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Rank: Newbie
Groups: Member
Joined: 8/8/2008
Posts: 4
Points: 12
Location: San Diego, CA
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Hello all! I am hoping you might be able to help me...
I am interested in moving forward in a data management/informatics/information management career, almost all positions I am seeing are asking for LIS degrees. My undergrad degree is in Geophysics and I have been working in the scientific information management world for 4 years now. I am more interested in the "I" side of LIS, in metadata capture, organization, categorization, taxonomy creation, etc.
I recently attended an information session for the UCLA LIS program and was completely underwhelmed! The speaker did not know anything about the Informatics program and the Informatics students seemed like a tiny percentage of the LIS program, which in turn seemed like a tiny percentage of the Education Department. However, I *really* enjoyed sitting in a room with excited people talking about exciting things! UCLA seems to be the closest physical program in Southern California.
Since the info session I have turned towards the online genre, though with hesitation. I usually think of online programs as having a stigma attached, that these are not of the same caliber as traditional classroom programs, though this may be terribly outdated?? Is it possible to get the same type of engaging learning environment in an online experience? Do students in online programs form the same type of relationships/networks as in classroom programs?
Any advice or pointers would be hugely appreciated! Coming from academic science, I feel like an interloper in the library world though the two are becoming more similar every day! :)
Many thanks for any help!
Lynn
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Member
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Joined: 1/31/2008
Posts: 61
Points: 189
Location: Oregon
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I did the distance program at University of Washington in the first year they offered it. They require an on-campus residency at beginning of each quarter, so it's not completely online. But there were some people from CA who flew in, so it might be potentially doable for you.
Regarding the question of whether online programs have a stigma, I don't think that's the case any more. I've never had anyone in an interview ask about it. I have mentioned it as an experience that helped me secure a position that was working from home. I have never experienced anyone with a prejudice against online programs, and it many cases it's just the opposite. Many older libraries have said they wished there were more opportunities like that available when they were in school. In addition to the independent worker thing, it also reinforces the idea that you're comfortable with online tools -- which in data management/informatics/information management I think would be a positive.
Anyway, you might actually want to look at UW (http://www.ischool.washington.edu). They have an undergrad informatics degree, and though I didn't do too many techie classes in the MLIS program, they have some faculty who are leaders in the field.
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Rank: Newbie
Groups: Member
Joined: 8/8/2008
Posts: 4
Points: 12
Location: San Diego, CA
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Thanks, I appreciate the feedback and thoughts!! The Washington program is on my list along with LEEP and a few others, I really like the idea of getting some on-campus time! Did you get to know many of the other students? Since I will be graduating into a job hunt (and again being a bit of an outsider to the library community) I am hoping to network as much as possible!
Many thanks again for the perspective!
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Member
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Joined: 1/31/2008
Posts: 61
Points: 189
Location: Oregon
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I think there were 3-4 dozen students in our cohort & I got to know a lot of them pretty well. They were from all over the west. We kept in touch more soon after graduation than we have lately, but there are two or three who are in the same area where I am now & we talk from time to time. When you finish grad school, most people are in the same boat of looking for a new job. It nice to have moral support from people in a similar situation, but there was not a whole lot of networking among classmates -- at least not for me. More networking came from the part time & on call work I did in libraries while I was attending. That's an advantage that online programs have -- it's easier to hold a job at the same time.
You might also want to look at UW's MS in Information Management program. I'm not sure exactly how it differs from the MLIS program, and it appears to be mainly and on-campus option, but it's worth checking out.
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Rank: Newbie
Groups: Member
Joined: 8/8/2008
Posts: 4
Points: 12
Location: San Diego, CA
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I will check it out, thanks much for the idea!! I will definitely be trying to keep my regular job through the classwork, if possible anyways. My husband just finished his MBA and there was a heavy (overwhelming even) emphasis on networking, I guess that aspect must be more important in the business culture?
Thanks again for the help!
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