SLA is pleased to announce a new partnership with the San Jose State University School of Library and Information Science. This partnership will enable SLA members to earn an MLIS degree through the school's unique Executive MLIS Program, designed for experienced library or information industry professionals.
The Executive MLIS Program is a specialized cohort within the School's MLIS program. It emphasizes the core competencies of librarianship in a leadership context. Courses are taught by faculty members who are recognized for their expertise in organizational leadership. The curriculum complements the professional experience of students, building upon their existing knowledge and preparing them to take on new leadership roles.
The typical student in the Executive MLIS program has been working for more than three years in a library management position. Previous Executive MLIS students include special librarians in the for-profit and not-for-profit sectors, directors of public libraries, branch librarians, senior supervisors of library staff, special librarians in the for-profit and not-for-profit sectors, teacher-librarians, library technicians with university degrees, information specialists and knowledge managers in the corporate sector, and senior management in major libraries (e.g., directors of human resources, information technology, marketing) for whom the lack of an MLIS is both a glass ceiling (not able to move up) and glass wall (not able to move laterally).
The school is offering SLA members the opportunity to form a unique SLA Cohort that will start in August 2010**. The cohort will include only SLA members, who will share the learning experience together. As they journey towards their MLIS degree, they will explore leadership topics such as program evaluation, human resources management, marketing, and financial management. The program is team-based and project-focused.
In just under 3 years, students will move through a focused MLIS degree program geared to the needs of managers and professionals. Cohort members will start the program at the same time and stay together for the program's duration. The program requires 43 units of study over eight terms, including an Organizational Consulting Project as the culminating course, rather than a thesis. Most program requirements can be completed through distance learning, with three short residencies. There is an 8-day residency in San Jose during the first summer and two one-credit workshops held in conjunction with professional conferences. The first will take place in June of 2011 at the ALA Annual Conference in New Orleans, LA and the second in July of 2012 at the SLA Annual Conference in Chicago, IL.
Because of its managerial/executive focus, this program should be very appealing to SLA members who are looking for upward and lateral mobility.
Applications are being accepted now. The deadline for the 2010 Executive MLIS program is March 30, 2010, but earlier application is strongly encouraged.
** Cohorts comprise 20 - 25 students. If there are not enough SLA members accepted by the deadline of March 30, 2010, to form a special SLA Cohort, then accepted students will be given the option of joining a different Executive MLIS cohort.
Questions? Contact:
Dr. Patricia C. Franks, Associate Professor
Executive MLIS Program Coordinator
San Jose School of Library and Information Science
pfranks@slis.sjsu.edu
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