Frequently Asked Questions

Have a question about the IU School of Informatics? Please contact us.

What is informatics?

Visit our page devoted to answering what informatics is and its future impact.

What degrees are offered?

Informatics offers a unique set of degrees at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Visit our degrees page for a complete list of our degrees.

What is a cognate, and how does it relate to my future career?

The B.S. in Informatics at IU requires students to choose a cognate area, or specific area of focus to better determine what kinds of people or systems that he or she would like to work with. View our cognates section to see the courses required to achieve each cognate and possible career options for each one.

Informatics… computer science… computer information systems… information science… are they all the same?

CIS

The program in Computer Information Systems is a degree offered in the Kelly School of Business. Not surprisingly, it approaches computing in the context of business applications.

Information Science

At Indiana University, there are many ways to study aspects of information technology. Each degree program has its own unique emphasis. The School of Library and Information Science (SLIS) offers only graduate degrees in information science. These degrees emphasize the analysis and design of information and systems and the study of the social and behavioral dimensions of information storage, organization, retrieval, and use.

Computer Science

Computer science is the systematic study of computation, hardware systems, software systems, and networks, combined with the design and analysis of algorithms and data structures. It is the foundation upon which all branches of information technology rest. Students of computer science learn to design and implement systems to manage and visualize data, control robots, model human cognition, extract information from vast volumes of data, and build the tools used by other IT professionals.

Informatics

Informatics requires an understanding of the same areas studied by computer scientists, but it is more focused on the best applications of these technologies and is therefore less technical, putting emphasis instead on social and psychological aspects of information technology. Informatics prepares professionals to use information technology to solve problems in a variety of settings. The degree emphasizes the development of new uses for technologies, always keeping in mind that needs of people and the best and most appropriate uses for technology.

Why do IT students choose Informatics?

Besides financial and professional opportunities, our students see the opportunity to work with IT in innovative ways. Sometimes this relates to another interest.

For example, one of our students had a cognate in fine arts. She mentioned that her parents had wanted her to major in business or computer science because she could always find a job, but she was really interested in art. Informatics allowed her to have both.

What makes Informatics different from other technology schools?

Where other schools excel in engineering, Informatics is building its reputation on human-centered and area-specific informatics balanced by strong foundations, systems, AI/CogSci, e-science, databases and programming languages provided by the Department of Computer Science.

I’m in high school. What courses should I be taking?

Take any course that helps you expand your computer experience.
Take as many math and science courses as possible.
Practice your communications skills, such as writing and oral presentation.
If possible, learn a popular programming language, such as C++ or Java. Learn to navigate the Web and create a Web site.
Write games instead of just playing them.
Be observant about the many ways information technology impacts your life.

I’m an IU freshman. What courses should I be taking?

As a freshman, you can explore informatics by taking I101 Introduction to Informatics. You can explore the computer science major by taking C211. Contact an informatics advisor about your options. A suggested guide to fulfilling general education requirements for Informatics can be found in the sample freshman curriculum.

What will I learn with an undergraduate Informatics degree?

A technical understanding of how computing systems and programs operate
Ability to adapt/assess and apply new trends in IT
Well-developed problem-solving skills
Ability to work in a team, such as those formed for the senior capstone projects
Well-developed communications skills to clearly convey solutions and observations to others
An understanding of social and ethical principals as they relate to IT issues

What skills will I develop with the B.S. in Informatics?

Problem Solving: requirements analysis, solution design, prototype development, data modeling, deductive reasoning, interaction design, user studies, human factors
Web Site Development/Layout: HTML, XTML, XML, CSS, XSLT
Content Development: Flash, Photoshop, Dreamweaver, Frontpage
Database Access: ASP, JSP, Servlets, .NET
Data Management: Oracle, SQL Server, ACCESS

What are some of the things Informatics graduates do?

With a degree, graduates might do the following:

Work as consultants to help e-businesses conduct transactions and interact with customers online.
Streamline databases and design customized software to better anticipate the needs of customers.
Create better ways to manage patient records and share them with diverse health-care providers.
Participate on teams with biologists and chemists to develop software that enable them to more easily access vast amounts of information from the Human Genome and the Chemical Abstracts databases.

For more information, visit our careers section.

Are Informatics graduates finding jobs?

At graduation, the class of 2005 reported an average salary of $43,000 and 54% were employed or continuing their education at the time of graduation. This later figure compares to an average nationwide of those graduating in May of only 33% employed at the time of graduation.

Job titles our students hold, ranked in order of frequency, include:

Business Analyst
Systems Analyst
IT Specialist/MIS Technician
Network Application Specialist
Programmer
Webmaster/Graphic Designer
Consultant
IT Trainer

Where are Informatics graduates employed?

Most every industry has a need for informatics graduates because of the pervasiveness of IT. Studies shows that the vast majority of IT jobs are not in the industries that one would traditionally identify with IT.

Informatics graduates are employed at Gap, Tippman Group, Deloitte Consulting, GE Financial Assurance, Cinergy, AuthorHouse, Kellogg’s, Accenture (2), CGI/CACI, Stockamp & Assoc., Cornerstone Communications, Exact Target, Edifice Info. Mgt. Systems, Pacific Northwest Laboratories, etc.

What makes an Informatics graduate distinctive?

Informatics students blend strong technology skills with a traditional liberal arts foundation. They are problem-solvers who understand the broader context for learning and how it applies in the world beyond technology. Many Informatics graduates are familiar with the content side of business and with business processes, especially as they relate to the use of IT.

Why do employers choose Informatics grads?

In reviewing the comments from the graduates as to what the employers were attracted to, most cited their combination of technical IT skills along with knowledge of the cognate area, but especially appreciated the communications training and opportunity to work on real life projects in a team environment in their capstone course.

What kinds of salaries are Informatics graduates commanding?

At graduation, the class of 2005 reported an average salary of $43,000 and 54% were employed or continuing their education at the time of graduation. This latter figure compares to an average nationwide of those graduating in May of only 33% employed at the time of graduation.

What is the research focus of Informatics faculty?

The School of Informatics has three main areas of research focus:

Human-centered informatics examines the interaction of technology and society.
Domain-centered informatics aids disciplines like medicine, security, chemistry, and even music that can benefit from information technology. Examples of these include bioinformatics and cybersecurity.
Technology-centered informatics is oriented toward software and hardware. This is the area most commonly referred to as computer science.