Advising

This graphic outlines your decision making which is described in detail below the graphic.  

School Library

You can earn a minor in school librarianship by taking eight courses.

• • LIBMEDIA 350: Finding and Using Information
  • LIBMEDIA 434: Digital Tools
  • LIBMEDIA 441: Organizing Information
  • ELEMMID 362: Children's Literature
  • ENGLISH 310: Young Adult Literature (This is the alternative course for LIBMEDIA 343)
  • LIBMEDIA 440: Information Literacy  (Prerequisite:  Methods Course)
  • LIBMEDIA 454: Library Administration
  • LIBMEDIA 455: Librarians as Leaders  (Prerequisite:  LIBMEDIA 454)

To add licensure as a school library media specialist (1902), you must be an education major and need to do two 100 hour practicum experiences which are offered only at the graduate level. These are done after your student teaching and after taking all your library coursework, either before or after you graduate. You must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 in your library courses to enter the practicum. 

Public Library 

You can earn a minor in library science by taking eight courses.

• • LIBMEDIA 350: Finding and Using Information
  • LIBMEDIA 434: Digital Tools
  • LIBMEDIA 441: Organizing Information
  • ELEMMID 362: Children's Literature
  • ENGLISH 310: Young Adult Literature (This is the alternative course for LIBMEDIA 343)
  • LIBMEDIA 440: Information Literacy 
  • LIBMEDIA 454: Library Administration
  • EDFNDPRC 411: Library Practicum

To become certified as a public librarian, class 2 or 3, you must do a 150 hour public library practicum (EDFNDPRC 411). This is done at the end of all coursework. School library minors may choose to also add this certification with the additional practicum experience. This qualifies you to be a library director in a town under 6000 residents. If you plan to be a director in a larger public library, you will need to go on to earn a graduate degree in library science. 

For you there are several options. The question is "Should I get a master's degree with licensure?" This is really up to you and your career goals and financial situation. Some people prefer to get the graduate degree to potentially move up on the salary scale in their job. Others may choose just to take the licensure coursework outside of the context of a degree, especially if they already have a graduate degree in another area. 

Licensure Only

Course may be taken at the graduate level (non-candidate for degree) or the undergraduate level (special student full credentials). The first option is the undergraduate level course and the second the graduate level version.  

Student starting licensure in fall 2017 or later

Students starting licensure only path before fall 2017

MSE-PS

If you want to get a Masters of Science in Education - Professional Studies (MSE-PS) degree, you take the courses to complete the 1902 license plus an additional course on research (EDFOUND 780). It is important to decide on the degree early as you can't change undergraduate coursework into graduate coursework and the degree requires 30 graduate credits, 15 of which must be at the 700 level. Once you start the degree, you have seven years to complete it. If you start to take graduate courses but don't apply for the degree and then decide you want to get the degree, apply to the Graduate Office immediately as you can only transfer in nine graduate credits before acceptance into the master's program. All courses in these lists are required for licensure. Some people may have had one or more of these courses (e.g., Children's Literature, Young Adult Literature, Digital Tools) in their undergraduate program and should talk with an advisor about possible exemption from taking them again for licensure. Another option is to use the evidence or prior learning portfolio to waive these courses for licensure.  

Students starting MSE-PS (formerly MSE-PD) in fall 2017 or later

Students starting MSE-PS prior to fall 2017

Students who began their library coursework as part of the degree before fall 2017 fall under the old requirements with the exception of the course portfolio. Instead of a course portfolio, you must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 in your library courses to enter the practicum. 

If you don't have a teaching license, you can take courses on campus for the public library certification, but to become a school librarian, you will need to earn the school library media specialist license as part of an 1902 initial teaching license. Check out the webpage for a description of this process, and talk with an advisor on options for doing this. 
If you want a graduate degree, it is least expensive to take the education courses first at the undergraduate level and then switch to a master's candidate to take the library courses. If you just want to work on the initial license, you can take all your coursework at the undergraduate level. 

The first step to enroll as an undergraduate in library media courses is to gain admission to UW-Whitewater. The Office of Admissions provides information on the requirements and an online application form.

School Library Minors

You can begin taking undergraduate library media courses near the beginning of your undergraduate career at UW-Whitewater, although it is advisable to start after you have started taking education courses in the Foundations block for school library minors. This will give you some background in teaching and learning that will benefit you in the library media coursework. Library media courses are at the 300 and 400 level which assume junior and senior status. Two courses have prerequisites: LIBMEDIA 440 (Information Literacy) requires that you have taken at least one methods course before enrolling and LIBMEDIA 455 (Librarians as Leaders) requires that you have taken LIBMEDIA 454 (Library Administration) first. Work with your undergraduate advisor to set up a program of study that will fit your eight library media courses and two practicum experiences into your program. You must complete your student teaching before you do the two library media practicum experiences. The College of Education website provides information on admission to professional education.

Public Library Minors

Library science minors may take the seven required library media courses at any time during their college careers. The 3-credit practicum is part of the minor and required for graduation. Prerequisites for the practicum are LIBMEDIA 350, 351, 451, and 454, but it is recommended that all library courses be finished before the practicum.

Undergraduate Special Student

Students may take licensure courses not as part of a degree at the undergraduate level as a special student full credentials. This is the route you will take if working on an initial 1902 license at the post-baccalaureate level. If you are taking two courses in a semester and one is a graduate level course, you will be charged graduate tuition for both courses. For those with an existing teaching license who just want to add the 1902 license at the undergraduate level, register as a non-candidate for degree in the graduate application process rather than a special student. You can still take courses at the undergraduate level. Follow this process:

1. Apply to UW Whitewater as a special student full credentials at https://apply.wisconsin.edu/. This will ask for official transcripts from all places you have taken college courses.
   • Create an account.
   • Choose UW Whitewater.
   • Choose your level of high school and post-secondary education.
   • Choose Undergraduate Degree, Certification or Certificate 
   • Under UW Whitewater
     • Choose Special Student Full Credentials. 
     • For program, choose School Library Media Specialist Licensure (1902) [COEPS] * Field of Study under Education-Related Studies in the section: Intended Major or Field of Study.
   • Choose the term you want to enter.
   • Complete the remainder of the application. 
     • In the essay, mention that you are interested in the library media program.
     • Include ALL your transcripts, not just those from your final undergraduate degree.  The College of Education and Professional Studies needs those.
2. If planning to take the hybrid courses through UWSSLEC, complete the UWSSLEC application form.
3. When an application is received, it will be reviewed by the College of Education and Professional Studies advisor and the library media program coordinator. More information on this process is available from the College.
   • The COEPS advisor will check general education requirements, one's grade on COMM 110 or the equivalent, and GPA (or test scores).
   • The library media program coordinator will check any previous library coursework for match to program competencies and courses. Syllabi may be required. Courses over 8 years old may not meet current course content. This includes all coursework done for a Master's of Library Science degree.   

Students may take library media courses for licensure at the graduate level either as part of a graduate degree program or not. For teachers who are seeking to add the library media license, see the page on "Which is right for you?" to help you choose the best option for you.

Non-candidate for Degree (Graduate Special Student)

This status is available if you possess a bachelor's or higher degree from an accredited institution but do not want to start a graduate degree from UW-Whitewater immediately. Those how have an existing teaching license and just want to add the 1902 license may choose this option. If you do not have a teaching license and want to earn the 1902 initial license, you should not choose this option but rather choose Special Student Full Credential. You are considered a non-candidate for degree student if you meet one of the following conditions:

• A student with a bachelor's degree but not in a master's degree program.
• A teacher wanting to complete graduate course work to maintain educational certification requirements.
• A student enrolled in a graduate degree program at another institution that wants to transfer the UW-Whitewater course work to that program
• A student who has already received a master's degree from UW-Whitewater and wishes to take additional selected course work at the graduate level.

There is no $56 application fee, and transcripts are also not collected. Your signature on the application attests that you have earned a bachelor's or higher degree from an accredited institution. Once admitted, graduate fees are applied for all course work taken, even when taking a combination of graduate and undergraduate courses. If you want to take a course at the undergraduate level, you can not also take one at the graduate level in the same semester. Students are allowed to transfer up to 12 credits earned as a non-candidate for degree into their degree program. If you plan to eventually enroll in a graduate degree program, you may take up to four of the library media or core education courses at this status and have them count toward the degree. Use the online application form. If you plan to take all your library coursework at the undergraduate level, do not use this option. Instead, apply as a Special Student Full Credentials.

Master's Degree Candidate

To enroll in the graduate program leading to a Master of Science in Education- Professional Studies, you must do the following:

• Meet the admissions requirements:
  • Bachelor's degree and one of the following
    • Overall undergraduate GPA of at least 2.75 on a 4.00 scale OR
    • At least 2.90 GPA on last half of your undergraduate degree program OR
    • At least 12 credits of graduate work completed on regular grade basis at UWW with minimum 3.00 overall GPA in all graduate course work completed at UWW OR
    • Master's degree or higher from another institution
• Complete graduate application
• Order official transcripts sent to Graduate Studies Office
• Submit $56 graduate application fee.
• Complete transfer of credit form if applicable (These are reviewed for acceptance and may apply to the degree but not necessarily to licensure).
• International students have additional requirements to demonstrate English proficiency

For more information, see the program application information at the Graduate Studies Office website. Contact John Zbikowski for information on transferring education courses or Sarah Beth Nelson about transferring library media courses.

Post-baccalaureate students working on initial or add-on license at undergraduate level follow the guidelines and process for Special Student Full Credentials.