Graduate Programs - Borderless Access to Training and Education (BATE):

On-Line Distance Education for School Library Media Specialist Certification

What is BATE?

BATE, Borderless Access to Training and Education, is a multi-state, multi-institutional collaborative effort to place online the selected courses leading to certification to become a School Library Media Specialist. BATE is not a graduate program per se, but individual member institutions offer graduate programs in School Library Media. Inquires should be directed to Dr. Stephen D. Fitt at fitt@unlv.nevada.edu.

What UNLV courses are offered through BATE?

The following certification courses are or will be offered through BATE*:

• ICG 711 Book Selection and Acquisition
• ICG 716 Basic Reference and Bibliography
• ICG 718 Administration of the School Library
• ICG 719 The Computer in the Library Setting
• ICG 720 Supervised Library Practice

*Note: These courses are for certification. If you wish to use them in a UNLV master's program, you must get prior approval from your advisor.

Ready to Register? Follow these simple steps ... To view the current list of UNLV / BATE courses offered through Distance Education, go to Course Listing To register for a distance education course, go to How to register for DE Courses If you are NOT registered as a graduate student at UNLV, you must also go to Graduate College Registration to register as a non-degree seeking student.

What are the advantages of taking on-line courses through BATE?

There are two primary advantages to taking an on-line certification course through BATE:

1. The courses are the result of the collaboration of faculty across partner institutions. Thus, students have the benefit of courses developed as a result of multiple faculty expertise, input, and evaluation. Current institutional partners are Montana State University and the University of South Dakota.
2. BATE permits maximum flexibility for students. If a particular course is not being offered at a student's home institution in the semester that it is needed, he/she may take it at another BATE partner institution. BATE institutional partners agree to accept each other's courses. Check the comparability matrix on this page to see which courses are considered comparable by BATE partner institutions for purposes of certification.

To learn more about other BATE partner institutions and their course offerings, go to http://www.bate.montana.edu

Course Comparability Matrix

This matrix identifies which courses the state of Nevada will accept from BATE partner institutions as comparable courses to meet certification requirements:

ICG 711: Book Selection and Acquisition	EDCI 416 : Information Resource Management
ICG 716: Basic Reference and Bibliography	EDCI 351:  Information Resources and Services
ICG 718: Administration of the School Library	EDCI 412: Administration of Library Media Centers
ICG 720: Supervised Library Practice	EDCI 476: Internship

What do you need to know to be a successful distance learner in BATE on-line courses?

A successful distance learner needs basic computer and internet skills and access to a computer linked to the Internet. Students need to be able to use emails and attachments, threaded discussions, search tools, and chat rooms. Students also need to be able to manage time well and work independently. In addition to a computer linked to the Internet, students also need a word processing program and appropriate versions of Netscape or Internet Explorer. Additional information and a "browser test" can be found at: http://www.webct.com/oriented/viewpage?name=exchange_browser_tuneup

Where do I get additional information about BATE?

• UNLV contact for Library Science courses: Dr. Stephen D. Fitt, fitt@unlv.nevada.edu
• UNLV contact for distance education course support: WebCT help desk (702) 895-0782 8am-5pm; or (702) 895-0761 after 5pm and weekends; or e-mail distanceed@ccmail.nevada.edu
• MSU contact for Library Science courses: Dr. Janis Bruwelheide, janisb@montana.edu