Michelle Brien B.Soc.Sc (International), M.Sc.
I chose to study Sociology and Information & Social Computing as part of the Social Science (international) degree because I have always been interested in the ways people interact with each other. Information & Social Computing gives you a chance to really explore the influence of information in all aspects of everyday life - in society, in business, and in government – and is a perfect complement to sociology or social policy. Today people talk of the knowledge economy or the information society, so the study of how we create, share and use information is more relevant than ever before.
I chose to take the librarianship pathway, which provided me with an extra qualification. It also opened a new range of interesting subjects to me, such as knowledge management and information design, which has become so relevant for my current role. I later completed the M.Sc. in Marketing Practice in the Michael Smurfit School of Business, where my background in sociology and information studies gave me a unique perspective into marketing and an advantage in completing market research and communicating the information to clients.
I now work in the international division of the second largest educational publishing company in the world, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. My role entails creating and sharing marketing information about our educational software solutions and helping our international partners to adapt and localize this information to make it relevant for their culture and education system.
As Information & Social Computing has so many interdisciplinary applications, I would recommend it to anyone who is interested in media and communications, information management and information systems, librarianship, research, marketing, or publishing.
David Milligan, BA
I have really enjoyed my degree course at UCD School of Information and Library Studies. The course, with core and optional modules, has given me a great grounding in the necessary skills of librarianship along with the flexibility to focus on areas of personal interest. The lecturers and staff at the department have created an exceptionally positive atmosphere and have been very encouraging.
What else students say...
I enjoy studying in SILS as it has taught me about the world of information... [The courses use] a different method of teaching such as group projects, group discussions, lab sections and lectures. I think everyone should do this course once in their life as it is a life changing experience.
I have developed personally and socially as well as [intellectually]…I love class as it is often team based and team work is going to be a fundamental part of work life in the future. The teaching approaches are different and enjoyable... The module options are brilliant.
I have found that the lecturers [in SILS] are extremely approachable and helpful in comparison to some based in different modules. The modules are interesting and very relevant to today's society and especially to attending university, [and] writing assignments. I have learnt where information comes from, how it is used, how to retrieve relevant information and where to go to seek help in doing so. Overall, I enjoy the SILS school, as although it is small, it has huge importance in the university world and the use of information.
As an undergraduate student in this SILS programme I am learning more and more each day…I also particularly enjoy the fact that we have a lecture and then a discussion class after; it keeps what we have learnt previously fresh in our heads and we can discuss our opinions and what we have learnt but in a smaller group. To conclude, I am really enjoying this course and I don't have any complaints.
Because of the enormous advances in the use of digital information, taking a SILS degree keeps me informed and up-to-date on many aspects of this progress as well as preparing me for future employment.
I like taking an undergraduate degree with SILS because I have the choice from a broad range of modules that can direct me towards the area I would like to work in.
I enjoy the interaction that the class has with the teacher. I feel when everyone gets involved in the class it allows us to maximise our learning potential. I am also finding the work we are doing very interesting and useful.
I like the teaching approaches in my classes and really enjoy the content in the classes….The more I do in information [and social computing] the more I wish I could be doing a major/minor in it. I like that majority of the modules are group work based and continuous assessment!
