You may apply to take professional credit classes beginning in any semester. For our School Library Media courses, you must hold a bachelor's degree and have work experience in education, library studies, or a related field, or have an MLS or MA or equivalent degree or certification. Our Youth Literature Certificate courses require a master's degree in librarianship, education, or a related field, including coursework in youth literature, as well as some work experience; if you have a bachelor's degree but significant work experience and have taken coursework in youth literature, you may request an exception to the admissions requirements. All graduate study is subject to the rules and regulations of Rutgers University.

Because space in all courses is limited, early enrollment will help you ensure a place in the class you want. Note that our program is designed for part-time study. Individuals on sabbatical who need to arrange to take more than six credits should contact the Professional Development Studies office.

Please go to the appropriate section below, depending on if you are applying to our program for the first time or if you are a returning student. In addition, please review the information about tuition below.

If you are enrolling for the first time with us:

Your first step is to apply to be admitted as a nondegree student. If you are new to nondegree graduate study at Rutgers University or have not taken classes for several years, you must complete a Nondegree Graduate Application and pay a $60 application fee. The application is online (see link below) - be sure to follow the directions below when you complete the application:

Under Application Type, please select "Nondegree Application."

Under Program Name, select "P" and go to "Professional Credit Programs." When you make that selection options will pop-up. Please make these selections:

• Scroll to the "School of Communication, Information and Library Studies" and then select the appropriate academic program for you, for Associate School Library Media, Youth Literature Online Certificate, or general Professional Development.
• If you are a post-MLS seeking full school library certification, please select "Associate School Library Media."
• For summer and fall admissions, please select Fall. For spring admissions, please select Spring.

Under Personal Statement, please submit a short essay outlining your career and personal goals and why you want to enroll in the program you have selected. Please note in your statement if you have had us review your transcripts or obtained advising from us before you applied.  Important note:  the online application form has an option to submit the application without the personal statement, suggesting that you can mail the statement at a later time. We strongly recommend that you wait to submit your online application until you have your personal statement ready to include. Statements submitted separately run the risk of being lost, and we will not consider your application without the statement so you do not gain any time by submitting the two separately. 

Please have transcripts from your previous academic work sent directly to us: Professional Development Studies, Rutgers University SCILS, 4 Huntington Street, New Brunswick, NJ 08901-1071. If you are a certified teacher and are applying for school library coursework, please send us a copy of your instructional certificate as well.

Letters of recommendation are not required.

The online application can be found at the Graduate Admissions website.

At the same time as you are completing the Nondegree Application you should send in the Registration Coupon to reserve a place in the class you want. We will hold your seat while we review your application, but we will not actually register you for your class until your application has been submitted and accepted. Please note that we ask students who are new to online study with Professional Development Studies to limit yourself to one course in your first semester with us.

If you have taken classes with us before:

If you have been admitted as a nondegree student in a previous semester and have taken a course within the past five years, you are ready to register for classes. To register, mail or fax in the Registration Coupon.

Tuition and Fees

Academic Year 2007-2008

If you are a New Jersey resident taking one course, the cost is $1,789.55 ($1,547.55 tuition, $242.00 fees).
If you are a New Jersey resident taking two courses, the cost is $3,359.60 ($3,095.10 tuition, $264.50 fees).
If you are a non-state resident taking one course, the cost is $2,542.70 ($2,300.70 tuition, $242.00 fees).
If you are a non-state resident taking two courses, the cost is $4,865.90 ($4,601.40 tuition, $264.50 fees).

Once you submit a registration coupon and we confirm your registration, you will receive a term bill in the mail from Rutgers Student Accounting.  If you would like to view your term bill online, go to https://rutadmin.rutgers.edu/sarapp1 (the last character is the number one).  You can pay online through this website, or you can wait to receive a term bill in the mail and pay by check.  Note that there are new payment options available at Rutgers. To see the registration calendar with information about the refund schedule should you need to withdraw your registration, see http://registrar.rutgers.edu/NB/CALEN-NB.HTM

Student IDs and Net IDs

All students are issued a 9 digit student ID when they enter Rutgers. In addition, all students should register for a Net ID after being registered for their first class. Details about how to do this are available here.