Educational Psychology and Instructional Technology

School Library Media (SLM)

Program Overview

Flexible Delivery Program for the Master's Degree (M.Ed.) in Instructional Technology with Certification in School Library Media

Program approved by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission and accredited by:

Flexible Delivery
UGA's School Library Media Certification Program is designed to accommodate the schedules and busy lives of working professionals. Since the fall of 2001, this degree has been delivered in a flexible mode that combines innovative class scheduling and online courses to accommodate a variety of work schedules.

Students may take two classes per semester as part of an open two-year cohort. Students who keep pace with the cohort should finish the program in two years.

One of the two classes takes place almost completely online, while the other meets on alternate Saturdays at the Gwinnett University Center. Summer study at the University Campus in Athens may be required. Other meeting modes, locations, and technologies will be used as needed. Occasional trips to the University campus may be necessary.

Program Mission and Objectives
The Master’s Degree Program in Instructional Technology with School Library Media Certification provides opportunities for students to develop:

the basic knowledge and skills necessary to design, produce, and use a variety of media and materials in instructional settings; to administer and guide the use of information services; and to organize, evaluate, and administer instructional resources and media services.
an understanding of the school curriculum, how students learn, and the role of materials in instruction.
skills in the process of instructional and curriculum development.

The curriculum consists of a minimum of 36 semester hours. Depending upon educational background, the student may need more courses to satisfy degree and/or certification requirements.

Employment Opportunities: K-12 Education
Public schools in Georgia (and many other states) require certified school library media specialists. Many private schools require certified media specialists as well. Qualified media specialists may expect a healthy job market over the next few years, due to a projected nationwide shortage of media specialists in the first decades of the 21st century.

General Degree Requirements
One Cohort of approximately 25 students is admitted per year. The deadline for all materials to be completed and received is February 1. After this deadline has passed, prospective students should check with the program (slmedia@uga.edu) to determine if space is still available.

Specific admission requirements for the M.Ed. degree include: a bachelor's degree, GRE test results, TOEFL testing for students with English as a second language, transcripts, and a goal statement. Prospective students who are seeking the M.Ed. in Instructional Technology must meet the requirements for admission to the Graduate School of the University of Georgia. See the IT website for minimum score requirements.

Degree completion procedures and official forms for admissions are contained in the online Application for Admission from the University of Georgia Graduate School, Office of Graduate Admissions. For specific application instructions, visit http://www.coe.uga.edu/epit/slm/admission.html.

For more information: http://www.grad.uga.edu

General Degree Requirements
The master's degree program in Instructional Technology at the University of Georgia consists of a minimum of 36 semester hours. Students must maintain a 3.0 average in all graduate courses in their programs of study. As a part of their studies, students are required to develop a portfolio of products which reflects the skills they have developed and the knowledge they have gained within the program. The portfolio serves as the basis of a comprehensive oral examination which is required at the end of the student's program. Additional requirements are contained in the University's Graduate School Bulletin.

Certification Requirements
To be certified in Georgia as a school library media specialist at the S5 level, an individual must:

complete a program of study that has been approved by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission, with a minimum of a master's degree;
attain passing scores on the GACE I and GACE II (Media Specialist) examinations;
complete approved courses in exceptional children and technology integration.

See http://www.coe.uga.edu/epit/slm/certification-checklist-may05on.html for complete certification requirements. Other requirements may apply. See http://www.gapsc.com/ for further details about Georgia's certification process.

For more information, contact:
Dr. Janette R. Hill, SLM Program Coordinator
The University of Georgia Department of Educational Psychology and Instructional Technology
604 Aderhold Hall
Athens, GA 30602-7144

Phone: (706) 542-3810
Fax: (706) 542-4032
E-mail: slmedia@uga.edu