SLIS 5090.701
Course Description and Requirements 
Barbara Stein Martin, stein@unt.edu

For Medical Library practicum see: Dr. Cleveland
For Legal Library practicum see: Dr. Chandler
*School Library POS students: go to http://www.unt.edu/lre/prospective/mentor.htm

*Please note: The degree requirement for practical experience is not the same for all POS programs. The School Library POS does not require SLIS 5090-practicum. However, it does require a Proficiency Checklist and Mentor as assigned in SLIS 5001 (the first course in sequence). 
     SLIS 5090.701 is for the practicum requirement for students in the General POS, Youth Librarianship, Public Libraries, Academic Libraries, and many Special Libraries. If you are unsure of your practical experience requirement for your POS, please contact your advisor.

Catalog description: Supervised practice work of at least 120 clock hours minimum in a cooperating library, learning resources center or information agency and a written summary report. For students without prior field experience. Prerequisite(s): admission to candidacy, at least twelve semester hours completed at UNT, application for practicum early in prior semester and appropriate administration course or type-of-system course (may be taken concurrently). Not counted for degree credit. Pass/fail only.

The student is responsible for contacting a potential practicum site and arranging an interview with the potential practicum supervisor. You may choose from, but are not limited to sites posted with SLIS.

Prior to registering for the course, students must have completed a minimum of 12 semester hours of SLIS courses, completed an advising memo with their degree advisor, and submitted an online practicum application form. Students are encouraged to register for SLIS 5090.701 in their last semester of course work.

  • Practicum is 120 clock hours completed under the supervision of a qualified information professional.
  • Duties should be progressively more professional in nature as determined by the site supervisor.
  • Days and hours to be mutually agreed upon by student and site supervisor.
  • The supervisor will convey a pass/fail grade to the practicum director and will complete an evaluation form on the student.

At the beginning of the semester the student will:

  • List his/her objectives for the practicum. This will be shared with the Supervisor and changes made as necessary. It will then be posted through the WebCT course as stated in the course. 
  • Other assignments as stated in the course syllabus including a personal statement and description of the practicum site.

At the end of the semester the student will:

  • Prepare a paper and post it as directed in the online course. It will include a description of the practicum site and the work performed. The student should reflect on what was learned and how it is of benefit professionally.
  • Complete an online course evaluation form.