Info for new advisees

this advice is informal: it is strictly for informative purposes and doesn't constitute policy.

Here is my general advice for all incoming MS students.  Of course we can take up your own interests individually.

It may be difficult for new students to find space in some classes this semester.  That's because students enrolled at the iSchool last spring already signed up for their classes, and they may have taken most spots in several classes (especially core classes).  This is frustrating, but take heart: after this semester you won't have this problem again, as you'll be enrolling in advance of each semester.  What this means for you: before starting the enrollment process, get several backup classes on hand.

To the extent that it is sensible, take the core courses early in your time here, not later.  Obviously, there is no need to take all of them right off.  But do try to work through them regularly and steadily.

For that matter, which are the core courses?  Unless you are in a special program such as conservation/preservation, etc. (i.e. for most people) the iSchool core is: 

• inf180j: intro to info studies [a 1-hour course]
  
• inf382c: understanding and serving users
• inf384c: organizing and providing access to information
• inf397c: intro to research in info studies
• a "capstone" project completed in your last year of study.

The school typically offers 2 sections of core courses (though this does vary).  There is no order in which you must take these classes, except that you will do your capstone near the end of your program.  I do recommend taking 180j as early as possible.

The rest of the iSchool classes are taught at varying intervals--some every semester, others hardly ever.  To get a sense of how often classes are taught, you should look at some of the past course schedules (https://www.ischool.utexas.edu/courses/ [see the tabs at the top of the page]).  You should always feel free to email an instructor to ask if he or she is planning to offer a particular class.

The thorniest issue for most of my advisees is whether they should take courses that are very narrow in focus, or whether they should range more widely to try to see what really interests them.  The bad news is, I can't answer that question.  The good news is that there isn't a wrong answer.  If you know what you want to to after graduation, great... get to it.  If you don't, don't worry: there is time to experiment, and that time isn't wasted.

so what now?

Before you can actually register for classes, you need to have me sign a form that will allow you to use the automated enrollment service at the university.  The powers that be should get this form to you.  If not, ask Carol Carreon in the admin. office (SZB 564) for the form need "to lift your advising bar."  Once I've signed that form, you'll be ready to sign up for classes.

I am creating this blog for several purposes.  Besides helping me keep track of research reading, etc. I am hoping this site will allow me to communicate effectively with my students.  

I will use the following labels to help people find relevant information here:

• research: stuff related to my own research
• students: stuff related to teaching or advising
• meta: stuff related to this blog itself (i.e. housekeeping, etc.)

I will qualify each labels like so:  students.advising is the label for entries about advising (easy, no?).  Likewise students.inf384c is the label for material related to my inf 384c class.  Things labeled plain-old students are of general interest to my students or advisees.