Informatics studies the connection between people, information, and technology systems, with an eye toward the relationship between information systems and the daily lives of people. The field helps design new uses for information technology that reflect and enhance the way people create, find, and use information in social, cultural, and organizational settings. As a student in Informatics, you will apply technology to solve problems in different settings and develop new uses for existing technologies, always keeping in mind the social and psychological aspects of information technology.

The Informatics major is built around a core of eight courses, which introduce students to logical reasoning, programming, information representation, social informatics, human-computer interaction, and career strategies. Beyond the core, the Informatics major is highly customizable depending on your interests. You will choose Informatics advanced and elective courses with topics ranging from data visualization to human computer interaction design. All Informatics majors must complete a specialty area of study called a cognate—some examples include business, medical sciences, public health, biology, fine arts, and music, but there are many others from which to choose.

In your senior year, you will engage in a capstone experience that pulls together all your classroom education into a final project on which you and your teammates decide. In addition to the campus-wide General Education requirements, you will take courses in statistics, ethics, and writing. Students are also encouraged to engage in internships, research, Serve IT, and participate in our student groups, which will help you to explore your career interests, build your professional experience, and engage in networking opportunities.

For detailed information about degree requirements, visit the most recent School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering Academic Bulletin.