End-of-Program Assessment: Practicum/Capstone

All students in a Master of Library Science program are required to perform a Practicum — an experiential learning course that allows students to apply what they learned in a real-world library or other information-focused environment.

The practicum experience should be aligned with a student’s interests and career goals, and it is ideally taken during a student’s final semester in the program.

With approval, students who are currently working in a library at the time of their practicum may be able to perform their practicum work in their own library.

Practicum hours and requirements vary by program:

• For the following programs, the Practicum consists of professionally supervised work experience in a library or information setting with approximately 120 hours of fieldwork. Students take LS 5843 Practicum, a 3-credit-hour course required for graduation. 
  • Master of Library Science (MLS)
  • MLS with Certificate in Academic Librarianship
  • MLS with Certificate in Health Sciences Librarianship
  • MLS with Certificate in Community Information
  • MLS with Certificate in Children’s and Young Adult Literature
  • MLS with Certificate in Library Administration 
• For students seeking School Librarian Certification in the state of Texas, the School Library Practicum consists of 160 hours of professionally supervised work experience in approved school libraries. Students may take any combination of LS 5861/5862/5863 School Library Practicum, to satisfy the 3 credit hours of School Library Practicum required for graduation and certification.
  • MLS with Certificate in School Librarianship
  • Post-Master's Certificate in School Librarianship

For more information about the practicum experience, current SLIS students should please see the SLIS Collaborative Space in Canvas.

Log in to Canvas and go to the SLIS Collaborative Space > SLIS Student Handbook > About Practicum.

The end-of-program assessment for students in a Post-Master’s Certificate program (other than School Librarianship) is a Capstone course, an experiential learning course that allows students to apply what they learned in their program.

The capstone course is aligned with the student’s certificate program and is ideally taken during the student’s final semester in the program.

With approval, students who are currently working in a library or a similar organization at the time of their capstone may perform their capstone work in their own library. 

Below, see the Post-Master's certificate program and the corresponding Capstone Course:

• Post-Master’s Certificate in Community Information: LS 5933 Capstone in Community Information
• Post-Master’s Certificate in Academic Librarianship: LS 5943 Capstone in Academic Librarianship
• Post-Master’s Certificate in Children’s and Young Adult Literature: LS 5953 Capstone in Children’s and Young Adult Literature
• Post-Master’s Certificate in Health Sciences Librarianship: LS 5963 Capstone in Health Sciences Librarianship
• Post-Master’s Certificate in Library Administration: LS 5973 Capstone in Library Administration

For more information about the Capstone course experience, current SLIS students should please see the SLIS Collaborative Space in Canvas.

Log in to Canvas and go to the SLIS Collaborative Space > SLIS Academic Advising > Capstone.