School of Sciences

Bachelor of Science in Informatics

Informatics is the study and application of computing and information technology to a particular area or discipline of study. Informatics also considers the use of information and computing technology in organizations and society at large. Information technology (IT) is rapidly changing the world, creating new challenges and opportunities every day. Informatics equips students to study IT, consider its social impact, and find ways to use technology to solve problems. The Informatics program’s aim is to produce qualified IT professionals who understand the ways people work with and use information, and who can develop solutions that are effective and easy-to-use. Informatics emphasizes problem solving, innovation, communication, and teamwork along with technical skills and knowledge.

An informatics degree prepares graduates for a range of positions. Some of the career options include database developer/administrator, bioinformatics, chemical informatics, human-computer interface designer, information architect, IT consultant, multimedia specialist, software developer, system administrator, technical writer, webmaster, etc.

Degree Requirement
  1. Students must complete a minimum of 120 credit hours with a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or higher.
  2. A minimum of 30 credit hours must be taken at the 300 level or above.
  3. Entering freshmen must take SSCI-E 105 Science Freshmen Learning Community (1 cr.).  
  4. General Education. Students must complete all of the requirements of the Indiana University Kokomo campus-wide general education curriculum. The General Education requirements in critical thinking and cultural diversity are satisfied by the major. Courses that fulfill the requirements for a cognate area may also meet the general education distribution requirements. Any course used to meet major requirements may also be used to meet one but not more than one of the general education distribution requirements. Core and the cognate area must be completed with a grade of C- or better. A minimum overall GPA of 2.0 in the informatics core and the cognate area is required. Courses in other departments that are used to fulfill general education requirements or general electives may be completed with any passing grade except ENG-W 131, ENG-W 132, and SPCH-S 121 which require a grade of C. A minimum overall GPA of 2.0 is required for graduation. 
  5. Informatics Courses (40 cr.). INFO-I 101 Introduction to Informatics (4 cr.), INFO-I 201 Mathematical Foundations of Informatics (4 cr.), INFO-I 202 Social Informatics (3 cr.), INFO-I 210 Information Infrastructure I (4 cr.), INFO-I 211 Information Infrastructure II (4 cr.), INFO-I 213 Website Design and Development (3 cr.), INFO-I 300 Human Computer Interaction (3 cr.), INFO-I 303 Organizational Informatics (3 cr.), INFO-I 308 Information Representation, (3 cr.), and INFO-I 356 Globalization (3 cr.), INFO-I 450 Systems Design (3 cr.), and INFO-I 451 Systems Development (3 cr.) (senior standing; capstone courses).
  6. Cognate area courses cannot count as Informatics core courses or Informatics elective courses even if these courses are cross-listed with Informatics. If cognate area courses are equivalent to Informatics core courses, students should substitute additional Informatics elective courses in place of Informatics core courses to meet the 40 credit hour requirement. (See Informatics core courses).
  7. Cognate Areas (15-18 cr.).

Biology
BIOL-L 105 Introduction to Biology (5 cr.)
BIOL-L 211 Molecular Biology (3 cr.) and BIOL-L 213 Molecular Biology Laboratory (2 cr.)
BIOL-L 364 Genetics (3 cr.)
A minimum of 3 cr. credits from the following: BIOL-L 321 Immunology, BIOL-L 367 Cell Physiology, BIOL-L 473 Ecology, MICR-M 310 Microbiology, MICR-M 315 Microbiology Laboratory, PHSL-P 416 Comparative Animal Physiology.

Chemistry
CHEM-C 105 Principles of Chemistry I
CHEM-C 106 Principles of Chemistry II
CHEM-C 341 Organic Chemistry I: Lecture
CHEM-C 400 Chemical information Sources & Services
Choose 2 courses from the following: CHEM-C 342 Organic Chemistry II: Lecture, CHEM-C 310 Analytical Chemistry, CHEM-C 361 Physical Chemistry I, CHEM-C 430 Inorganic Chemistry, CHEM-C 483 Biological Chemistry.

Cognitive Science
Required Courses: PSY-P 103 General Psychology, PSY-P 335 Cognitive Psychology, PHIL-P 100 Introduction to Philosophy.
Select one from the following: PHIL-P 360 Introduction to the Philosophy of the Mind, PHIL-P 304 Nineteenth Century Philosophy, PHIL-P 335 Phenomenology and Existentialism, PHIL-P 352 Logic and Philosophy, Select one from the following: PSY-P 211 Methods of Experimental Psychology, PSY-P 326 Neuroscience, PHIL-P 150 Elementary Logic, Any Philosophy course not selected from 300-level courses listed above.

Mathematics
Required Courses: MATH-M 215 Calculus I, MATH-M 216 Calculus II, MATH-M 311 Calculus III
Select one from the following: MATH-M 303 Linear Algebra for Undergraduates, MATH-M 313 Elementary Differential Equations with Applications, MATH-M 347 Discrete Mathematics, MATH-M 360 Elements of Probability.

New Media
Students are required to take any five New Media Communication courses (i.e., courses with the NMCM prefix). At least two of these courses must be at the 300-level or higher.

Sociology
SOC-S 100 Introduction to Sociology OR SOC-S 101 Social Problems and Policies, SOC-S 252 Methods of Sociological Research, PSY-K 300 Statistical Techniques. Three additional Sociology electives at the 300 – 400 level.

Public Administration
Required Courses: PAHM-V 170 Introduction to Public Affairs. Select three from the following: PAHM-V 263 Public Management, PAHM-V 366 Managing Behavior in Public Organizations, PAHM-V 376 Law and Public Policy

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