Enhance your degree
Our graduate certificates, offered through the School of Information Sciences, are targeted to specific skills that can enhance your marketability in the field. Delivered through online courses to fit around a work schedule, these certificates are ideal for professionals seeking career advancement.
Graduate certificates offered at CCI
Healthcare Informatics
The online Healthcare Informatics Graduate Certificate (HIC) program from the University of Tennessee prepares students for careers in connecting people, information, and technology in the healthcare sector. The 100% online HIC program combines expertise from the College of Nursing, Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, and the School of Information Sciences to examine and apply current health information management, analytics processing, security, and data mining techniques.
Health Informatics refers to the application of health science, computer science, and information sciences to the delivery, management, and planning of healthcare technology. Health informatics professionals are uniquely positioned to address the most significant issues in the rapidly changing landscape of healthcare information and technology.
Research Data Management
Information professionals work with researchers in a variety of settings to provide research data management (RDM) expertise. RDM is essential as funding agencies, publishers and industry increasingly require data management plans, data deposition in trusted repositories, and data sharing. This equates to a high demand for RDM skills that may not be covered in other programs focused on domain or information sciences.
The RDM certificate program provide students interested in supplementing their courses with this specialization or to those who already have a graduate degree and want to learn more and update knowledge and skills in RDM to enhance their careers in a variety of settings, including:
- Academic libraries
- Government agencies
- Non-profit organizations
- Archives
- Research centers
School Librarianship
The School of Information Sciences offers four options for the School Library Media Specialist endorsement based on previous education and work experience. Choose the option that corresponds to your current situation to view the requirements for your endorsement.
Option 1: I want to gain my initial license, the American Library Association accredited Master of Science in Information Science, and my PreK-12 School Library Endorsement.
This option is for those that have never had a teaching license AND do not have an American Library Association accredited master’s degree in library or information sciences. You can learn more about the MSIS program on the master’s programs page and see a description of courses in the graduate catalog.
For those who do not hold an American Library Association accredited master’s degree, the requirements for initial licensure and PreK-12 School Library Endorsement include the three required courses (INSC 511, 512, and 514) plus INSC 551, 560, 571, 572, 595, or 596. Students can take up six hours of electives (two classes). In addition, students must complete two co-requisite courses from the College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences (six credit hours) that count toward the master’s degree requirements. These courses include:
- Applied Educational Psychology EDPY 501 (3 hours) Application of concepts, principles, techniques, and models from educational psychology to facilitate student learning and creation of effective classroom environments.
- Special Education and Diverse Learners SPED 503 (3 hours) Characteristics and needs of students with disabilities and diverse learners with an emphasis on educational implications. Techniques, strategies, and resources for teaching and assessing students with diverse learning, behavioral, medical, and/or socio-cultural characteristics, and the requirements of special education and other relevant laws.
Upon completion of the requirements, students will earn a Master of Science in Information Sciences and a Tennessee State Department of Education license with the endorsement of 473 Library Information Specialist PreK-12.
Please email the program coordinator at [email protected] if you would like an updated advising sheet for option 1.
Option 2: I am currently or have been previously licensed as a teacher and want to gain the ALA-accredited Masters of Science in Information Science along with the PreK-12 School Library Endorsement.
This option is for those that are currently or have ever been licensed in any state as a teacher but do not hold a master’s degree in library or information science. You can learn more about the MSIS program on the master’s programs page and see a description of courses in the graduate catalog.
The requirements include the three required courses (INSC 511, 512, and 514) plus INSC 551, 560, 571, and 572. Students may choose from a variety of electives that include INSC 573, 576, 577, 583, 596, or youth-oriented 590 special topics courses. INSC 596 Field Experience in School Libraries is optional.
Upon completion of the requirements, students will earn a Master of Science in Information Sciences and receive the Tennessee State Department of Education 473 Library Information Specialist PreK-12 endorsement.
Please email the program coordinator at [email protected] if you would like an updated advising sheet for option 2.
Option 3: I want to gain my initial license and the PreK-12 School Library endorsement, but I already have an American Library Association accredited master’s degree in library or information sciences.
The School Library Information Specialist Certificate is for those who already have an American Library Association accredited master’s degree in library or information science but are not and never have been a licensed teacher.
NOTE: We are unable to accept transfer credits from programs that have not been accredited by the American Library Association.
For those who hold an ALA-accredited master’s degree, the requirements for this certificate are between 12 and 23 graduate credit hours and include two co-requisite graduate courses from the College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences (six credit hours). These courses are described under Option 1.
The courses required to fulfill this option are determined on an individual basis and upon the evaluation of the student’s transcript by the Director of Graduate Studies.
Students enrolled in the School Library Information Specialist Certificate have the option to pursue licensure through student teaching or as job-embedded practitioners.
Upon completion of the requirements, students will earn a graduate certificate and a Tennessee State Department of Education license with a 473 Library Information Specialist PreK-12 endorsement.
Please email the program coordinator at [email protected] if you would like an updated advising sheet for Option 3.
Option 4: I am currently a licensed Tennessee teacher and want to add only the PreK-12 School Library Endorsement to my license.
The School Librarianship Graduate Certificate is for those that are currently licensed Tennessee classroom teachers and want to add the 473 Library Information Specialist PreK-12 endorsement to their existing credentials. The requirements include the three required courses (INSC 511, 512, and 514) plus INSC 551, 560, 571, and 572. INSC 596 Field Experience in School Libraries is optional. The certificate requires 21 graduate credit hours.
Upon completion of the requirements, students will earn the graduate certificate and obtain the Tennessee State Department of Education 473 Library Information Specialist PreK-12 endorsement.
Please email the program coordinator at [email protected] if you would like an updated advising sheet for option 4.
Upon graduating from SIS or completing the requirements for a graduate certificate, the Tennessee Teaching License and the school library media endorsement are transferable to most states across the country. To transfer their certification, students should simply send their Tennessee license to their “new” home state’s Department of Education with accompanying transcripts and any relevant information that is required. A new license should be granted with no additional courses demanded. Students should still check with their State Department of Education for licensure requirements to be certain of the direct transfer without additional coursework or requirements.
Graduation from this program with the Master of Science in Information Sciences or the completion of one of the two certificate programs and Tennessee licensure with the PreK-12 School Library Endorsement qualify students for jobs in school as well as public libraries, but it also prepares them for job opportunities in many other venues. If you would like to explore the full range of possibilities, email [email protected].
If you do not see your situation or have other questions about anything related to school librarianship, please email [email protected].
School Library Information Specialist
The School Library Information Specialist certificate is for any new student, or currently or previously enrolled student at the University of Tennessee, who has a Master’s in Library or Information Sciences from a program accredited by the American Library Association.
The certificate, in combination with a master’s degree and the successful completion of the School Librarian Praxis exam and the edTPA for School Librarians/Library Specialists or an alternative assessment, will allow students to become certified as PreK-12 school librarians in Tennessee.
School Library Information Specialist curriculum & requirements
Youth Informatics
Explore how youth use and apply technology and learn how to promote digital literacy with the online Youth Informatics Certificate (YIC) program from the University of Tennessee School of Information Sciences. The program provides valuable information, leadership training, and credentialing to any professional engaged or interested in youth services and interactions, such as school or public librarians, MakerSpace coordinators, teachers, researchers, education administrators, youth group leaders, and more.
The YIC program approaches the personal, organizational, and holistic level of how youth interact with technology and information which can be applied to many settings and initiatives, including:
- Public libraries
- Digital learning spaces
- Product design and development
- Youth service development
- Youth technology training
- Digital literacy education
- Youth research and development
- Youth social services
- Community building programs
- Youth mentorship programs
- Youth social media education
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