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4 comments:
Hi. I'm not sure if someone can answer this, but how should I go about choosing a third class? Are any of the professors especially recommended?
If I am interested in more than one elective class, would it be a bad idea to delay taking one the core courses until the second year?
Thanks for leaving your question on the blog.
Let me take the core course question first. Especially in the fall quarter, the two core courses (200 and 260) are pretty basic to what the Information Studies program is about.
For example, the 260 course is a prerequisite for any cataloging classes you might want to take, and is supposed to be taken before 245, the reference core class. 200 also covers the basic nature of information studies, and you probably don't want to wait until your second year to take that.
By putting off taking more than 2 of the 6 core courses, you might not be able to do internships in the program until those requirements have been filled.
As far as choosing your third class, you may find that the core courses limit your flexibility in choosing courses. But from what the schedule allows you to take, you probably want to take a class that sounds interesting to you, or matches with your professional goals.
You might also want to take a class that is a little less theoretical, because you'll find that both 200 and 260 tend to lean in that direction, and the readings are somewhat dry and academic.
Last year, a fair number of students took the Children's Literature class. Unfortunately, that class is being offered this year during winter quarter, but if you have an interest in public libraries or children and young adults, there is a course in Young Adult Literature offered during the fall.
About recommending professors, it seems like all the student in the program have professors they like a lot and others they don't care for. You might want to look at the faculty's biographies (is.gseis.ucla.edu/faculty/fac_directory.htm )
to look at their specialties.
For example, Anne Gilliland is one of the leading authorities on archival studies, Jonathan Furner has extensive background in documentation and classification, and so forth.
I concur with Michael with just about everything. However, I took 245 the summer before I began my first year and found it to be easily understood and very interesting without having had the benefit of 260.
Re: 200... Though I have never taken a class of hers, Prof. Borgman is rumored to be tough and to lead with a scientific/technical style. We had Prof. Leivrouw last year and, being from the communications field, she was a quite excellent, down to earth lecturer.
It might not hurt anything to hold off on 200. However, trust me when I say this... by your 4th or 5th quarter in the program, the last thing you'll want to be doing is wading through reams of informtion theory texts, the bedrock of 200.
You should also talk to your adviser before deciding to skip a core class your first quarter.
I agree with Michael and Danica. Most people take Information in Society (IS 200) and Information Structures(IS 260) their first year. Since both these classes are designed to be an introduction to the program it's a good idea to take them your first year.
However, some classes are only offered every other year. If you want to take one of those classes (I recommend looking at the course listings or emailing the Professor to see if that's the case), then you might have to take one of the cores next year.
I also noticed that Prof. Richardson is teaching Social Science Research Methods (IS 280) this Fall. Since taking a research methods class is one of the requirements for our program it might be a good idea to get it out of the way early. I took this course last year and it was a pretty easy class, though I have also heard some very good things about the Historical Methods class Maack
teaches.
Finally these classes are also a great way to meet your peers!
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