Welcome to the McGill School of Information Studies
SIS offers a dynamic learning environment which keeps pace with the rapidly evolving and expanding field of information studies. Our diverse faculty positions itself under the broad area of human information interaction (HII) – the dynamic interface between end users and information and communication technologies (ICTs). Our research and teaching expertise spans such areas as user-centred design, usability, information security, data mining, digital curation, and knowledge management.
With a rich history of over 100 years, SIS continues to offer an ALA-accredited master’s program. Our master’s programs represent an effective balance between theory and practice. Students can work on real-world problems in their courses and can also elect to participate in our practicum course, which offers a supervised learning opportunity in an information organization for academic credit. Our research option allows students to concentrate 18 credits on a research project of their choosing. All students master the key components of our curriculum through our five required courses. The last required course is taken in the last semester of study and affords students the opportunity to assess their own learning outcomes, prepare their portfolios to help transition them to the workplace as well as coach them in presenting themselves effectively to potential employers, funders, and collaborators.
As part of the McGill community, our students have access to a world-class learning environment and benefit from collaboration with such emerging areas as digital humanities and bioinformatics. Services such as McGill CaPS (Career Planning Services) offers workshops and individual guidance on preparing for interviews, having CVs reviewed, and learning about job searching strategies. Practicing professionals in organizations such as law firms, archives, public libraries, government agencies and private sector firms are part of our community as course lecturers, guest lecturers, and practicum site supervisors. Our alumni work in such organizations as the World Bank, Supreme Court of Canada, Jewish General Hospital, Bombardier, Business Development Bank of Canada, and the US Department of Veteran Affairs.
Last but not least, our students are active and are members of a number of student groups and associations. They partner with our “sister” French school, EBSI, every year to organize a career fair and a research conference. Students are actively involved in such initiatives as Librarians without Borders and have set up student chapters of such associations as the Association for Information Science and Technology (ASIS&T).
SIS is an exciting place to be. We look forward to welcoming you into our community.
Kimiz Dalkir,
School of Information Studies Director