcomed.

Photo/Image:
 Image from the
 Eastwood Ceiling Tile
 Digital Image Project.
 Used with permission.
  © Cheri Eastwood, 2004.

FAQ: WHAT IS/ARE ...

DEGREE?  DEGREE PLANS?
GRADUATE ACADEMIC CERTIFICATE?
PROGRAMS OF STUDY?

1. What degree will I earn from the School of Library and Information Sciences/University of North Texas?
Your degree will be a Master's Degree.  Degrees are officially posted on your transcript by the University of North Texas.  Near the time of your graduation, you will determine with your advisor if your degree will be called a Master's of Library Sciences or a Master's of Information Sciences -- you have only these two choices.  If you do not specify Library Science or Information Science in your graduation application materials, the default degree awarded is the Master's of Library Sciences. 

2. What is my degree plan?
Your degree plan is something you develop in consultation with your advisor.  It is the plan for the courses you will take to complete the 36 hours of coursework required by SLIS to earn your Master's degree.  The degree plan is required by the Graduate School.  Once you and your advisor develop your degree plan, it is formally prepared by the SLIS office staff, filed with the Graduate School, and a copy of your degree plan retained in your SLIS student file.  The degree plan is not etched in stone.  Sometimes, students want to or need to change the plan because of additions and changes in course offerings, personal schedules, etc.

3. Is the Graduate Academic Certificate and Program of Study (POS) also my degree?
No.  These are not degrees. 

• The Graduate Academic Certificate is a certificate awarded by the University of North Texas Graduate School (not SLIS). The Academic Certificate is posted on your official UNT transcript by the Graduate School.  You receive an official document from the University of North Texas. 
• The Program of Study (all SLIS Programs of Study) is internal to the School of Library and Information Science.  It is indicative of the emphasis of your course work but it is not an official degree or certificate and is not posted on your transcript.
• Some student put a "value" on having a Graduate Academic Certificate which is common to Universities on a national level and because it appears on your official transcript.  This Certificate in something you list on your resume in your "degrees/certificates awarded section".
• Programs of Study in SLIS as an area of emphasis is something you can list on your resume in an cover letter that points out your area of emphasis or interest. 

4. What are the requirements for the Graduate Academic Certificate in Youth Services in Libraries and Information Settings?
Students must have completed the requirements as formally approved by the UNT Graduate School.  This Academic Certificate requires four courses, which are listed below. There are no substitutions allowed -- the courses must come from this exact list.

SLIS 5420 - Literature for Youth
SLIS 5430 - Information Services for Youth
SLIS 5440 - Youth Programs and Storytelling
PLUS ONE OF THE FOLLOWING REQUIRED COURSES:
SLIS 5208 - Learning Resources Organization and Media
*OR*
SLIS 5685 - Information Resources and Services in Culturally Diverse Communities

5. Can substitutions be made for courses in the Graduate Academic Certificate?
No.  The courses are required and there are no substitutions. 

6. What must I do to get the Graduate Academic Certificate in Youth Services ... ?

• Take the courses required.
• Subscribe to the SLIS-L listserv so that you receive announcements about the Academic Certificate paperwork processing at the end of each term.
• Follow the instructions to complete the necessary Web-based form.
• The SLIS office will process your Web-based form information and check your transcript to confirm you have completed the courses.
• The UNT Graduate School will mail your Academic Certificate to your home address approximately 12 weeks later. 

7. Can I submit my Web-based form information in advance for the Graduate Academic Certificate?
No.  You submit this when you are taking your last course of the four required.  Your compliance with the instructions is appreciated!

8. Are there required courses for the Youth Librarianship Program of Study (or any of the SLIS Programs of Study)?
The Programs of Study designed by SLIS serve as a framework  The Programs of Study are not formally recognized outside of SLIS.   In addition to the SLIS Core Courses, the following courses are expected for the Youth Librarianship POS:

SLIS 5420 - Literature for Youth (3 hours)
SLIS 5430 - Information Services for Youth (3 hours)
SLIS 5208 - Learning Resources Organization and Media (3 hours)
SLIS 5440 - Youth Programs and Storytelling (3 hours) 
SLIS 5300 - Management of Information Agencies (3 hours) OR SLIS 5320 Public Libraries (3 hours)

9. Does SLIS award a Program of Study document?
The faculty of SLIS decided in 2001 that we would give a token of acknowledgement to our students upon their graduation.  It is called the Program of Study document --  it is not an official certificate nor a degree -- it is an attractive document students may frame and proudly display.  Students in youth librarianship will be awarded a Youth Librarianship Program of Study document.  Students in the school librarianship will be awarded a School Librarianship Program of Study document.  Students in general librarianship will be awarded a General Program of Study document, etc.

10. Can I earn more than on Program of Study document? For example, can a student in School Librarianship earn the Youth Librarianship Program of Study document?
Yes.   If you complete the required/expected courses in more than one program of study, you may earn more than one Program of Study document.  At the time of your graduation, you will work with your advisor on this matter.

11. Can substitutions be made for courses in a SLIS Program of Study?
Yes.  While there are courses listed as required for the various Programs of Study, substitutions can be made.  This is because the Programs of Study are internal to SLIS and serve more as a framework than a rigid list.  You would discuss substitutions with your faculty advisor.

12. What if I am still confused about all this?
Reread the information and consult with your advisor!