Department Information

Informatics

Professors Jumadinova (Chair), Bonham-Carter, Kapfhammer, Luman, Graber, Green

Informatics focuses on critical approaches to information and technology, with an emphasis on interdisciplinary methods. Students develop ethical and technical frameworks and apply them to a wide-ranging set of culturally-relevant problems in order to enrich the public understanding of the relationship between information and culture.

Informatics Learning Outcomes

  • Demonstrates and articulates the distinct concerns of informatics-informed approaches to understanding information as cultural material.
  • Produce and present disciplinary findings in digital, artistic, oral, and/or written format.
  • Develop competency in the theories, methods, and practices of domains on which to apply informatics techniques.
  • Able to design scholarly projects and clearly and persuasively articulate their outcomes.

Informatics Major

Because this program is Interdisciplinary Studies, students who major in Informatics may complete any minor to satisfy the college requirement that the major and minor be in different areas of study. However, students who major in Informatics may not double-major or minor in Computer Science, Data Science, or Software Engineering.

The Informatics major leads to the Bachelor of Arts or the Bachelor of Science degree (students may elect to receive either degree) and requires a minimum of 48 semester credit hours. At most one of the foundation courses (CMPSC 100, CMPSC 101, or CMPSC 105) may be presented for the major on the Credit/No Credit grade basis. Courses with prerequisites are marked with an asterisk (*).

Program Requirements:

Foundation

Take all of the following three courses (12 credits):

  • CMPSC 100 – Computational ExpressionCredits: 4
  • CMPSC 101 – Data StructuresCredits: 4 *
  • CMPSC 105 – Data ExplorationCredits: 4

Core

Take a total offour courses (16 credits), including two courses from the “Methods” category.

  • CMPSC 350 – Computational NarrativeCredits:4 *
  • COMM 342 – Digital Media and TechnologyCredits: 4 *

Methods: Take two of the following courses (8 credits):

  • ART 187 – Electronic & Intermedia ArtCredits: 4
  • ART 287 – Art at the Intersection of Science and CultureCredits: 4 *
  • CMPSC 302 – Web DevelopmentCredits: 4 *
  • COMM 376 – Ethnographic Methods in Media and Cultural StudiesCredits: 4 *
  • FILM 171 – Filmmaking 1Credits: 4
  • FILM 300 – Filmmaking 2Credits: 4 *
  • FILM 375 – Documentary TraditionsCredits: 4 *

Applications Modules

Choose a minimum of two courses (8 credits) from a minimum of one application module. Students should consult with an advisor to design their application module coursework in relation to their interests, questions, and goals, as well as their overall program of study.

Humanities Informatics

Practices which build and maintain technical platforms to answer questions traditionally thought of as the domain of the Humanities, particularly those in (but not limited to) History, English, and Art.

Take at least two of the following (at least one course must be at the 200-level or above):

  • ART 251 – Contemporary Art WritingCredits: 4 *
  • ART 343 – Feminist Art HistoriesCredits: 4 *
  • Any ENGL 100-levelCredits: 4
  • ENGL 360 – Language, Theory, and PracticeCredits: 4 *
  • HIST 170 – Introduction to Public HistoryCredits: 4
  • PHIL 140 – Ethics and CommunityCredits: 4
  • RELST 180 – Religion in american LifeCredits:4
  • RELST 200 – Christian EthicsCredits:4
  • RELST 341 – Jewish EthicsCredits:4

Geoinformatics

Study and development of technologies that use information to address issues in geology, geography, cartography, and other related sciences.

Take at least two of the following (at least one course must be at the 200-level or above):

  • ENVSC 285 – Quantitative SustainabilityCredits: 4 *
  • ENVSC 305 – Environmental GIS ICredits: 4 *
  • ENVSC 306 – Environmental GIS IICredits: 4 *
  • GEO 110 – Physical GeologyCredits: 4
  • CMPSC 304 – Robotic SystemsCredits: 4*
  • CMPSC 305 – Database SystemsCredits: 4*
  • CMPSC 406 – Internet of ThingsCredits: 4*

Polinformatics

Practices focused on building and maintaining information and information systems which pertain to questions characterized as social science, in particular those concerned with (but not limited to) governance and political participation.

Take at least two of the following (at least one course must be at the 200-level or above):

  • COMM 256 – Power, Politics, and CommunicationCredits: 4
  • COMM 360 – Communication and Civic EngagementCredits: 4 *
  • POLSC 120 –  Comparative Politics
  • POLSC 215 – Politics in Popular CultureCredits: 4
  • POLSC 318 – Politics and the MediaCredits: 4
  • POLSC 321 – Urban Government and PoliticsCredits: 4
  • POLSC 424 – Inequality and Social PolicyCredits: 4
  • PHIL 210 Oppression and liberationCredits: 4

Health Informatics

Practices which build, maintain, and conceptualize the role of information and information systems in clinical, professional, and academic contexts with particular emphasis on health data (for example, electronic health records (EHR)).

Take at least two of the following (at least one course must be at the 200-level or above):

  • CMPSC 300 – BioinformaticsCredits: 4 *
  • COMM 331 – Disease, Disability, and Difference in Popular CultureCredits: 4 *
  • GHS 228 – Global Health Data and VisualizationCredits: 4
  • GHS 235 – Global Health EthicsCredits: 4 *
  • GHS 321 – EpidemiologyCredits: 4 *
  • GHS 354 – Medical AnthropologyCredits: 4
  • HIST 380 – Disease and Medicine in Modern HistoryCredits: 4 *
  • PHIL 385 – Medical EthicsCredits: 4

Project

  • CMPSC 580 – Junior Seminar Credits: 4 *
  • INFM 600 – Senior Project I Credits: 4 *
  • INFM 610 – Senior Project II Credits: 4 *

Note: With advisor approval, students may substitute a Junior Seminar in another department for CMPSC 580.

Informatics Minor

Students who minor in Informatics may complete any major to satisfy the college requirement that the major and minor be in different areas of study. However, students who minor in Informatics may not major in Computer Science, Data Science, or Software Engineering.

The minor in Informatics requires the completion of at least 24 semester hours of coursework, as outlined below.

Foundation

Take all two of the following courses (8 credits): 

  • CMPSC 100 – Computational ExpressionCredits: 4
  • CMPSC 101 – Data StructuresCredits: 4

Core

Take all two of the following courses (8 credits) 

  • CMPSC 350 – Computational Narrative 4 *
  • COMM 342 – Digital Media and Technology: 4 *

Take two courses from one application module (8 credits):

Humanities Informatics

Practices which build and maintain technical platforms to answer questions traditionally thought of as the domain of the Humanities, particularly those in (but not limited to) History, English, and Art.

  • ART 251 – Contemporary Art WritingCredits: 4 *
  • ART 343 – Feminist Art HistoriesCredits: 4 *
  • Any ENGL 100-level Credits: 4
  • ENGL 360 – Language, Theory, and PracticeCredits: 4 *
  • HIST 170 – Introduction to Public HistoryCredits: 4
  • PHIL 140 – Ethics and CommunityCredits: 4
  • RELST 180 – Religion in american LifeCredits:4
  • RELST 200 – Christian EthicsCredits:4
  • RELST 341 – Jewish EthicsCredits:4

Geoinformatics

Study and development of technologies that use information to address issues in geology, geography, cartography, and other related sciences. At least one course must be taken outside of CMPSC.

  • ENVSC 285 – Quantitative SustainabilityCredits: 4 *
  • ENVSC 305 – Environmental GIS ICredits: 4 *
  • ENVSC 306 – Environmental GIS IICredits: 4 *
  • GEO 110 – Physical GeologyCredits: 4
  • CMPSC 304 – Robotic SystemsCredits: 4*
  • CMPSC 305 – Database SystemsCredits: 4*
  • CMPSC 406 – Internet of ThingsCredits: 4*

Polinformatics

Practices focused on building and maintaining information and information systems which pertain to questions characterized as social science, in particular those concerned with (but not limited to) governance and political participation.

  • COMM 256 – Power, Politics, and CommunicationCredits: 4
  • COMM 360 – Communication and Civic Engagement Credits: 4 *
  • POLSC 120 – Comparative Politics
  • POLSC 215 – Politics in Popular Culture Credits: 4
  • POLSC 318 – Politics and the Media Credits: 4
  • POLSC 321 – Urban Government and Politics Credits: 4
  • POLSC 424 – Inequality and Social Policy Credits: 4
  • PHIL 210 – Oppression and liberation Credits: 4

Health Informatics

Practices which build, maintain, and conceptualize the role of information and information systems in clinical, professional, and academic contexts with particular emphasis on health data (for example, electronic health records (EHR)).

  • CMPSC 300 – BioinformaticsCredits: 4 *
  • COMM 331 – Disease, Disability, and Difference in Popular CultureCredits: 4 *
  • GHS 228 – Global Health Data and VisualizationCredits: 4
  • GHS 235 – Global Health EthicsCredits: 4 *
  • GHS 321 – EpidemiologyCredits: 4 *
  • GHS 354 – Medical Anthropology Credits: 4
  • HIST 380 – Disease and Medicine in Modern HistoryCredits: 4 *
  • PHIL 385 – Medical Ethics Credits: 4

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