INFO 294 Internships
INFO 294 Internships
No matter if you are looking to enter the information field or if you are currently working in the profession, there are numerous benefits to making an internship a part of your graduate school experience. For example, an internship can help you:
- Gain LIS-related work experience
- Get valuable references for future job applications
- Build your knowledge and skills through on-the-job training
- Develop a strong professional network
- Affirm your career direction
- Diversify your work experience
- And more!
Completing an internship connects your MLIS course work to real-life job experiences and supports your professional endeavors. Even if you are currently employed and have no aspirations to work anywhere else, internship experience is always good to have in your back pocket. A new career interest may even come about, and don’t discount the possibility of a better job offer.
Is time an issue? We realize it can be challenging to juggle school, work, family and other obligations. But we cannot stress enough the value of internships. Our school’s internship program also includes virtual internship opportunities that afford more flexibility for busy schedules. We strongly encourage you to browse the internship database and consider completing an internship at a public, academic, special library or other information-based organization.
Qualifying for the MLIS Internship Program
To qualify for the internship program, you must:
- Be matriculated in the MLIS degree program.
- Remain in good academic standing (3.0 CUM GPA or above).
- Have completed INFO 200, 202, 203, 204, and 9 units of electives.
Internships are for credit/no credit grading and two to four units with a maximum of eight units of credit. Each unit is equivalent to a minimum of 45 hours of work. Please refer to the INFO 294 Student Handbook for more information about our internship program.
“Doing an internship concurrently with the MLIS program allowed me to apply principles I was learning with the work I was doing.” — Beth Atlas
Virtual Internships — Tips for Students and Stories of Alumni Success
Published: July 20, 2017
Time and time again during your studies at the San José State University iSchool, you hear this advice—“Do an internship!” Director Sandra Hirsh highlights this advice in her Director’s Forums and the Career Development pages talk at length about the benefits of dipping one’s toes into the working world.