Wanting to go back to school

Hi,
I'm 28 years old and want to go back to school. Here is the story, and I hope someone can help.
When I graduated high school back in 91, I went to college for a year. I didn't really know what I wanted to do with my life at that point. I felt like I was wasting my parents money, so I quit. Now, I know what I want. I want to go back for business and get a Masters in Library Science.
I've worked in a library all my life, except for a few years where I was the Assistant Manager of a bookstore. When I retire I would like to owm my own little bookstore, that's why I want to study business, plus I find it very interesting.
What I would like to do is find one school that offers both the business and library science as distance education. I've been to the American Library Assc. website. It does offer a page for distance education, but I'm having a heck of a time searching through all the schools to find if they offer business also.
Is it possible that I am living in a dream world trying to find this? I'm so frustrated that I'm thinking of giving up.
Can anyone help??

 

I believe that Emporia State University has both business degrees and library science degrees offered through distance education. I do not know if the library science program is accredited by the American Library Association (something that a previous poster stated is critical for future employment in libraries). You might want to use the search function at the top of the page to check out previous threads on this subject.
Good luck,
Jack

 

Get yourself (1) book - 25th Ed. of Bears Guide to Earning Degrees by DL, look under the subjecy index section - you've got 20 or so schools. I'm not sure if you have a Bachelors ?, if not look for a BS/A in Liberal Arts. Ask a few Libarary Pro's for some advise, look at any professional asssociations, try to locate a mentor.

If I recall I think that U. of Arizona had some free $$$ for their MS in Library Science. Also look that the future demand of the profession ???, you might need some IT/Science expertise.

It sounds like you got the work exp., find out what you will need for a mid level position and for a Sr. level positionby looking at the Chronicles of Higher Learning for position openings, salary, etc. good luck.

I was in your boat 10 years ago....


Ed.D. Pepperdine
MBA
MA
BS
BS
AS

 

It's pricey and does involve some residency, but the cream of the crop for Master of Library Science by DL is Syracuse University, which is ALA accredited.

I'm not sure what degree level you're looking for in business, but Syracuse also offers a short-residency Master of Business Administration program.


Bruce

 

ladyrakes: I'm 28 years old and want to go back to school. Here is the story, and I hope someone can help. When I graduated high school back in 91, I went to college for a year. I didn't really know what I wanted to do with my life at that point. I felt like I was wasting my parents money, so I quit. Now, I know what I want. I want to go back for business and get a Masters in Library Science.

Response: Are you certain regarding your educational choice or are you contemplating the possibilities? The personal characterisitics that are most likely needed to be successful in business differ from those in the discipline of library science. This is not to say that it cannot be accomplished but the question to ask yourself is have you carefully evaluated your interests and aptitudes for these disparate fields?


ladyfrakes: I've worked in a library all my life, except for a few years where I was the Assistant Manager of a bookstore. When I retire I would like to owm my own little bookstore, that's why I want to study business, plus I find it very interesting.


Response: When you retire? At 28 years of age, it may be beneficial to initially focus on the your present goals. For instance. what was your original major and the courses you completed prior to dropping out? Have you discussed your goals with a career counselor to assist in developing a realisitc and workable plan that may increase your opportunities to successfully complete your education. It is definitely valuable to contemplate the future but in order to attain that goal it is initially important to take it step by step,

ladyfrake: What I would like to do is find one school that offers both the business and library science as distance education. I've been to the American Library Assc. website. It does offer a page for distance education, but I'm having a heck of a time searching through all the schools to find if they offer business also.

Rsponse: Once again, take it one step at a time. Determine if a business degree in in line with your aptitudes and ultimate goals and interests. Discuss these issues with a knowledge career counselor in order to avoid taking to big a "bite" resulting in dropping out entirely!


ladyfrakes: Is it possible that I am living in a dream world trying to find this? I'm so frustrated that I'm thinking of giving up.
Can anyone help??


Response; Your expressions of self-doubt in the above statement necessitate that you carefully work through your educational and professional plans with a career professional because it does appear that at this point you are not certain regarding your ambitious goals. As noted there is nothing wrong thinking "big" but a smart move would be to approach your goals in a gradual and sequential manner that may enhance your opportunities for success.

Good luck!

 

Thanks so much for the information. I'm going to check out Emporia State, and the Bears book at work. I'll let you know what I find out.

Thanks again!

 

Let me give you a bit more information about myself. I have had attention deficit disorder all my life. Going to school was difficult all my life. If I do not do something that I am totally interested in, I will quit. I know me. I don't like it, and I have tried to do many things to help, but nothing has worked in 28 years.
There are many reasons why I want to take business. I worked for a few years in retail, and I found that I enjoyed the daily, weekly, and monthly business part of it. Also, my future husband owns his own business and has for many years. I feel that I can offer us more, if I knew more about what was going on, and he supports me in that. I do want to own my own business one day, and I believe that this will help also. In addition, if I ever moved up to administration, having a business background helps a lot.
Now, I have spoken to many different professionals at my job. They all have different backgrounds, and all offer different advice. Basically what it comes down to is that it makes no difference what I take as an undergrad, what matters is having a piece of paper that states that I have a masters in library science.

I hope this helps.

 

Due to the continually contracting number of schools offering degrees in Library Science, distance learning options in this field have grown in recent years. However, most of these options are site-based or require significant travel to the offering campus (.i.e. once per semester) and, unfortunately, the programs at Emporia State and Syracuse fall into these categories.

I do know of at least two schools offering fully online degrees, at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (a top-20 program according to US News) and Southern Connecticut State University. These two programs are ALA approved and offer in-state tuition for all students. Of course, by the time you are ready to enroll in a master's program, there may be many more programs to choose from.

One other suggestion...you may wish to look into one of the Bachelor of Integrated/General Studies programs, such as the one offered by Emporia State University (among many others). You can usually tailor these programs yo your interests, piling on many basic business administration courses without earning a specialty, such as accounting. These programs are usually fairly inexpensive and can be completed part-time much more quickly than a more traditional degree. In addition, these programs are often used as springboards toward accredited, advance degrees, like the MLS/MLIS.

Jeff

 

Most importantly, don't let anyone tell you that you can't succeed.

Christian

 

ladyfrakes: Let me give you a bit more information about myself. I have had attention deficit disorder all my life. Going to school was difficult all my life. If I do not do something that I am totally interested in, I will quit. I know me. I don't like it, and I have tried to do many things to help, but nothing has worked in 28 years.


Response: The question to ask yourself is what makes the situation different now? I totally agree that having a passionate interest in an educational/professional goal is critical to success but so is a well thought out and methodical plan of action. This is especially critical due to your acknowledged difficulty in completing goals in the past.

The issue that has prevented you from attaining your objectives in the past will not spontaneously disappear. In other words, this issue may need to be addressed in relatiion to your current goals with the assistence of a professional career counselor in order to develop a collaborative plan to maximize your future opportunities for success.

ladyfrake: There are many reasons why I want to take business. I worked for a few years in retail, and I found that I enjoyed the daily, weekly, and monthly business part of it. Also, my future husband owns his own business and has for many years. I feel that I can offer us more, if I knew more about what was going on, and he supports me in that. I do want to own my own business one day, and I believe that this will help also. In addition, if I ever moved up to administration, having a business background helps a lot.

Response: Qoestions to consider: Does my interest in businees mean that I should pursue a degree in business? Am I interested in learning to operate a business or am I interested in the intricacies of business including finance, accountancy, business law, marketing, etc? Would a certificate in business be a viable "test" to determine my determination and passion prior to entering into a four year business degree program?

Questions such as these and others should be considered prior to making a significant committment in terms of finances, time and effort.


ladyfrakes: Now, I have spoken to many different professionals at my job. They all have different backgrounds, and all offer different advice. Basically what it comes down to is that it makes no difference what I take as an undergrad, what matters is having a piece of paper that states that I have a masters in library science.

Response: Getting advice from colleagues, friends and posters is always helpful in order to obtain different perspectives. However, considering the attention deficit issue you note above and its impact on your ability to follow through with past projects and goals, it may be in your interest to meet with a neutral and objective professional career counselor to explore these issues in depth and to develop a graduated mutually agreed upon plan of action.

 

Here is more info on the U. Arizona program mentioned by HR PRO:
http://www.sir.arizona.edu/distance/index.html

This is a well-established (and I think highly reputable) program which was already in place when I graduated from the UA in 1988.

 

One thing to bear in mind concerning this program is that it requires 6 units in residence in Arizona. Seems like a good program, but for someone seeking a totally non-residential program, it would not be a good fit.

They do, however, state that they offer short-term ways to do the 6 units (winter intersession, summer session, etc).



Tom Nixon