Degrees

Master of Science in Education  - Professional Studies  (emphasis in Information, Technology and Libraries)

You can also work on licensure not in the context of a degree in two ways:

• Adding a 1902 license to an existing teaching license
• Earning an initial 1902 license (for those with a bachelor's degree but no teaching license)

You may choose to earn the 1902 license as part of a Master of Science in Education - Professional Studies with an emphasis in Information, Technology, and Libraries (MSE-PS). For guidance on which degree option may be the best for you, see the link to "Which is for you?"

Those who began the MSE-PS (formerly called the MSE-PD) before fall 2018 should contact an advisor about required courses.  Their requirements align with those of the degree before fall 2018.

At any point in taking courses, you can switch from undergraduate to graduate level and begin work on a degree, but you will need 30 graduate credits, 15 of which are 700-level courses to earn the degree. If you start to take graduate courses as a non-candidate-for-degree student and 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. Once you start the degree, you have seven years to complete it.  Download and print the MSE-PS program requirements to track your progress.  

This degree is focused on school librarianship and is NOT accredited by the American Library Association. If you want to work in an academic or large public library, you need to get your master's degree from an ALA-accredited institution such as UW-Madison or UW-Milwaukee.  

Not everyone wants a degree while they are working on the 1902 license:

• Students who have a bachelor's degree but no existing teaching license may choose to work on the 1902 license as their initial teaching license, not as part of a degree program, as a post-baccalaureate student
• Students who already holding a professional teaching license in another area or who already have a master's degree want to earn a library media license without getting another degree.

For those already holding a bachelor's degree or higher, there are two options:

• Special student with full credentials (undergraduate level coursework)
• Non-candidate for degree (graduate level coursework)

Special Student Full Credentials (Undergraduate level coursework)

Students who already hold a bachelor's degree may take licensure courses not as part of a degree at the undergraduate level. One way is to register as a special student with full credentials at the undergraduate level.  These students may enroll for classes at the undergraduate level except for the practicum, saving money.

Non-candidate for Degree (Graduate level coursework)

This status is available if you possess a bachelor's or higher degree from an accredited institution but do not want to pursue a graduate degree from UW-Whitewater at the time. You may want to do this if you think you want to switch to a graduate degree program after 1-3 courses.  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.

Courses can be taken at the graduate or undergraduate level, but not in the same semester. Any semester where a student takes a graduate course, all courses taken during the same time will be charged at the graduate rate, even if it is not a graduate course.Students are allowed to transfer 9-12 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 courses at this status and have them count toward the degree. Use the online application form. There is no $56 fee or transcripts required.