Open Classes Course List

Overview

Spring 2026 Course List

The list of spring 2026 courses below includes all MLIS and MARA electives offered. Some INFM courses are available in Open Classes.

Note: Enrollment is based on space availability and is not guaranteed. Some of the classes below might already be filled.

As you explore these courses, we encourage you to read the course syllabus. (Click on the course title to view the syllabus.) Note that in some cases, the syllabus may be from a previous semester, as the spring 2026 syllabus is not yet available. Also, some courses are new, and thus there are no previous syllabi available. When viewing a course syllabus from a previous semester, please note that the instructor for the Spring 2026 Open Class may not be the same instructor in the sample syllabus we have linked to from a previous semester. Check the iSchool Schedule of Classes for Spring Special Session, for any mandatory Zoom web conferencing dates, which will be added before Open Classes registration.

The course syllabus includes a brief course description, along with details regarding assignments, technology requirements, grades, course calendar, workload expectations, student learning outcomes, and textbooks. If any live synchronous class sessions are required, they will be noted on the syllabus.

Students who enroll in MLIS, MSIDT and MARA Open Classes do not need to complete any core course prerequisites prior to enrolling. Students requesting INFM courses through Open Classes need to meet the INFM required competency before requesting classes.

If you are interested in a specific course, we invite you to complete a sign-up form, which will be available starting on Dec. 1, 2025 at 8 am Pacific, and then we will get in touch with you to confirm whether space is available. Request period will close on Jan. 2, 2026 at 5 pm Pacific.

MLIS and MARA Electives

Fees for MLIS and MARA classes are $568 per unit. 

Semester runs 01-23-26 to 05-11-26

MS Informatics Electives

Fees for Informatics classes are $622 per unit.

Check INFM course dates listed for each class on the INFM Session I and Session II schedules from our website.

Students requesting INFM courses through Open Classes need to meet the INFM required technology competency, before enrolling in an INFM Open Class: Applicants are required to demonstrate a strong technical foundation by having completed coursework and/or work experience with either 1) HTML5 and CSS, 2) a programming language, or 3) in information systems.

Transferring Open Classes into a Future Degree or Certificate

A maximum of 9 units can transfer into a future MLIS or MARA degree, including:

  • MLIS or MARA electives taken in iSchool Open Classes (MSIDT electives do not transfer in to the MARA degree).
  • SJSU World Languages Classes
  • Units from outside institutions
  • Only 6 of these 9 units can be INFM classes (Prospective MARA students should review the electives approval process for the MARA program.)

A maximum of 3 units taken in Open Classes can be transferred into a future Post-Master’s Certificate or Digital
Assets Certificate.

INFM classes taken in Open Classes cannot transfer into a future MS in Informatics because of the cohort nature of the MS Informatics program.

Choose courses in any of the following areas:

Emerging Trends in the Profession
INFO 282-11

Emerging Future Technology Issues and Trends
INFO 287-14

Generative AI Prompt Engineering for Librarians
INFO 287-15

Problem Solving with Data – part two (2
units) Runs from Mar. 9 – May 11
INFO 287-16

 

Collecting and Analysing Data for Evidence Based Decisions
INFO 287-17

Design Thinking* (2 units) Runs from Jan. 23 – Mar. 20
INFO 287-18

AI, Data and Ethics

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Developing and Managing Information Systems and Web Applications
INFO 240-10, 11 Web Design and Programming 
INFO 240-12 Web Design and Programming 
INFO 246-10

Building Web Applications with PHP and JavaScript

INFO 246-11

 

Python (2 units) Runs from Jan. 26 – Mar. 21

 

INFO 246-12

Information Visualization

INFO 246-13

APIs (1 unit) Runs from TBA

INFO 246-14

Math for Machine Learning (1 unit) Runs from Jan. 26 – Mar. 8

INFO 246-15

Information Architecture

INFO 246-16

User Experience (UX) Research and Design

INFO 251-10

Web Usability

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Information Assurance, Big Data, Informatics, and Information Visualization
INFM 201-10 Informatics Technology Foundations (2
units) Runs from TBA. Note: INFM classes
are $622 per unit, INFM Tech.
Competency Requirement

INFM 202-10

Information Security Overview* (1 unit)
Runs from TBA Note: INFM classes are
$622 per unit, INFM Tech. Competency
Requirement
INFM 204-10, -11

Human Centered Design (2 units) Runs
from TBA Note: INFM classes are $622 per
unit, INFM Tech

INFM 203-10

Big Data Analytics and Management (2
units) Runs from TBA. Note: INFM classes
are $622 per unit, INFM Tech.
Competency Requirement

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Leadership and Management
INFO 275-10

Library Services for Racially and Ethnically Diverse Communities
INFO 275-11

Library Services for Racially and Ethnically Diverse Communities
INFO 281-12, 13

Intercultural Communication (2 units) Runs from Jan. 23 – Mar. 19
INFO 281-14

Civic Literacy (1 unit) Runs from Jan. 26 – Feb. 23
INFO 281-16

Outreach and Equity (2 units) Runs from Mar. 3 – Apr. 28
INFO 281-17

Serving Homeless Patrons in Public Libraries (1 unit) Runs from Jan. 26 – Mar. 2
INFO 281-18

Global Principles – Local Libraries (2 units) Runs from Jan. 26 – Mar. 22
INFO 281-19

Fostering Accessibility in the Library (1 unit) Runs from Jan. 26 – Mar. 2
INFO 281-21

Adult Services (2 units) Runs from Jan. 23 – Mar. 19
INFO 281-22

Information Privacy* (2 units) Runs From Jan. 26 – Mar. 20
INFO 282-13

Change Management (1 unit) Runs from Feb. 2 –Mar. 1
INFO 282-14

Political Advocacy (1 unit) Runs from Jan. 26 – Feb.19
INFO 282-15

Information Vendor Landscape (2 units) Runs from Jan. 23 – Mar. 19
INFO 282-16

Project Management (2 units) Runs from Jan 23 –Mar 19
INFO 282-17

Knowledge Management (1 unit) Runs from Feb. 2– Feb. 27
INFO 282-18

Grant Writing 
INFO 282-19

Crisis Management Planning, Communications and
Deployment (2 units) Runs from Jan. 26 – Mar 22
INFO 282-20

Wellbeing and Librarianship (1 unit) Runs from Mar. 2 – Mar 27

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Managing, Preserving, and Curating Digital Assets, Records, and Other Cultural Heritage Artifacts
INFO 256-10, -12 Archives and Manuscripts 
INFO 256-11 Archives and Manuscripts
INFO 256-13 Archives and Manuscripts
INFO 259-10 Preservation Management
INFO 259-11 Preservation Management
INFO 282-10, -16 Digital Asset Management
INFO 284-10 Encoded Archival Description (EAD)
INFO 284-11

Digitization and Digital Preservation
INFO 284-12

Digital Curation
INFO 284-13

Medieval Manuscripts: Genres
INFO 284-14

History of Libraries in the US (2 units) Runs from Mar. 4 – May 11
INFO 284-15

Managing Photographic Collections
INFO 284-16

Film Collections and Archives
INFO 284-17

Reference and Information Services in Archives
MARA 284-10

Leadership and Advocacy 
MARA 286-10

Information Assurance

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Information Organization and Retrieval
INFO 241-10 The ILS and basic functionality for all library systems (1 unit), Runs from Jan. 23– Feb. 18
INFO 241-11 Current Expansions of the ILS already in play (discovery layers, streaming content) (1 unit) Runs from Feb. 26 – Mar. 25
INFO 241-12 Emerging technologies that could be pieces in 3-5 years (linked data, AI) (1 unit) Runs from Apr. 9 – May 6
INFO 242-10 Database Management
INFO 247-10 Vocabulary Design
INFO 248-10, -11, -12 Beginning Cataloging and Classification
INFO 248-13 Beginning Cataloging and Classification
INFO 248-14 Beginning Cataloging and Classification
INFO 266-11 Collection Management
INFO 266-12 Collection Management
INFO 266-13 Collection Management
INFO 281-10 Metadata
INFO 281-11 Metadata
INFO 287-11 RDA (1 unit) Runs from Jan. 28 – Feb. 25
INFO 287-12

Subject Analysis (1 unit) Runs from Apr. 8– May 6
INFO 287-13 Library Services in the Digital Age

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Information Intermediation and Instruction
INFO 210-10 Reference and Information Services, General -Three (3) Unit Version
INFO 210-11, -15 Reference and Information Services, General -Three (3) Unit Version
INFO 210-12 Reference and Information Services, General -Three (3) Unit Version
INFO 210-13

Reference Collections in the 21st century (1 unit), Runs from Apr. 6 – May 3
INFO 210-14 Reference in the Age of Google: Marketing, Outreach, Management, and
Evaluation (2 units) Runs from Jan. 23 – Mar. 18
INFO 220-10

Legal Resources (2 units) Runs from Feb. 23 – Apr. 27
INFO 220-11

Maps & GIS (2 units) Runs from Jan. 23 –Mar. 20
INFO 220-12 Data Services in Libraries
INFO 244-10, -11 Online Searching
INFO 250-10 Instructional Design K-12 Focus
INFO 250-11, -12 Instructional Design Non K-12 Focus 
INFO 254-10 Information Literacy and Learning
INFO 254-11 Information Literacy and Learning 
INFO 287-10

User Experience
INFO 287-19

Design for Teaching & Learning in Social Virtual Reality

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Library Services for Children and Young Adults
INFO 237-10 School Library Media Materials
INFO 260A-10 Programming and Services for Children
INFO 260A-11, 12 Programming and Services for Children
INFO 261A-10, 11 Programming and Services for Young Adults
INFO 263-10 Materials for Children
INFO 265-10 Materials for Young Adults
INFO 267-10 Intellectual Freedom – YA
INFO 267-11 Outreach Services to Children and Teens (2 units) Runs from Mar. 16 – May 8

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Courses Covering Specific Library Environments
INFO 230-10 Issues in Academic Libraries
INFO 232-10, -11 Issues in Public Libraries
INFO 233-10 School Library Media Centers
INFO 281-20

Indigenous Cultural Institutions and Practices of Librarianship

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Research and Program Evaluation
INFO 285-10 Historical Research Methods
INFO 285-11, -12 Action Research 
INFO 285-13, -16 Historical Research Methods
INFO 285-14 Evaluating Programs and Services 
INFO 285-15 Using Generative AI in Library and Information Science Research*
INFO 285-17

Research Methods in Records Management & Archival Science*

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Language and Culture for Information Professionals
SPAN 132-10 Beginning Spanish (4 units) is offered online by SJSU World Languages for the School of Information

*New course offered for the first time in spring 2026, or new instructor for this class. No prior course syllabus available.

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