SJSU – School of Library and Information Science

Just remember it’s a means to an end: you are buying a degree, but you have the opportunity to learn, if you want to. Like real life (as opposed to academia) you get out what you put in. For those that find it too easy, you can simply challenge yourself more.

I graduated with my MLIS from SJSU in May 2013 and I am working very happily in the field. A Unilocal review is what inspired me to start the program back in 2009 (and to start using Unilocal!).
What drew me to SLIS? Some of these may not be true, but back in the day…
+Online only = grad school in my PJs when I get home from my day job
+Largest LIS school in the world = good variety of classes
+More affordable than many other schools = save $
+No application fee = save $
+No GRE required = save time and $
+Fair ranking on US News and World Report = not at worst school ever
+Accredited by the American Library Association = not a waste of $
+Took new students in the upcoming spring semester = start sooner, finish sooner (note that I had no crystal ball)
I started at SLIS around the time they started to offer only online classes. They used three different platforms in my time there. The first was called «Angel» and I was not impressed. The instructors organized the classroom any way they wanted, and not always in a logical, or even consistent, fashion. After «Angel» was «Desire 2 Learn,» which was better, but I was still now a fan. I don’t recall the third platform; I must have used it only for a short time. For me, the most difficult part of almost any class was posting on the discussion boards. It seems boring and pointless, so I didn’t always do it well and in a timely manner.
In terms of instructors, it’s like any other school: most are good enough, some are great, and a few just aren’t good. I especially like Dr. Geoffrey Liu, Dr. Debra Hansen, and Dr. Linda Main, as they are all passionate about their subjects AND truly care about the success of their students. I can attest to this. Also, instructors are pretty tech-​savvy, which is helpful considering the classes are online.
I tried to take a variety of classes: cataloging, collections development, indexing and abstracting, online searching (which is NOT Google searching, people). Drs. Hansen and Main each teach half of History of Books and Libraries, which is a fascinating class if you are even slightly interested in history. I thought I might not take it, as it wouldn’t relate directly to working in a library, but I reference something learned in that class at least once a week at work.
The courses themselves were generally not difficult for me. I was accustomed to writing long papers as an English major. I was accustomed to working on group projects occasionally as an education minor. I was not expecting how frustrating finding things on the course websites would be at times, and I certainly didn’t expect to be dropping some $ 400+/credit hour for a course to be asked to download some crummy cataloging/​indexing software that did not work smoothly.
It took me so long to graduate partly because it took me the whole first year to get 3 prereq courses finished. Back then, SLIS required taking 3 classes first, but these 3 would fill up almost immediately, and I only got in one each semester. Back then, too, SLIS required taking 285 Research Methods as one’s second to last class. I was in the minority in that I wanted to write a thesis rather than submit an electronic portfolio of graduate school assignments because a thesis seemed more meaningful. Taking Research Methods so late was detrimental to me because I was practically finished with my degree when I was able to begin my thesis research. The thesis, which was about an experiment, took quite awhile to complete. I’m really glad I did it, though, because my thesis work related directly to the first big project at my current position, so I think it gave me some edge. I believe SLIS now requires Research Methods be taken sooner, which is a great for current students.
Biggest piece of advice:
If you’re at SLIS, you need to get out there and work in the field while a student. I had to volunteer about three hours a week for a year, but then I got a paid internship position someplace else, did my thesis study someplace else, and before I knew it, I had three different experiences on my resume than I would have had had I just done the coursework. I did each of these things while working full-​time elsewhere and taking usually 2 courses at a time by treating these experiences as part-​time jobs.
Before I got my MLIS, I couldn’t get a job as even an assistant in the local public library. Now I have a job at an academic library, and I absolutely love it. Sometimes I’m enjoying my work so much I don’t want to go home.
SLIS wasn’t perfect, but it gave me the training I needed to get to where I am now.

Like J.C., I am obtaining my MLIS in order to change career tracks. The problem with this program is how stinking easy it is. It’s like it’s geared towards dummies. I have yet to get less than an «A» in any course, even the one where (due to personal circumstances), I turned in at least one major assignment at the end of the semester rather than the beginning, and generally put in far less than «A”-level effort*. I feel like the SLIS program is simply a way for SJSU to make money — anyone is accepted, everyone passes, and the world is flooded with potential librarians. As was also noted elsewhere, fees have gone up dramatically since 2008 (when I started this journey), and I would estimate that I’ve probably sunk over $ 15k into a degree that I have come to view as a bit of a joke. At the end of the day, though, who’s the joke really on? Most likely me. I sure hope I manage to get a job as a librarian after dropping all this dough on the program, but all I hear is how hard it is to find jobs in this field.
Other than that, no other complaints. The professors are generally quite nice and are fairly responsive. The campus (should you choose to physically visit), seems A-​OK to me, and I am actually a pretty big fan of King Library. I probably would’ve actually given a 2.5 rating if that was an option.
*There was one exception to this back in 2008 — my LIBR202 professor was new, and I don’t think he had learned the ropes yet, because the course was genuinely difficult when it began. I suspect somebody complained, because mid-​way through the semester, the professor completely changed course, revised his syllabus, and the program became yet another «paint-​by-​numbers» exercise. Ha. That’ll teach him — no taxing the library students, please!

I joined this program to change career tracks, but am having major doubts and regrets. I am on my sixth class (over the span of three semesters) in the SJSU MLIS program and in the process of figuring out if I should continue the degree — so far I have not learned much in any of the classes I have taken and fees keep going up (so far twice since I started!). I keep hoping it will get better, but am losing a lot of money in the process.
I am not a huge fan of the online format but feel the poor structure is largely due to the large amount of units many of the professors teach per semester — it is apparent that most of them take little time to carefully prepare the lectures. One professor’s lecture consisted of a short summary of the chapters we were assigned to read ONLY (not really a lecture, right?), and another had short video clips showing us how our projects should look and referenced the wrong assignment numbers in the video — they were recorded 4+ years ago and he has not bothered to update them.
I have another master’s degree and enjoyed the courses in that program immensely because they were both challenging and rewarding (same price as the special session courses, by the way) — I am not finding the same true of the SJSU MLIS program and I am not sure I will stick around to find out if things will change. ..

Infodiva here! You know the drill! I am always reppin the schools. Re-​read the name and you will understand my game.
The School of Library and Information Science at San Jos State University is the largest accredited library and information science program in the world. We have offices located on the San Jos State campus and also at California State University at Fullerton. We serve students throughout the entire state of California as well as other states and nations.
SJSU SLIS oh my school of woe. I believe in local education. I don’t understand how California messes with the CSU system.
ok I will not write anything dispariging. I am trying not to be negative. They are the ONLY library science program in Northern California. I am at the mercy of the school.
aaaargh Infodiva Frustrated but Happy OMI 415 94 132
Do you know the way to San Jose???