Informatics FAQs
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Q. Can I defer my admission to a future
term?
A. You must enroll in the semester you were admitted or
reapply. SJSU does not offer deferred admission.
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Q. Is there a minimum number of credits required
to be taken to stay matriculated per semester?
A. For the University there is no minimum–and you can sit out
for one semester with no paperwork–as long as you return the
semester after. But if you are using financial aid you need to
maintain 4 units a semester.
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Q. Can a prospective MLIS or MARA student take MS
Informatics classes in iSchool Open Classes and apply these
courses toward a future MLIS or MARA degree?
A. Students requesting INFM courses through Open Classes need
to meet the INFM required competency in either: 1) HTML5 and
CSS, 2) a programming language, or 3) in information systems,
before requesting classes. A maximum total of 9 units taken in
Open Classes can transfer into an MLIS including: MLIS and MARA
electives, SJSU World Languages Classes, Units from outside
institutions. Only 6 of these units can be INFM
classes.
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Can a prospective MS Informatics student take INFM
courses in Open Classes and apply these courses toward a future
MS Informatics degree?
A. No. Because of the cohort nature of the MS Informatics
degree, prospective MS Informatics students can only take INFM
courses once they are matriculating into the degree
program.
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Q. Can matriculating MLIS students take INFM courses
and apply these units toward the MLIS?
A. Special Session MLIS students may only take 6 units of INFM
courses as electives and must meet the INFM required
competency with a strong technical competency, in either: 1)
HTML5 and CSS, 2) a programming language, or 3) in information
systems, before enrolling in these classes. A maximum total of
9 units can transfer into an MLIS including: MARA
electives, SJSU World Languages Classes, Transfer Units from
outside institutions and only 6 of these units can
be INFM classes. INFM units are $525 per unit, rather than $474
per unit for special session MLIS courses. In addition INFM
courses are run on different time frames than MLIS
courses.
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Q. I live within the U.S. on a visa that is not
permanent residency. Can I enroll in the MS in Informatics
program?
A. While our online programs are open to international students
living outside of the United States, we are only permitted to
admit international students who currently live within the
United States that hold either U.S. citizenship or Permanent
Residency (Green Card). Unfortunately, we are unable to admit
international students living in the United States on other
types of visas. Please see this link for further information:
https://ischool.sjsu.edu/informatics-international-applicants
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Q. How are the MLIS and MS in Informatics degree
programs different?
A. The MLIS and Informatics degree programs are quite
different. The MLIS provides a comprehensive overview to
developing skills and knowledge valuable for becoming an
information professional, and then students can choose to
specialize in an area that aligns closely with their career
goals. For some students, working in a professional library
setting is one of these outcomes, and the MLIS degree
specifically has ALA accreditation.
The MS in Informatics program is designed for students who are
specifically interested in working with directly and to
navigate data environments, preparing students for a career in
Informatics or working with groups that have big data focus
areas. Furthermore, it’s designed to be an accelerated program,
where students can finish the program in as quick as 12 to 18
months. It’s also 30 credits, which is less than the MLIS.
While the foundation courses have wide application and the
program is intended to have relevance to any data-driven work
setting, students will also select one of two specializations
that relate most closely to their interests: health or
cybersecurity and privacy.
MS in Informatics Program Overview – https://ischool.sjsu.edu/ms-informatics
MLIS Program Overview –
https://ischool.sjsu.edu/master-library-and-information-science
MLIS Career Pathways – https://ischool.sjsu.edu/mlis-career-pathways
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Q. Am I required to choose a specific
specialization?
A. Courses in each specialization (health, cybersecurity &
privacy) will only be offered once a year, and are intended for
students to take these courses together in order to complete
the three-course specialization requirement of the MS in
Informatics degree. However, students are not required to take
these three courses exclusively from one specialization
area. For example, students can take one course from each
specialization area or mix and match if so desired. All MS in
Informatics graduates will receive a diploma. A
specialization is not listed on the diploma.
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Q. When will specialization courses be offered so I can
plan my course schedule and degree completion?
A. Each specialization course is currently offered once during
the academic calendar year, and students should complete their
specialization courses when first offered to prevent having to
wait a year for their course selections to be offered again.
Specialization frequencies may be expanded based on meeting
student needs. Please see the Informatics Specialization
Rotations: https://ischool.sjsu.edu/informatics-course-rotations
Students may use the iSchool Unit Planning
Tool to create a customized plan to complete the degree
program.
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Q. Is the MS in Informatics program at SJSU iSchool a
clinical informatics degree?
A. While we do offer a health specialization that is designed
for a broad exposure to the health sector, our program is
not a specific clinical or nursing informatics degree. Our
program has a broader application throughout general
required coursework which can be applied to any sector, as
compared to dedicated clinical/nursing informatics degrees
offered elsewhere.
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Q. Is MS in Informatics at SJSU iSchool a STEM
designated degree program?
A. While we cover many STEM concepts, it is not a specifically
recognized STEM program.
