Taking Courses for Licensure Only

Many students, especially those 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.

Initial Licensure

To get the initial level of licensure as a library media specialist, a student must complete an program of seven content courses and two practicum experiences. This may be done at the undergraduate level up to the practicum courses which are at the graduate level. This can save a substantial amount of money if the individual does not want to work on a master's degree. Once taken at the undergraduate level, a course cannot be converted to a graduate level course.

If one already holds a professional teaching license in another level, the initial license is granted at the 902 professional level with stipulations. The following courses are required for licensure. The first number is the undergraduate course number and the second one the graduate number.

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

• Undergraduate special student
• Graduate non-candidate for degree

Undergraduate Special Student

Students who already hold a bachelor's degree may take licensure courses not as part of a degree at the undergraduate level. With controls on the number of undergraduates admitted each year, this has become more difficult. to get in. For those with a bachelor's degree, consider the non-candidate for degree option under graduate admissions. These students may enroll for classes at the undergraduate level.

Graduate Noncandidate for Degree

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. 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 up to 12 credits earned as a noncandidate-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.

Professional Level

The 902 professional level license must be done at the graduate level, but it, too, can be part of a master's degree program or for licensure only. The following courses are required for the license. For the Masters of Science in Education Degree in Professional Development with an Emphasis in Information, Technology, and Libraries an additional six courses (12 credits) are required. The chart below indicates the six courses required for licensure as well as the others needed if this is done in the context of a degree.

Proposed changes for 2013

These changes are currently working their way through the curricular process at UWW.

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