Library and Information Services for Children and Young Adults 

The Youth Services certificate is grounded in a foundation of ethics and social responsibility within a philosophy of radical inclusion for the field of children’s and young adult literature. Students interested in this area of study will benefit not only from Dominican's outstanding faculty but also access to the Butler Children's Literature Center, recognized as one of the country's premier centers for the study of children's literature. Students may combine this certificate with other coursework toward the completion of the Master of Professional Studies.

The School of Information Studies Certificate in Youth Services provides:

  • a theoretical foundation, grounding library service to young people in the enduring values of the profession.
  • a practical foundation, equipping librarians with the skills necessary to manage strong collections, present engaging programs, deliver peerless reference and readers'-advisory service, and instruct young people in multiple literacies.
  • a bridge from theory to practice, giving the work meaningful context and illuminating the theory in real-world terms.

Certificate Requirements and Curriculum

The certificate is offered for students currently pursuing an MLIS, MSIM, or MPS at the School of Information Studies (SOIS) or to returning students who want to add the specialization to a completed post-graduate degree. Candidates work in collaboration with a faculty advisor to shape a plan of study. Certificate completion requires 15 graduate credit hours.

View course descriptions

Learn more about SOIS Certificate programs, including how to apply

Career Opportunities in Youth Services

Specialized study in children and youth services provides excellent preparation for careers in public, school and special libraries and nonprofit organizations as:

  • Children's librarians
  • Teen librarians
  • Youth reader's advisors
  • Literacy specialists
  • Storytellers

Accreditation

The Certificate in Youth Services is accredited by the Committee on Accreditation of the American Library Association (ALA). On January 20, 2023, ALA's Committee on Accreditation voted to continue the Dominican MLIS's full accreditation status for another seven-year term. The next comprehensive review will take place in 2029. View the 2022 MLIS program presentation (pdf opens in a new window).


Chicago's Only iSchool

Dominican University is also a member of the iSchools consortium, dedicated to advancing the information field. As Chicago’s only iSchool, Dominican’s School of Information Studies has long been a presence on Chicago’s higher education landscape, first offering library science programs in the 1930s. See what sets us apart.

For more information,
please contact:

Office of Graduate Admission
Enrollment Management
gradinfo@dom.edu

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