The study of Information is a complex, interdisciplinary area concerned with the collection and organization of different types of information, how society and individuals relate to information. Within McGill鈥檚 School of Information Studies, students are encouraged to find better ways to organize, access, disseminate, use, and preserve information and recorded knowledge. The School's research and teaching expertise spans various areas, such as user-centered design, information security, data mining, digital curation, and knowledge management.
Many students pursuing graduate studies at the School of Information Studies gained valuable experience and expertise during their time as undergraduates in the Faculty of Arts at McGill. We asked current SIS students about how their McGill Arts background contributed to their grad school studies!
Nicolas Pellicer-Garcia (BA '17 in Economics & Mathematics & M.A. '19 in Teaching and Learning )
The fundamental notions I picked up in Mathematics classes during my bachelor鈥檚 were helpful for technical classes in my current master's program (e.g. statistics courses I had taken years back came in handy for my data mining class). I also took introductory classes in Psychology and Political Science during my B.A. which helped me build up writing skills. My 1st master's was in education and required a lot of group projects, so I was prepared when facing similar work in my 2nd masters. In terms of my campus life, doing my undergrad and 1st masters here allowed me to become familiar with most of the buildings, libraries, student clubs, services and amenities on campus. As a result, I was more prepared to take advantage of all that campus has to offer early in my 2nd masters. Finally, I am glad that I was able to keep in touch with people I'd met during my undergraduate degree and 1st masters. Many remain good friends of mine, which has been helpful for not staying isolated in the city.
Kari Kuo ( BA '22, Joint Honours in History and Gender, Sexuality and Feminist Studies with a minor in Social Studies in Medicine)
McGill Faculty of Arts provided me with opportunities to learn about the world from a critical lens. As an 18-year-old, second-generation Taiwanese Canadian girl freshly graduated from high school, courses such as postcolonial literature, queer theory, sociology of ethnicity, and the histories of so many different movements and eras were eye-opening.
I chose to double major in History, and Gender, Sexuality, and Feminist Studies (GSFS). The Institute for Gender, Sexuality and Feminist Studies is amazing, with interdisciplinary programs that are fun, inspiring, and challenging all at the same time. Although my undergraduate education was impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic, through my Minor in Social Studies in Medicine I processed the ongoing public health situation through historical, sociological, and anthropological lenses.
As a current master鈥檚 student at the McGill School of Information Studies, my B.A. prepared me so much in terms of writing, communicating, and learning skills needed to succeed. As I鈥檝e come to focus my research interests on feminist and women鈥檚 health issues, I鈥檝e been able to connect information studies concepts to these interests through independent study courses and truly elevate my conception of my own potential. Some might argue that a B.A. [in the humanities] does not guarantee employability and leaves graduates with the options of either continuing in academia or finding a job unrelated to their degree. My advice to current Arts students looking to bridge this gap would be to consider professional graduate programs where you can learn skills and gain the certification needed to advance your career. At the same time, think about what topics and issues matter the most to you and then try applying your professional skills to your main area of interest.
Michelle Baroudi (BA '21 in Political Science with a minor in Communication)
As an undergraduate Arts student, you can take a multitude of courses within and outside of your major and minor. This opportunity to learn, read and write about diverse topics and perspectives under the instruction of passionate professors made for an enriching few years. However, given that Arts programs are less centered around a specific career compared to other programs (e.g., dentistry), I experienced a lack of direction as well as many feelings of uncertainty during my undergrad.
On the other hand, grad life feels like a real steppingstone to adulthood and the 鈥渞eal world鈥�. In my experience, this is especially true as a non-thesis, SIS student in a professional graduate program. Your classes start feeling like preparation for your future career and you begin to get a better sense of where you can go and where you would like to go. Since there are less students in SIS than in other Arts programs, it becomes easier to meet people in class (people who might even become your colleagues in the future!). I do sometimes find it difficult to motivate myself to do coursework as I am often longing to actually apply my newfound knowledge and skills in practice. However, it helps to know that this master鈥檚 is essential in getting there.
Octavian Sopt (BA '15 in History)
As an Arts student who majored in History, most of my assignments and schoolwork consisted of writing papers and doing research. Having four or five courses per semester, it meant that I did not only need to cover substantial readings to prepare for each class, but also many assignments involved a lot of writing. Often, many papers were due roughly at the same time. What did this all mean to me? That I needed to manage my time wisely in order to properly prepare for assignments, and to not leave everything for the last minute, while making sure I still had some time left for my social life. This strategy has worked well, keeping stress to a manageable level, all while making sure that I have indeed learned from the courses I have taken and not mindlessly grinded away for good grades and a degree.
Although I have taken a long break between finishing my undergrad and starting my graduate degree, namely the Master鈥檚 of Information Studies, it was quite seamless for me to get back into the academic mindset, especially returning to writing papers, searching for relevant sources, or just researching a specific topic.
Looking back, I find that the B.A. in Arts was demanding, in terms of both time and brainpower, but in the end it is extremely rewarding for those who are dedicated and ambitious, as it prepares us to confidently take the 鈥渘ext step鈥� 鈥� whether it is higher learning or a career in the Humanities. I am grateful to the professors who have helped shape my way of thinking, particularly from the History Department.
In between my degrees, I have been working at the McGill Library, and felt that my B.A. in Arts has provided me with invaluable skills to conduct my daily tasks at a higher level. Therefore, the B.A. in Arts at McGill has had (and continues to have) a beneficial impact on my critical thinking skills, my analytical skills, and my time management skills.
Maerrin Dionne (BA '21 in History with a minor in Anthropology)
Having done my undergrad at McGill, I felt a sense of ease starting my Master鈥檚 here as well. The campus is so big and it isn鈥檛 always easy to figure out McGill鈥檚 digital resources, so I was glad to have already had experience with them, especially since grad school is so intimidating at first. One major change that really helped was the sense of community in the MLIS program. Since it鈥檚 such a small program, it鈥檚 easy to know most of your cohort and seek help from others, which was definitely not the case in a program as large as my undergrad.
My background as a history major has been helpful for a number of classes, but with such a technical and professional program, I have definitely had to change my approach to my studies. McGill history prepared me for in-depth research, but MLIS has changed my research approach and speed at finishing papers, which has really made me a more well-rounded researcher and student. I think having such different types of programs has really benefitted me and will help me better serve as a reference librarian for people coming from a variety of fields.
You can learn more about the School of Information Studies at McGill on their website and you can follow them on 听补苍诲听.