Students’ Perceptions of Information Programs in Canada

Using a web-based survey, this study explored students’ perceptions of their master’s programs in information studies at six Canadian universities. Findings indicate that students rate most aspects of their programs positively, although few respondents give the highest ratings, indicating that there is substantial room for improvement. When asked directly, “How satisfied are you with the education you have received in this program?”, the mean rating was 6.6 on a 10-point scale. Among the lowest ratings on quality measures were those for exposure to the latest developments in research and technology and exposure to the most significant developments in the field. We found a decrease in satisfaction as students progress through their programs. Compared to midstream students, a smaller proportion of students in their final term had positive perceptions on almost half of the measures. Findings from the study should be beneficial to information studies educators to inform decisions with respect to curriculum planning and program development.