Exciting Classes for Spring and Summer 2019

iStudent Blog

Published: October 15, 2018 by Priscilla Ameneyro

I can’t believe I don’t have to think about spring and summer classes this time around! I’m excited to be in my final semester working on my e-Portfolio but at the same time sad that my iSchool experience is (almost) over. I can still help you with your class choices though! There are several things to factor in when making your decision about how many units you want to take and which classes. This post should help you – I’ll highlight some classes that I think look interesting and make sure I cover all the key points about nailing down your schedule.

First things first, make sure you’ve taken all the core courses: INFO 200, 202, 203 and 204. These are prerequisites for the other classes. There are some electives you can take even if you haven’t finished the required courses yet, check out my post on the latest course planning tool, Find a Core Course Without a Prerequisite Tool. You also need to make sure you take INFO 285 Applied Research Methods and either INFO 289 E-portfolio or 299 Thesis in your last semester. Now that you’ve straightened out which required courses you still need to take, you can check out the class schedules here. To learn more about a class, take a look at the syllabus and get to know the professor on the faculty pages. Carefully consider your course load, it’s better to start light in one semester and gradually add more units once you know how much you can handle. To help you decide which classes to enroll in, browse the career pathways for inspiration and read on to discover my selections.

Spring Picks
It was hard to choose just a few to highlight but here are some classes that stood out to me and a couple of recommendations based on classes I’ve taken.

Regular Session:

  • INFO 244 Online Searching – take this as early as you can, you’ll learn fundamental searching skills that will aid you in all your other classes.
  • INFO 287 Innovation and Participatory Practice (to include Maker Spaces) – I found this class really fun, you’ll get to try out design thinking.
  • INFO 284 Managing Photographic Collections – we all have one of these, right?
  • INFO 275 Library Services for Racially and Ethnically Diverse Communities – this should give you some good evidence for core competency C.

Special Session:

  • INFO 220 Psychology of the Information User – this is one I might take under the Open Classes program.
  • INFO 246 Learning to use Drupal and Understanding Content Management Systems
  • INFO 246 Information Architecture
  • INFO 254 Information Literacy and Learning – I enjoyed developing my pedagogical skills and knowledge in this class.
  • INFO 280 History of Books and Libraries – I have heard many good things about this class from other students.

Summer Picks
You’re not required to take classes over summer, but if you want to get in a few more units towards your degree, consider these options:

You can also keep up-to-date on class schedules through the iSchool Curriculum Center blog. Don’t forget MLIS students can take up to nine units of MARA classes. MARA students have a list of approved electives to choose from.

Go the Internship Route
If you’ve been following this blog, you’ll know by now that I rave about how great internships are. I liked it so much I did two! You can read my previous post about some unexpected bonuses of internships to find out more. Another thing to consider is that internships give you a break from regular classes. You still have to submit a report and post in the discussion thread a few times, but there are no lectures to worry about. You might even get paid at the same time!

INFO 298 Opportunities
Another option if you are looking for something different is to go for an INFO 298 Special Studies project. There are a few available right now, including the chance to work on the 2019 MLIS Skills at Work Report, the Medieval Manuscripts blogs and the Canvas advising site. Check your email or the Canvas advising and administration site for more details.

Mix it up With One and Two Unit Classes
Taking a few one and two unit classes can give you more variety and flexibility. Here’s a few that caught my eye for spring:

  • INFO 281 Digital Copyright (1 unit, regular session)
  • INFO 284 Special Collections (2 units, special session)
  • INFO 282 Information Vendor Landscape (2 units, special session)

Next Steps
Take a look at the iSchool course registration process for more information, pay attention to the deadlines and sign up for classes as soon as you can to secure your spot. Let us know what classes you’re planning on taking in spring and summer in the comments below.

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