We are in a connected world where humans, software applications and data are all linked through intricate networks. Everyday objects like cars, doorbells and coffee machines, specialized equipment for healthcare and even infrastructure like roads, are smart and communicate data. This data becomes useful when it is securely associated with other data, objects, individuals, groups and organizations to make decisions through computation to solve problems for society.
The Information Science major in the Department of Informatics and Networked Systems has been built to provide:
- A strong foundation in the science of how data, human-centered systems and networks work together to solve problems
- A broad understanding of systems analysis, data management, network design and security, and how they are integrated and work together to make effective decisions
- Coursework that addresses cutting-edge subjects such as datamining, computer forensics, cloud computing, 5G wireless and information visualization
- Research projects with faculty, student peers, and local non-profits
- Career agility – every industry needs information science expertise, so you’ll find successful career opportunities in healthcare, manufacturing, communications, finance, education, technology, and entertainment.
Major Requirements
Beginning in Fall 2020, students declaring an IS major will be required to complete:
- One approved programming course
- Seven core courses
- Five upper-level electives
- Two approved mathematics courses (see below)
- One approved statistics course (see below)
- One capstone class
Programming Course
Core Courses
- INFSCI 0310 - COMPUTATION IN INFORMATION SCIENCE
- INFSCI 0410 - HUMAN-CENTERED SYSTEMS
- INFSCI 0510 - DATA ANALYSIS
- INFSCI 0610 - NETWORKS AND INFORMATION
- INFSCI 1400 - ANALYSIS OF INFORMATION SYSTEMS
- INFSCI 1500 - DATABASE MANAGEMENT CONCEPTS AND APPLICATIONS
- INFSCI 1600 - SECURITY AND PRIVACY
Upper-level Electives
- INFSCI 1420 - USER-CENTERED DESIGN
- INFSCI 1430 - USER EXPERIENCE ENGINEERING
- INFSCI 1440 - SOCIAL COMPUTING
- INFSCI 1450 - GAME DESIGN
- INFSCI 1460 - IT PROJECT MANAGEMENT
- INFSCI 1470 - IMMERSIVE MEDIA TECHNOLOGIES
- INFSCI 1520 - INFORMATION VISUALIZATION
- INFSCI 1530 - DATA MINING
- INFSCI 1540 - DATA ENGINEERING
- INFSCI 1550 - SPATIAL INFORMATION
- INFSCI 1560 - INFORMATION STORAGE AND RETRIEVAL
- INFSCI 1570 - NETWORK AND WEB DATA TECHNOLOGIES
- INFSCI 1620 - ADVANCED SECURITY AND PRIVACY
- INFSCI 1630 - COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
- INFSCI 1640 - WIRELESS NETWORKS
- INFSCI 1650 - MULTIMEDIA COMMUNICATIONS
- INFSCI 1660 - COMPUTER NETWORKING LABORATORY
- INFSCI 1670 - SECURITY MANAGEMENT AND COMPUTER FORENSICS
- INFSCI 1690 - CLOUD COMPUTING
Required Mathematics and Statistics Courses
Students must complete the following quantitative and statiscal skills classes. One class from each section will overlap with the School’s General Education Requirements.
- MATH 0220 - ANALYTIC GEOMETRY AND CALCULUS 1
- MATH 0280 - INTRO TO MATRICES & LINEAR ALG OR MATH 1180 - LINEAR ALGEBRA 1 OR MATH 1185 - HONORS LINEAR ALGEBRA
- STAT 1000 - APPLIED STATISTICAL METHODS OR STAT 1100 - STATISTICS AND PROBABILITY FOR BUSINESS MANAGEMENT
Capstone
Students in the BS in Information Science major are required to successfully complete a capstone experience, learning how to apply what they learned in the classroom to real-world situations. Students can choose from among a selection of experiential learning opportunities including team-based project classes, independent study courses supervised by research faculty in the School, and internships/co-ops with regional or national industries and organizations. The capstone requirement means that students will gain valuable experience that is aligned with their interests and career goals. Students in the IS major are permitted to take up to two INFSCI 1700+ courses: one will count towards the capstone requirement and one will count towards the upper-level elective requirement.
- INFSCI 1082 - INFORMATION SCIENCE COOPERATIVE PROGRAM (2 rotations and completion of a paper required)
- INFSCI 1700 - DATA-DRIVEN COMMUNICATION (3 credits)
- INFSCI 1710 - DIRECTED RESEARCH (3 credits required)
- INFSCI 1720 - INTERNSHIP (3 credits required)
- INFSCI 1730 - INDEPENDENT STUDY (3 credits required)
- INFSCI 1740 - TEAM-BASED CAPSTONE PROJECT (3 credits required)
For full major requirement details, visit the Information Science course catalog.