Children’s Literature (MA) / Library Science (MS)
Faculty
Please see Children’s Literature and Library Science for faculty list.
Description
The Children's Literature/Library Services to Children (MA/MS) is the first and only dual degree program in the country that prepares students and professionals in library youth and young adult services.
Enroll in both the Master of Arts in Children’s Literature and the Master of Science in Library and Information Science to meld theory and practice. Work with an advisor from each program to tailor your studies to meet your needs and interests.
Examine literary history and then evaluate a children’s literature collection. Consider far-ranging critical frameworks and assess the right young adult texts to bring to readers. Study the form of the picturebook as the first step in connecting books to child readers. Research contemporary nonfiction to build not only today’s common core but also to tomorrow’s scientists.
Immerse yourself in The Center for the Study of Children’s Literature. Join authors and illustrators at the summer institute, the Horn Book at Simmons Symposium, and the literary events hosted in Boston every year. From Children’s Books Boston to the Boston Book Festival, participate in today’s literary society as you create tomorrow’s readers.
Learning Outcomes
Students leave Master of Arts (MA) in Children’s Literature with an extensive theoretical context and a broad knowledge of contemporary literature for children and young adults. In graduating, they have:
- Developed a critical voice and demonstrated the capacity for original argument;
- Analyzed literature for children and young adults;
- Assessed and interpreted scholarship in the field of children’s and young adult literature;
- Applied critical perspectives across genres in children’s and young adult literature;
- Understood historical works, contexts, and influences in the field;
- Valued the diversities of human experiences (re)presented in literature for children and young adults and in the scholarship in the field; and
- Demonstrated individual and collaborative leadership.
Library Science Learning Outcomes: students will be able to:
- Apply professional standards, tools, and best practices in the information field and across specialized areas.
- Communicate effectively to different audiences through use of oral, written, and visual formats across multiple media.
- Develop appropriate technology strategies across a range of information settings.
- Critically analyze and apply research.
- Evaluate and create information services and/or systems to reflect and respond to the needs of diverse communities and stakeholders.
- Demonstrate individual and collaborative leadership ability.
- Be guided by professional ethics and values.
Requirements for entry into program
Costs
Including financing and fellowships / assistantships
$1020 per credit hour (Children’s Literature)
Activity Fee $52 per semester
Delivery Mode or Modes Available (full-time, part-time, locations, technologies, etc.)
In collaboration with The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, Simmons offers all four graduate programs in Children's Literature onsite at The Carle. This includes our M.A. in Children's Literature, M.F.A. in Writing for Children, M.A. in Children's Literature/M.F.A. dual degree, and M.A. in Children's Literature/M.S. in Library Science dual degree offered in collaboration with Simmons's School of Library and Information Science program at Mount Holyoke.
Degree requirements
Fifty-eight to sixty credits (depending on electives chosen) are required for the degrees.
Core, Pre-requisite, and elective course requirements and progression, etc.
Unless otherwise noted, all Library/Information Science courses are three credits and all Children’s Literature courses are four credits. The program consists of:
Seven courses in Library and Information Science (21 credit hours) in the following categories:
Three core courses in Library and Information Science (totaling 9 credits):
| LIS 415 | Information Organization | 3 |
| LIS 407 | Information Sources & Services | 3 |
| LIS 488 | Technology for Information_Professionals | 3 |
Two core courses describing children’s library collections (6 credits)
| LIS 481 | Library Collections & Materials for_Children | 3 |
| LIS 483 | Library Collections and Materials for_Young Adults | 3 |
One of the following courses related to programs and services (totaling 3 credits):
| LIS 482 | Library Programs and Service for_Children | 3 |
| LIS 412 | Library Programs & Services for Young_Adults | 3 |
One of the following courses related to professional practices (totaling 3 credits):
| LIS 422 | Literacy & Services to Underserved_Populations: Issues & Responses. | 3 |
| LIS 423 | Storytelling | 3 |
| LIS 450 | Public Libraries | 3 |
Six courses in Children’s Literature (24 credit hours)
Four core courses in Children’s Literature (16 credits)
| CHL 401 | Criticism of Literature for Children | 4 |
| CHL 403 | The Picturebook | 4 |
| CHL 413 | Contemporary Realistic Fiction | 4 |
| CHL 414 | Fantasy and Science Fiction | 4 |
Four credits in the history of children’s literature, selected from courses with a chronological focus, including, but not limited to:
| CHL 404A | Children's Poetry on Trial : You'll Be_Judge, You'll Be Jury | 2 |
| CHL 411/ENGL 511 | Victorian Children's Literature | 4 |
| CHL 418 | Australian Children's Literature | 4 |
| CHL 423/ENGL 423 | 19th Century American Childrens'_Literature | 4 |
| CHL 424 | Nonsense Literature for Children:_Structured Absurdity, Subversion, &_Certain Creatures of the Sea | 2 |
| CHL 424B | Verse Novels, Narrative Poetry | 2 |
| CHL 424C | Series Fiction | 2 |
| CHL 427 | Special Topics: Folk & Fairy Tales | 2 |
| CHL 427B | The Americanization of Fairy Tales | 2 |
| CHL 428A | Graphic Novels & the Wizard of Oz | 2 |
| CHL 429A | Rereading Race in Classic Children's Lit | 2 |
| CHL 429B | The Girl Reader, 1868-1908 | 2 |
| CHL 436A | Nonfiction: Narrative | 2 |
| CHL 436B | Nonfiction: Expository | 2 |
General Electives in Children's Literature (totaling 4 credits)
Note: courses listed in the “history” category above could be taken as general electives
Dual Degree Program Capstone Course (4 credits):
MA/MS Dual Degree Program Electives
(elective courses from either CHL or LIS totaling 9 – 11 credits)
Capstone, placement, internship, practicum, etc.
Concentrations, specializations, etc.
Licensure, certification, etc.
Dual (and other) degree options
For related dual degree programs:
Children's Literature (MA)/ Writing for Children (MFA)
Children's Literature (MA)/Teaching (MAT)
Other program information