Degree Requirements

To fulfill the requirements for the MLIS degree plus the Illinois Professional Educator License with a Special (PK-12) Endorsement in the concentration area of Library Information Specialist students must:

  • Fulfill all the requirements for the MLIS degree.
  • Apply for admittance to the School Library Media Program to include the results of a criminal background check, fingerprinting and TB test. Students educated outside of the United States need to have official credential evaluations completed by an approved agency at their own expense.
  • Complete the 12 required courses
  • Successfully complete the required Illinois licensure tests.
  • Develop a program portfolio.
  • Complete the clinical practice component of the program.
  • Meet the professional education requirements of the State of Illinois.
  • Participate in an exit interview with the program director.

The SLMP Advising Worksheet (pdf) outlines all the requirements for the MLIS degree plus the Illinois Professional Educator License with Special (PK-12) Endorsement in the concentration area of Library Information Specialist.

NOTE: Requirements may vary for students who have already earned a MLIS degree and are now seeking licensure or students who are only seeking the  Library Information Specialist endorsement on an existing license. If you're not sure which program is right for you, please take a look at our Frequently Asked Questions about SLMP.

Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) Requirements

The ISBE general education requirements are satisfied in either of the following ways:

By holding a valid Illinois Professional Educator License or

By taking a college-level course in each of the following areas, either within five years of enrolling in the School Library Media Program or concurrent with study in the School Library Media Program:

  • Educational Psychology (three semester hours)
  • History and Philosophy of Education (three semester hours)
  • Exceptional Children, including learning disabilities (three semester hours)

In some cases the Illinois State Board of Education may enact new rules or legislation that result in changes in licensure requirements. As a result, candidates may need to meet new requirements other than those identified in this Bulletin, on the SOIS or Dominican University websites, or in other SOIS or Dominican University publications at the time they began their program of study at Dominican.

Illinois Licensure Testing System (ILTS) Requirement (formerly known as the Illinois Certification Testing System)

Each person in the State of Illinois who is seeking licensure must pass the following examination at prescribed times during the program:

  • Prior to the clinical practice: Content-area test for Library Information Specialist

Visit the Illinois License Testing System for more information regarding these exams including test dates and online registration.

Endorsement Added to Existing Licensure

Holders of a valid Illinois Professional Educator Licenses may earn a PK-12 Library Information Specialist endorsement by completing 18 course hours in the program and passing the content area test for the Library Information Specialist.

Endorsement Added to an Existing MLIS

Students with American Library Association-accredited MLIS degrees may enroll in the School Library Media Program to earn the appropriate endorsement for school library media specialists in Illinois. A minimum of two Dominican University SOIS courses must be completed prior to participation in the clinical practice. Graduate transcripts and professional work experience will be reviewed by the program director to assess the courses required to complete endorsement requirements. SOIS courses that focus primarily on technology or library materials for youth that have been taken within five years of enrollment in the School Library Media Program may be applied to the program requirements. Students who have not taken coursework that includes middle-grade philosophy, pre-adolescent psychology, curriculum and instruction, and instructional methods may have to take additional courses.

Post-MLIS applicants applying to the School Library Media Program may qualify for a waiver of some SOIS admission requirements. Learn more about the abbreviated admission process.