English/School Librarianship, BA/MS
Be the bridge between language, learning and literacy. Immerse yourself in literature, sharpen your writing and expand your critical thinking, while complementing your studies with specialized coursework in school librarianship.
Build Foundations in Literacy and Learning
Cultivate your passion for English, teaching and school librarianship. Our combined degree program allows English students to merge their love of literature with a career in education. Complement your undergraduate English studies with graduate coursework in school librarianship, earning New York State certified K-12 teacher-librarian credentials. Complete both degrees faster, saving money and entering the workforce sooner.
Points of Distinction
Earn a bachelor's and master's degree in five years, saving time and money all while preparing you for impactful roles as both a teacher and a certified school librarian.
Engage in classroom and library placements that build your teaching and literacy skills, all within a dedicated network of educators and library professionals committed to your success in both roles.
The master’s program in information and library science is fully accredited by the American Library Association, a designation recognized by employers—and one that makes your degree more valuable.
Program Overview
| Academic credential granted | Bachelor of Science (BS) and a Master of Science (MS) |
|---|---|
| Credits required for completion | 138 |
| Time to completion | 5 years or 10 full-time semesters |
| Course delivery | On campus, online |
| Application deadline | Early action deadline: Nov. 15 Scholarship consideration: Dec. 8 Regular decision: Feb. 1 Students can continue to submit an application for fall consideration until capacity is reached. |
Fall Semester
Course | Credit |
|---|---|
ENG 200-level Elective | 3 |
Math & Quantitative Reasoning | 4 |
UB Seminar | 3 |
ENG 105 Writing and Rhetoric | 4 |
Pathway | 3 |
Total Credits: 17 | |
Spring Semester
Course | Credit |
|---|---|
ENG 200-level Elective | 3 |
Elective | 3 |
Pathway | 3 |
Pathway | 3 |
Elective | 3 |
Total Credits: 15 | |
Fall Semester
Course | Credit |
|---|---|
ENG 300/400 Criticism/Theory Course | 3 |
ENG 200-level Elective | 3 |
Scientific Literacy | 3 |
Pathway | 3 |
Pathway | 3 |
Total Credits: 15 | |
Spring Semester
Course | Credit |
|---|---|
ENG Breadth of Literary Study Course | 3 |
ENG Early Literature Course | 3 |
Scientific Literacy | 4 |
Pathway | 3 |
Diversity in the United States | 3 |
Total Credits: 16 | |
Fall Semester
Course | Credit |
|---|---|
ENG 300/400-level Elective | 3 |
ENG Early Literature Course | 3 |
ENG 300/400-level Elective | 3 |
Elective | 3 |
Communication Literacy 2 | 3 |
Total Credits: 15 | |
Spring Semester
Course | Credit |
|---|---|
ENG Early Literature Course | 3 |
ENG 300/400-level Elective | 3 |
Elective | 3 |
LAI 350 Intro to Education | 4 |
Elective | 1 |
UBC 399 UB Capstone | 1 |
Total Credits: 15 | |
Fall Semester
Course | Credit |
|---|---|
ENG 300/400 Elective | 3 |
LAI 574 Teaching the Exceptional Learner | 3 |
LIS 507 Information Life Cycle | 3 |
LIS 508 Information Users and Use | 3 |
LIS 524 School Media Center Field Experience | 3 |
Total Credits: 15 | |
Spring Semester (First Term of Graduate Tuition)
Course | Credit |
|---|---|
ENG 400-level Elective | 3 |
LIS 585 Management of School Library Media Centers | 3 |
LIS 532 Curriculum Role of the Media Specialist | 3 |
LIS 568 Computer Applications in the School Library Media Center | 3 |
Total Credits: 12 | |
Fall Semester
Course | Credit |
|---|---|
LIS 534 Resources and Services for Children | 3 |
LIS 535 Resources and Services for Young Adults | 3 |
LIS 575 Introduction to Research Methods | 3 |
Total Credits: 9 | |
Spring Semester
Course | Credit |
|---|---|
LIS 518 Reference Sources and Services | 3 |
LIS 525 School Media Center Practicum | 3 |
GSE Graduate-level Literacy Course (choose from LAI 514, 537, 550, 551, 552 or 560) | 3 |
Total Credits: 9 | |
You must apply using the common application to, meet all requirements for, and be accepted to the University at Buffalo' undergraduate program in English offered through the College of Arts and Sciences Department of English.
Students can progress to the graduate portion of the program offered through the Graduate School of Education so long as they maintained good academic standing and carried a minimum GPA of 3.0 (B average). No graduate application is required.
Students also must indicate their desire to matriculate into the MS in Information and Library Science portion of the program by March 1 of their junior year. This intention will trigger a review by the Department of Information Science (GSE) program faculty to ensure the student has maintained a sufficient GPA and has completed appropriate coursework. At this time, students in this program are also expected to take the GRE (Graduate Record Examination), and complete an interview with the department.
In-State Residency Tuition
In order to qualify for the in-state residency tuition rate, you must provide residency documentation indicating you have lived in New York State (NYS) 12 months before your semester start date.
If accepted, you will need to upload three documents to qualify for the in-state tuition rate. See Required Documents for Residency Application for more information.
International Applicant Additional Requirements
- Official original proof of your degree
- A copy of your passport biographical page
- Official test scores—dated within two years of submitting your application—for either the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language), the IELTS (International English Language Testing System) Academic Test, the PTE (Pearson Test of English) Academic, or DET (Duolingo English Test).
- TOEFL minimum score is 250 for computer-based test, 600 for paper-based test and 79 for internet-based test
- IELTS Academic Test minimum score is 6.5 overall
- PTE minimum score is 55 overall
- DET minimum score is 120 overall
- Financial documentation: International graduate applicants must document their ability to pay for all costs incurred while studying in the U.S.
- An official bank statement
All financial forms and supporting documentation with required signatures must be uploaded with your application and dated within one year of your intended enrollment date.
- School librarian
- Public librarian
- Academic teaching librarian