|
Frequently
Asked
Questions
about the
Graduate LME
Program
1. Do
I have to
come to
campus for
classes?
The Master
of Science
in LME
program is
completely
online/web-based.
On-campus
work is not
a feature of
such a
program.
2. I
would like
to get my
certification
as a library
media
specialist
but my
undergraduate
degree is in
elementary
education.
Will I have
to take
undergraduate
courses?
No, you do
not.
The Master
of Science
with the
major in
Library
Media
Education
will give
you the Rank
II or Rank I
for any
Kentucky
certificate
and the P-12
certification
as a library
media
specialist.
The MS with
a focus in
the area of
educational
technology
also
satisfies
the
requirements
for the Rank
II or Rank I
for any
valid
Kentucky
certificate.
3. I
have a Rank
II
certificate
in Kentucky
for middle
grades
education.
Can I get
certification
as a library
media
specialist
without
taking an
excessive
number
courses
beyond what
is required
for a rank
I?
It depends
on what
previous
courses are
equivalent
to those
required for
the MS in
LME and the
certification
as a library
media
specialist.
The Rank I
requires a
minimum of
60 sem.
hours work
including
the Rank II
or master's
level. For
those people
in other
states the
Kentucky
Rank I is
usually
equivalent
to a "plus
30."
Courses used
from a
previous
master's
degree
cannot be
older than 6
years by the
completion
date for the
Master of
Science LME.
4. Can
I get a
Kentucky
endorsement
as a high
school
library
media
specialist?
Kentucky no
longer has
endorsements
for library
media
specialists.
The P-12
Library
Media
Specialist
certificate
is
required.
The P-12 LMS
certificate
requires 30
semester
hours of
course work
while the
older
endorsements
required 24
semester
hours.
Also, most
other states
no longer
recognize an
endorsement
while the
master's
level P-12
certificate
is
universal.
5. I
have a
Kentucky
endorsement
as an
elementary
library
media
specialist.
What do I
need to do
to get a
high school
endorsement?
If you
already hold
an
endorsement
of 24
semester
hours, you
may be
required to
complete 6
additional
hours of
credit.
Most people
who already
hold an
endorsement
have 30
semester
hours of
course
work. For
these, a
"certification
only"
program form
is completed
and
submitted to
add the P-12
Library
Media
Specialist
certification.
No
additional
course work
is
necessary.
6. I
have a
degree in
English but
do not have
a teaching
certificate.
Can I become
a school
library
media
specialist
in Kentucky?
A person
with no
prior
teacher
certification
at the
undergraduate
level can
obtain the
certification
as a P-12
Library
Media
Specialist
in Kentucky
with the
MS. This
requires
admission to
both
Graduate
Studies at
WKU and
Teacher
Education
The process
for being
admitted to
Teacher
Education is
based on
unconditional
status as a
graduate
student and
completion
of an
admissions
packet that
includes a
criminal
background
check and a
health
screening
among other
things.
Completion
of the
program
certifies
the
individual
only as a
P-12 LMS in
Kentucky and
not a
classroom
teacher.
7. I
am a teacher
in a
neighboring
state and
want to get
my
certification
as a library
media
specialist.
Can I do
this at
Western
Kentucky
University?
The Master
of Science
in LME for
certification
as a library
media
specialist
is accepted
in other
states.
Most states
do require a
basic
certificate
as a
classroom
teacher,
usually at
the
undergraduate
or initial
level of
certification.
Some states
require a
set score on
the PRAXIS
II Specialty
Examination
for Library
Media
Specialist.
Students
outside of
Kentucky
should check
with their
respective
certification/licensure
authorities.
8.
Will the MS
in library
media
education
from Western
Kentucky
University
qualify me
to work in
college,
university,
and public
libraries as
well as
school
library
media
centers?
It depends.
The LME
program at
Western is
specialized
for library
media
specialists
and
educational
technologists.
ALA
accreditation
is important
for people
seeking
careers in
colleges,
universities,
special
libraries,
and major
public
libraries.
Some
exceptions
are the Los
Angeles
Public
Library,
public
libraries in
New York,
and some
small
colleges.
Kentucky has
a
certification
program for
public
librarians
from
baccalaureate
through the
master's
degree.
Many
graduates of
the program
do hold
professional
positions in
smaller
public
libraries in
Kentucky
and some
hold
positions
in private
colleges.
The large
urban
libraries in
Kentucky
(Louisiville,
Lexington,
and northern
Kentucky)
require an
ALA
accredited
master's for
professional
positions. The
School of
Library and
Information
Science at
the
University
of Kentucky
is an ALA
master's
program.
Online ALA
programs are
available
through
Florida
State
University,
U of
Tennessee,
University
of Southern
Mississippi,
and other
institutions.
Check the
ALA website
at
http://www.ala.org
for all ALA
accredited
programs.
9. I
do not have
a bachelor's
degree in
education
and do not
want to be
school
librarian.
Can I get
the Master
of Science
in Library
Media
Education at
Western?
The master's
degree in
LME does not
require
prior
teacher
certification.
Graduates of
the program
have found
jobs in
other types
of
libraries,
public
agencies,
and
businesses.
Success
cannot be
guaranteed
by the
University
because it
depends on
the
circumstances
of the
individuals.
10.
What is the
time limit
for
completing
the master's
degree?
Six years.
Courses
listed on a
student's
program of
study
(called a
Form C) that
fall out of
the six year
time limit
by the time
a student
finishes the
program must
be re-taken.
11. Is
the PRAXIS
II
Examination
required for
certification?
The PRAXIS
II Specialty
Examination
is required
by Kentucky
for the P-12
Library
Media
Specialist
Certificate.
The PRAXIS
II Specialty
Examination
or another
examination
may be
required for
certification
in other
states.
Students
outside of
Kentucky are
responsible
for
determining
the
requirements
for
certification
in their
states.
12.
What happens
if I pass
the
comprehensive
examination
for the
master's
degree but
do not pass
the PRAXIS
II
Examination?
You will
receive a
Kentucky
Rank II or
Rank I but
not the P-12
Library
Media
Specialist
certificate.
People from
other states
fall under
different
guidelines
and should
check with
the
appropriate
certification/licensure
agencies.
13.
Since the MS
in LME will
be my second
master's
degree, do I
have to take
the research
methods
course
again?
If the
research
class you
took for the
first
master's
degree will
be older
than six
years by the
time you
complete MS
program, you
must take
the LME
Program Area
research
competency
examination. You
schedule the
test through
your
academic
advisor in
LME. The
test is
transmitted
to you
electronically.
The
responses
must be
returned
electronically
within seven
days after
it is
transmitted
to you as an
email
attachment.
|