INFO 287-12
Seminar in Information Science
Topic: Subject Analysis (1-Unit)
Spring 2020 Syllabus

Dr. Sylvia D. Hall-Ellis
E-mail
Other contact information: 720-387-6585 (mobile)
Office location: virtual office (Zoom)
Office Hours: arranged by appointment

Canvas Information: Courses will be available beginning January 23rd, 6 am PT unless you are taking an intensive or a one-unit or two-unit class that starts on a different day. In that case, the class will open on the first day that the class meets.

This 1-unit course runs from February 24th - March 23rd.

You will be enrolled in the Canvas site automatically.

Course Description

Application of cataloging and organization of information principles to multi- and hypermedia resources, complex serial publications, evolving standards for representation of nontraditional networked information, and cataloging policy development (SJSU Official Description). This course provides an overview of the principles and framework in Resource Description and Access (RDA) for subject analysis of print, non-print, and electronic materials using standard subject heading lists, thesauri, taxonomies, and folksonomies. Focuses on the challenges of bibliographic database building and maintenance as the community of practice interacts with the new cataloging rules and data sharing environment.

Course Requirements

Course Calendar 

Late Assignments. Students are expected to meet deadlines for assignments or class projects. Late assignments will not be accepted. If you have an illness (medical certificate supplied) or a family tragedy, please contact the instructor. Incomplete grades will not be granted except in extraordinary circumstances. Supporting documentation will be required in cases of medical or health emergencies.

Other Relevant Information:
Attendance and Participation
To benefit most from this course, you must read the text and online resource materials, complete the assignments, and participate in class activities. Regular participation has a positive effect on the grade that you earn. Please try not to miss any weeks. If you know that you will miss more than one class, you may want to consider dropping the course. Regular attendance and participation have a positive effect on the grade that you earn. Students are expected to participate each week in scheduled course modules, actively contribute to class discussions, complete reading requirements, and submit written assignments on time. Regular participation has a positive effect on the course grade earned.

Each week students need to be prepared to discuss assigned readings, problems, and ask questions. You will be evaluated on a reasonable interpretation of the readings, thoughtful questions, and appropriateness of sources cited. Some issues will be more straightforward than others. There is not always a “right” answer; therefore, other possibilities or options may be suggested. These requirements constitute your class participation grade.

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Course Workload Expectations

Success in this course is based on the expectation that students will spend, for each unit of credit, a minimum of forty-five hours over the length of the course (normally 3 hours per unit per week with 1 of the hours used for lecture) for instruction or preparation/studying or course related activities including but not limited to internships, labs, clinical practica. Other course structures will have equivalent workload expectations as described in the syllabus.

Instructional time may include but is not limited to:
Working on posted modules or lessons prepared by the instructor; discussion forum interactions with the instructor and/or other students; making presentations and getting feedback from the instructor; attending office hours or other synchronous sessions with the instructor.

Student time outside of class:
In any seven-day period, a student is expected to be academically engaged through submitting an academic assignment; taking an exam or an interactive tutorial, or computer-assisted instruction; building websites, blogs, databases, social media presentations; attending a study group;contributing to an academic online discussion; writing papers; reading articles; conducting research; engaging in small group work.

Course Prerequisites

INFO 287 has no prequisite requirements.

Course Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

1. Gain the ability to perform subject analysis for both print and electronic resources, integrating resources, sound recordings, videos, and other selected non-print resources.
2. Select and/or create subject heading authority records according to national cataloging guidelines.
3. Become more efficient in using LC subject headings, thesauri, taxonomies, folksonomies, Dewey Decimal Classification and the Library of Congress Classification systems for resources cataloging.
4. Discuss current developments and possible future directions in cataloging.
5. Gain the ability to evaluate cataloging operations to provide efficient solutions to issues and problems.

Core Competencies (Program Learning Outcomes)

INFO 287 supports the following core competencies:

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Textbooks

Required Textbooks:

• Moulaison, H., & Wiechert, R. (2015). Crash course in basic cataloging with RDA. Libraries Unlimited. Available through Amazon: 1440837767

Recommended Textbooks:

• Brenndorfer, T. (2016). RDA essentials. ALA. Available through Amazon: 0838913288

• Weber, M., & Austin, F. (2011). Describing electronic, digital, and other media using AACR2 and RDA. Neal-Schuman. Available through Amazon: 1555706681

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Grading Scale

The standard SJSU School of Information Grading Scale is utilized for all iSchool courses:

In order to provide consistent guidelines for assessment for graduate level work in the School, these terms are applied to letter grades:

• C represents Adequate work; a grade of "C" counts for credit for the course;
• B represents Good work; a grade of "B" clearly meets the standards for graduate level work or undergraduate (for BS-ISDA);
  For core courses in the MLIS program (not MARA, Informatics, BS-ISDA) — INFO 200, INFO 202, INFO 204 — the iSchool requires that students earn a B in the course. If the grade is less than B (B- or lower) after the first attempt you will be placed on administrative probation. You must repeat the class if you wish to stay in the program. If - on the second attempt - you do not pass the class with a grade of B or better (not B- but B) you will be disqualified.
  
• A represents Exceptional work; a grade of "A" will be assigned for outstanding work only.

Graduate Students are advised that it is their responsibility to maintain a 3.0 Grade Point Average (GPA). Undergraduates must maintain a 2.0 Grade Point Average (GPA).

University Policies

Per University Policy S16-9, university-wide policy information relevant to all courses, such as academic integrity, accommodations, etc. will be available on Office of Graduate and Undergraduate Programs' Syllabus Information web page at: https://www.sjsu.edu/curriculum/courses/syllabus-info.php. Make sure to visit this page, review and be familiar with these university policies and resources.

In order to request an accommodation in a class please contact the Accessible Education Center and register via the MyAEC portal.

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