If you are my advisee (or just an interested applicant or student) let me offer some general guidance for you as you enter the iSchool and start to navigate course selection and career planning.
- It is really worth your time to read the student handbook and familiarize yourself with the iSchool website. Most questions about student regulations and expectations are answered there. And you’re an information student, right?
- There are no right or wrong courses to take. Each of you is an individual with your own aspirations and goals so don’t become locked into thinking you must have X or Y course in order to succeed. This is almost never the case. Develop your knowledge and skills.
- Take your core class early, if you can, but don’t panic if you miss it first time around. Ideally, don’t wait until the last semester to take it.
- My Understanding Users class is an orientation to user-centered design thinking that is relevant to any professional career you wish to enter. Yes, we cover lots of UX but it’s a broader user-centered class for all information professionals. Regardless of career aim, you are welcome in it, there are no pre-requisites or expectations for technical or research skills. You will learn as you go. I also do not require group projects.
- You can learn a lot from other students, from the events outside the classes, but if you really have a question about a class, ask the faculty instructor directly – they are all happy to help.
- You don’t need special permission (or even mine!) to take a class. There are regulations on the number and level of outside courses you can take (read the handbook!) but within the rules, you have many choices. I can advise but I don’t dictate. Ultimately it’s your education.
- The time goes quickly – take advantage of everything this school offers by making the effort to get to research talks, job fairs, alumni and recruiter visits, social events and more. Much of your professional education will occur outside the walls of a classroom but only you can choose to receive this. It’s your degree program.
- Our program is unfashionably personal and F2F. I hold regular office hours for my students so come see me sometime so we can get to know each other.