The School of Information at San Jose State University held an open house in San Jose, CA on September 18, 2017. During the presentation, iSchool Director Sandra Hirsh covered why future students should choose the iSchool for the next step in their learning journey. These slides highlight the various programs offered and unique benefits for students.

1. Welcome to the iSchool —
Information Session

2. Agenda
About SJSU School of Information
Program Overview
Why the iSchool?
Online Learning
Opportunities for Students
Q & A

3. About the SJSU iSchool
Accredited by:
• American Library Association (ALA)
• Council for the Accreditation of
Educator Preparation (CAEP)
• Western Association of Schools and
Colleges (WASC)
Winner of multiple Online Learning
Consortium awards

4. 4
48 States &
17 Countries
Vibrant
Global
Community

6. iSchool Programs
Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS) /
Teacher Librarian Services Credential Program
Master of Archives and Records Administration
(MARA)
Advanced Certificate in Digital Assets
and Services
Post-Master’s Certificate in Library
and Information Science
Open Classes (master’s-level courses for college
credit)
San José Gateway PhD Program

7. MLIS Degree:
Program Snapshot
43 units: 16 units required; 27 units of
electives
14 career pathways, including data science,
youth librarianship, leadership and
management
100% online
Culminating experience: ePortfolio or Thesis
Admissions criteria: Bachelor’s degree (3.0+
GPA) in any discipline
Application Deadlines (Spring and Fall admits)
• Spring 2018 applications accepted through
November 1, 2017 (Regular Session)
Contact: Dr. Linda Main
linda.main@sjsu.edu
“The strength of
the MLIS program
lies in its variety, its
rigor, and the fact
that it prepares you
to pursue what
you’re most
interested in. I came
out of the program
with the confidence
to tackle anything.”
– Nancy Andrus,
MLIS Graduate

8. Customize Your Degree
Action Research
Big Data Analytics and
Management
Children and Information
Technology
Cybersecurity
Digital Assets Management
Digital Humanities
Drupal and Content Management
Systems
Embedded Librarians
Evaluating Programs and
Services
Gaming
Genealogy
Film & Media
Graphic Novels
Information Visualization
Information Literacy & Learning
And many more emerging trends:
Scratch, XML, PHP / MySQL,
Design Thinking, Makerspaces

9. What can you do with an MLIS degree?
Web Developer Technology Trainer
Knowledge Infrastructure
Librarian – VIDEO
Librarian – VIDEO (Public
Service), VIDEO (County)
Database Designer Cataloger
Digital Assets Manager - VIDEO Museum Curator - VIDEO
Information Architect Archivist
Teacher Librarian Literacy Specialist
Knowledge Manager Information Broker
Emerging Services Librarian Director of Digital Content
Youth Librarian - VIDEO Metadata Librarian
Outreach Librarian Innovations Manager –
VIDEO
“It was an obvious
choice to hire
someone from SJSU
who has been
groomed for library
leadership in
rethinking
information and
library innovation.”
– Dr. Leslie Garguilo,
Ashworth College

10. Teacher Librarian:
Program Snapshot
31 units
100% online courses
Capstone experience: School Library
Fieldwork
Admissions criteria: Bachelor’s degree (3.0+
GPA), Clear Professional Teaching Credential
Application Deadlines (Spring and Fall
admits)
• Spring 2018 applications accepted through November
1, 2017 (Regular Session)
Contact: Dr. Mary Ann Harlan
maryann.harlan@sjsu.edu
Teacher Librarian
students can get
both the TL
Credential + MLIS
degree by taking
additional course
work:
- 9 units (electives)
- ePortfolio

11. MARA Degree:
Program Snapshot
42 units
100% online
Culminating experience: ePortfolio
Admissions criteria: Bachelor’s degree (3.0+
GPA) in any discipline
Application Deadlines (Spring and Fall
admits)
• Spring 2018 applications accepted through
December 1, 2017 (Special Session)
Contact: Dr. Lisa Daulby
lisa.daulby@sjsu.edu
100%
of graduates
surveyed said
they would
recommend the
MARA program.
– May 2017 Exit Survey

12. What can you do with a
MARA degree?
Provide guidance, analysis, procedures, training
and solutions on all records and information
management issues.
Research and monitor legal, regulatory and
industry-specific compliance requirements and
identify areas of focus for improvement.
Work with security, legal compliance, risk
management and IT to address risks identified.
Partner with IT on strategies and operations related
to data lifecycle management and electronic
record requirements.
Develop and ensure the long term preservation,
organization, distribution and retrieval of
digitized, born-digital, and traditional institutional
assets.
“The SJSU MARA
program assisted me
in advancing my
career. It was an
extremely flexible
program that allowed
me to complete my
degree while I was
working.”
– Robert McLauchlin,
MARA Graduate

13. MARA graduates are prepared for
careers as:
Records and Archives Managers - VIDEO
Compliance Analysts
Corporate Archivists
Data Curators
Digital Asset Managers
Electronic Records Managers
Enterprise Content Management Specialists
Information Governance Analysts

14. Advanced Certificate in Digital Assets and
Services: Program Snapshot
9 units, 3 career pathways
100% online
Admissions Criteria: Bachelor’s degree in any
discipline (3.0+ GPA)
Application Deadlines (Fall and Spring Admits)
• Spring 2018: Applications accepted through
December 1, 2017
MLIS/MARA students may obtain both the
certificate and the master’s degree using the same
classes
(Available in Special Session only)
Contact: Dr. Linda Main
linda.main@sjsu.edu

15. Post-Master’s Certificate:
Program Snapshot
16 units, 7 career pathways
100% online
Admissions Criteria: Master’s degree in
any discipline (3.0+ GPA)
Application Deadlines (Spring and Fall
admits)
• Spring 2018 Deadline: December 1, 2017
Contact: Dr. Linda Main
linda.main@sjsu.edu

16. Open Classes: Program Snapshot
100% online
Elective courses available on space available
basis
Admissions Criteria: Bachelor’s degree or higher
(3.0+ GPA)
Courses are for college credit and can be
transferred into our master’s programs
Available Fall, Spring and Summer Sessions
Contact: Dr. Linda Main
linda.main@sjsu.edu

17. San José Gateway PhD: Program Snapshot
Program characteristics:
• Research focused; individually tailored
program for each student
• Exceptional faculty; students receive support
from both SJSU and QUT teams
• No course work required; part-time students
• 4 - 6 years average expected completion time
• Mostly online (one 1-week residency in San
Jose, CA required every year in early August)
Applications accepted once a year
• 2018 Application Deadline: early January 2018
Contact: Dr. Virginia Tucker
virginia.tucker@sjsu.edu
Offered in partnership
with Queensland
University of
Technology

18. Why the SJSU iSchool?
Quality
• Accredited programs
• “Outstanding Online Program”
• Award-winning faculty (experts in online teaching)
• Program performance
• Introductory technology course for a strong start
• Variety of curriculum
• Student exposure to new technologies
Flexibility
Cost
“Everything is
online. You can do
it whether you’re
in Washington or
Florida or
California, and you
have the support
to actually get you
through the
program.”
– Nikolay
Zherebnenkov,
MARA Graduate

19. Why the SJSU iSchool?
Quality
Flexibility
• Location
• Self-Paced: Study part time or full time
• Ability to vary course load each semester
• Times of day (or night)
• Variety of online class formats
Cost
“The faculty was
excellent. I still, to
this day, several
years out from
graduation, count
a number of them
as friends or
mentors, and
that’s been hugely
valuable to me in
helping me choose
between multiple
job offers.”
– Elizabeth Borghi,
MLIS Graduate

20. Why the SJSU iSchool?
Quality
Flexibility
Cost
• Scholarships
• Research Assistant Opportunities
“This online
program makes it
possible for
someone with a
busy life to still
find a way to
study LIS, and
also offers so
many course
options that it is
easy to tailor to
your interests. It is
also nice that it
doesn’t break the
bank.”
– 2017 MLIS
Graduate

21. Selected iSchool Scholarships
Director’s Scholarship for Excellence
• New MLIS and MARA students admitted for
Spring 2018 are eligible
• $1,000 to five students
• Minimum GPA 3.2; Create an infographic
/digital poster
Special Session Program Scholarships
• New scholarship program starting Spring
2018 – more details will be announced soon
• MARA students eligible
• $1,422 (equivalent to a 3-unit course)

22. What Does 100% Online Look Like?
Everyone is online – students and faculty
Course work and instruction designed for online
learning
Virtual support teams for career counseling,
library services, technology issues, and advising
Rich online learning environment and technology

23. Communication is both
Asynchronous & Synchronous
Asynchronous
• Discussion Forums
• Video Messaging
• Email
• Learning Management
System (Canvas)
• Lecture Capture
(Panopto)
Synchronous
• Web Conferencing
(Zoom, Collaborate)
• VoIP (Skype, Google+,
etc.)
• Virtual Worlds (Second
Life)

24. What kinds of
opportunities
are available to
online
students?

25. Prepare For Your Future Career
Career blog
Career webinars
Career development resources (cover letters,
resumes, interviews, job search tips, etc.)
Dedicated career consultant
Digital career newsletters
Career center membership post graduation
ePortfolio as job portfolio
Alumni Career Spotlights (informational interviews)
And more!

26. Gain Practical Experience
Internships (on site and virtual)
Research Assistantships
Peer Mentors

27. Develop Your Professional Network
Award-winning professional association
student chapters
iSchool free conference receptions
Professional association memberships
Joint student/alumni association
(iSchoolConnext)
Free One-Year Association
Memberships to:
• ALA – American Library
Association
• SLA – Special Libraries
Association
• ASIS&T – Association
for Information Science
& Technology
• SAA – Society of
American Archivists

28. Publish Student Research
iSchool has its own Student Research Journal
Peer-reviewed publication
Promotes graduate scholarship and intellectual inquiry in
the fields of library and information science, archives and
records management, and museum studies

29. Pursue Lifelong Learning /
Professional Development
Opportunities
Library 2.0 Virtual Conference Series
• Free to Attend
• No Travel
• “Makerspaces” on October 11,
2017, from noon – 3 p.m. Pacific
Webinars
• LIS Trending Topics
• MARA Guest Lectures
• Career Development

30. Questions?

31. Thank You for Attending!
Dr. Sandy Hirsh, Professor and Director
sandy.hirsh@sjsu.edu
Facebook: facebook.com/sjsuischool
Twitter: twitter.com/sjsuischool
YouTube: youtube.com/user/sjsuslis
Pinterest: pinterest.com/sjsuischool/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sjsu_ischool/
Website: ischool.sjsu.edu