MLIS (Masters in Library and Information Studies)

cazzywazzy

yeah its very disappointing alrite dey should have updated their website for prospective students cos im sure many others applied assuming there was a thesis option. Unfortunately i want to get the library qualification so i dont have much choice course wise. id do the dbs course at this stage over ucd if i could afford it but alas financially its not an option.:(

Weepsie

My other option is canada, the course, the college and the location are all exactly what I'd like ideally, the option do do archival studies if results are good enough with the addition of some modules and no extra thesis appealed too. The fees are exceptionally good at a little over 3300, 5000 would cover fees, books, transport and insurance.

Unfortunately my contract ends just in time for UCD, meaning by January id probably not have the money required to survive over the year. I might request more time, a week or 2 and explore one or 2 unis in England.


Edit*** I think this decision gives further weight to the argument that this should not be the only accredited course by the Library Council. There are certain new courses that may push for recognition of some sort as though they are not strictly Library Studies, they deal with areas which are becoming ever more important, namely Digital Humanity courses. It may take members of the of the RIA and LAI to push for it, as judging by some I've spoken to, and some seminars I have been fortunate to attend, there are areas which are overlooked or being adopted to slowly to LIS courses which are vital to the profession on a whole. There are also appears to be less chances to specialise in very particular areas through the module options on LIS courses, but this was always balanced out by the option to do a thesis.

Again, I apologise for the somewhat moany attitude. I do find it odd that an information course, didn't give what is some pretty important information and changes the entire dynamic of the programme for quite a few.

I am waiting to hear back from them as I want as much info on the projects as possible before I make any decision. It's a bit unfair of me to judge on the one hand I realise, but still a little apprehensive.

Lastly, when was the acceptance deadline in other years can anyone tell me, and did they always require a deposit? My experience of UCD was june. maybe early july deadline and no deposit. I was told my one past student that I'd not hear anything from them until June.

Weepsie

one guesses, that there are no current students here so, or none whom have done or are doing a Capstone, or they are hard at work. I'm assuming the staff are on leave too as I've not heard anything in over a week.

The Letter from UBC came as well today, with a brochure making it look all the much better. I almost wish i had never applied to them as I hate to turn them down.

parker kent

Last week was the final week of term, next week the exams begin. Your email or whatever is not priority number one!

Weepsie

I got some info from the head of the department. A reasonably in depth description of the Capstone project and marking for it and what is expected. 55% for the report, 35% for presentation and 10% on personal/team evaluation is the marking scheme at least. I can send it on or try and upload it later maybe.

Weepsie

There it is, it's in pdf format for anyone who wants a bit more info on the capstone. Direct download from here

ehraz

I'm currently doing the MLIS and I'm in a Capstone group. One of the concerns you guys seem to have regarding the Capstone is the worry about people pulling their own weight and this damaging your final degree. One thing I would say to you is that, with the large amount of group work which is required on this course, you will very quickly come to realise who is willing to work hard, and who doesn't pull their weight.

I chose to work with the people in my Capstone group. I knew they were hard workers. I hope they considered me a hard worker I don't have any worries about our final project being good, and worthy of my grades so far. Once we had establised our group, we decided which of the Capstone projects we were most interested in and spoke to the supervisor of our interest, and as we were quick off the mark we got our first choice.

We've been bouncing ideas off each other and it has definitely helped us develop our research questions better than I think I would have done by myself at this point in the year. So far so good and I'm looking forward to working with them for the rest of the summer.

parker kent

The capstone seems much more relevant to future job prospects in the library and information field than the old thesis.

Weepsie

some good info there. It probably as much the possibility of also letting others down. I had a very set in stone way of doing work through college and it was mostly succesful and all round a different approach to it all. Id also not want to see people lose out because of how i approach the work which is possible, particularly on the presentations. Im hit and miss on them even when ive put huge effort in, and having to do it with other people would be worse, when others would find it better.

The big problem however is that i see it limiting the areas and topics of research. Id like more time to make my decision but im pretty sure i wont get it.

I can see where its a great idea for people with mimimum experience, but the available modules on the courses in the UK & Ireland leave little scope to specialise, which is where the thesis option come in.

a8m8c

I'm not sure if there's a question on this already but would anyone have a reading list for the MLIS course last year/this year?

ehraz

It would depend on what module's reading list you are looking for?

a8m8c

ehraz wrote: »

It would depend on what module's reading list you are looking for?

I suppose i'm looking for a few names from any of the modules just to get a feel for the whole thing..

Walls

Have a look here; http://www.ucd.ie/students/course_search.htm then select 'Search By School' and scroll down to Sch of Information and Library Studies, then select Level 3 and Level 4. This will give you a run down of the modules available for this year. Next year's modules don't seem to be up yet.

Weepsie

d-day, still no closer on making a decision. I'm in all liklihood accepting as I don't want to lose the option:

pentiumchips

Just popped in boards.ie for the first time in a long time. Sounds like there has been a fair few changes to the UCD MLIS, and maybe more to come. Sorry haven't read through all the posts in the thread, but seems like a good time to really compare MLIS with DBS course and UU course. I always thought the thesis option was good, but maybe it is time to change with the times and all that. I think for the UU course you can do the Grad Dip elsewhere but the thesis with them to get a masters. Often comes down to lecturers and their expertise as this can influence curriculum, i know there are staff changes in ucd but not sure who is teaching on dbs.

cazzywazzy

has anyone received their student number yet to allow you to register? I thought it was sent to you once they receive the deposit or maybe they aren't being given out yet?

the west wing

Hey!
I thought I had the same problem but after I emailed Claire I realised I never went on the application website and actually accepted the offer. I had paid the deposit but never clicked accept. Once I clicked accept, I received an email giving me my student number.

cazzywazzy

the west wing wrote: »

Hey!
I thought I had the same problem but after I emailed Claire I realised I never went on the application website and actually accepted the offer. I had paid the deposit but never clicked accept. Once I clicked accept, I received an email giving me my student number.

oh i never did this, must be the problem. where do you accept, i dont follow, the application site..i dont see anywhere to accept or i dont even see offer anywere..im looking were the application form is uploaded..that the wrong area? thanks

rottenhat

Just as well I subscribed to this thread - I've been sitting around twiddling my thumbs for two months wondering when I would hear from UCD again. It strikes me as a bit bizarre that forking over a €500 deposit doesn't qualify as accepting your place.

Cazzywazzy, yes, go back into your application (you should see the word Offer hyperlinked in the Status column - click on that) - around the middle of the page you'll see a dropdown menu that currently says Offer. Change that to Accept and save.

the west wing

From memory - Go to the address where you uploaded the documents for your application, you will see that there is an 'Offer' made. If you accept this, you will receive a student number generated automatically for you in your email. It seemed straight forward when I did it.

the west wing

rottenhat wrote: »

Just as well I subscribed to this thread - I've been sitting around twiddling my thumbs for two months wondering when I would hear from UCD again. It strikes me as a bit bizarre that forking over a €500 deposit doesn't qualify as accepting your place.

Cazzywazzy, yes, go back into your application (you should see the word Offer hyperlinked in the Staus column - click on that) - around the middle of the page you'll see a dropdown menu that currently says Offer. Change that to Accept and save.

That's it explained better!

cazzywazzy

rottenhat wrote: »

Just as well I subscribed to this thread - I've been sitting around twiddling my thumbs for two months wondering when I would hear from UCD again. It strikes me as a bit bizarre that forking over a €500 deposit doesn't qualify as accepting your place.

Cazzywazzy, yes, go back into your application (you should see the word Offer hyperlinked in the Staus column - click on that) - around the middle of the page you'll see a dropdown menu that currently says Offer. Change that to Accept and save.

eh in my status it says n/a, no hyperlink or offer wrote anywhere. my account must not have been updated or something, il have to email claire tomorrow i guess. thanks anyway guys.

rottenhat

And your choice of modules for next year is here.

Weepsie

They have gutted the course from what it was only 2 years ago from what i can see. even the stuff from this year that i wouldve done is gone. I feel as if I've been conned out of my money and even more disgusted at having to turn down UBC.

Not one of the lecturers could give me a sound reason for dropping the thesis option and now it just seems more like a course to get in as many people and pass them through.

parker kent

Weepsie wrote: »

They have gutted the course from what it was only 2 years ago from what i can see.

I did the course in 2009. All the modules I did are on the course next year or have extremely similar/improved offerings.

rottenhat

parker kent wrote: »

I did the course in 2009. All the modules I did are on the course next year or have extremely similar/improved offerings.

Any modules or lecturers you'd particularly recommend?

parker kent

rottenhat wrote: »

Any modules or lecturers you'd particularly recommend?

The Teaching Librarian is the best module by far in my opinion. Professional Issues in Information and Library Careers featured access to a lot of people that are important in Irish libraries, so I found that useful as well. But there is a different lecturer on the course now, so my experience may not be relevant.

Miss Smilla

Just finished the course-I really liked Creating & Publishing Digital Media.

Weepsie

parker kent wrote: »

I did the course in 2009. All the modules I did are on the course next year or have extremely similar/improved offerings.

Though I don't doubt that many are still there or have had only minor changes, there are definitely quite a few missing from what they had when I first looked on the either 08/09 or 09/10 syllabus. It's perhaps only notable to me as I had earmarked certain modules that I would love to have done and every single one of them is gone.

parker kent

Weepsie wrote: »

Though I don't doubt that many are still there or have had only minor changes, there are definitely quite a few missing from what they had when I first looked on the either 08/09 or 09/10 syllabus. It's perhaps only notable to me as I had earmarked certain modules that I would love to have done and every single one of them is gone.

You may have looked at the 08/09 syllabus, but I actually did it. So with respect, I feel better qualified to compare.