Degree Requirements
Master of Science in Bioinformatics, IUB/IUPUI (36 cr.)
Master of Science in Chemical Informatics, IUB/IUPUI (36 cr.)
The Master of Science in Health Informatics, IUPUI (36 cr.)
Master of Science in Human Computer Interaction, IUB (36 cr.)
Informatics Graduate Course Descriptions
Master of Science in Media Arts and Science
New Media Graduate Course Descriptions
Bioinformatics is a pure and an applied science dealing with the collection, management, analysis and dissemination of biological data and knowledge, especially with respect to genetics and molecular biology. A Master of Science in Bioinformatics addresses needs for education in this rapidly growing field of bioinformatics. This is an interdisciplinary program at the Bloomington and Indianapolis campuses, involving faculty from the departments of biology, computer science, chemistry, library and information science, and others.
The end of the twentieth century saw an explosion of data discovered from living organisms, especially in areas of molecular biology and genetics. The goal of bioinformatics is to deal with this flood of data, organize it as comprehensible information, and turn it into useful knowledge. For example, the flow of information from the Human Genome Project will revolutionize medical practice and biological research in this century, and enable an understanding of most inherited diseases. Study of the genomic code, coupled with new understanding of its organization, regulation and function in cells, and in development of organisms, is forming the basis for designing new treatments for many diseases and for understanding and modulating health problems associated with aging. Genome information is quickly becoming the basis for designing new drugs. It is also central to the improvement of genomes of economically important crops and animals.
Experienced bioinformaticians are limited in number, while the need for them in industry, academe, and government has grown rapidly. Full understanding and application of this new data requires a large body of intelligent, creative, and experienced scientists with a firm understanding of both computation and biology. There is a current and projected shortage of such people and a pressing need for educational institutions to teach bioinformatics. In the mid-1990s, biosciences industries discovered the importance of bioinformatics to their goals and quickly stripped academic centers of many experts who would normally serve to educate a new generation of students. New directions following the unraveling of the genomic code also point to greatly increased information flow and an increasing scale in the application of computing methods to biosciences.
The IUPUI and IUB campuses are well suited for offering graduate education in bioinformatics. At IUPUI, the Department of Computer and Information Science and the Department of Biology in the School of Science collaborate closely with the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and other departments in the School of Medicine. Many ongoing projects funded by federal agencies need the knowledge and technology of bioinformatics. The Department of Computer and Information Science has obtained funds from the Research Laboratories at Eli Lilly and Company for research in bioinformatics. Individual faculty members in the Department of Computer and Information Science and the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology are also engaged in a research initiative in Bioinformatics at IUPUI.
At IUB, the Department of Biology has a strong, highly respected faculty and is the center for internationally recognized bioinformatics projects, including the popular IUBio Archive of biology software and data. This department is home to the FlyBase Drosophila genome informatics project, which is recognized as one of the most technologically advanced databases of the Human Genome Project. New bioinformatics initiatives at IUB include areas of phylogenetics, genomics and microarray data processing.
General Requirements for the M.S. in Bioinformatics
This curriculum includes a set of core and elective courses covering concepts and training in bioinformatics, biosciences and informatics, and computer sciences. A primary goal of this curriculum is to provide scientists with a strong foundation in the areas of computation/informatics and biology, though their primary focus may be in one or the other area. The integration of knowledge from biology, computing, mathematics, and related areas will receive particular emphasis. Students with different levels of background in biology, computing, and informatics sciences are encouraged to apply. Students with academic deficiencies will address these through individually planned programs of suggested course work. Students will gain experience in the applications of computing methods to biology information by completing course work and non-classroom original research projects. These projects will be supervised jointly by informatics and biosciences faculty.
Prerequisites
Prospective students for graduate study in bioinformatics will be expected to have introductory background in both informatics and biology. Students need approximately 6 undergraduate credit hours of coursework in biology, covering areas of molecular biology, genetics, and evolution. Students need approximately 6 undergraduate credit hours of computer science or informatics coursework, covering areas of programming, discrete structures, and data structures. Students not having completed these prerequisites may need to take appropriate undergraduate courses to ensure regular progress through the program.
To receive the master's degree, the applicant must be admitted as a graduate student and complete 36 credits in bioinformatics-related courses accepted for graduate credit, including 9 hours of core courses, 21 hours of electives and 6 hours of project or thesis credit. The following courses may be used for this:
Core Courses, IUB (9 cr.)
INFO I501 Introduction to Informatics (3 cr.)
INFO I502 Information Management (3 cr.), P: INFO I501
Choose one from among the following:
BIOL L519 Bioinformatics: Theory and Application (3 cr.)
BIOL L529 Bioinformatics in Molecular Biology and Genetics: Practical Applications (4 cr.)
INFO I531 Seminar in Bioinformatics (1-3 cr.)
INFO I552 Independent Study in Bioinformatics (1-3 cr.)
Core Courses, IUPUI (9 cr.)
CSCI 548 Topics: Introduction to Bioinformatics (3 cr.)
INFO I501 Introduction to Informatics (3 cr.)
INFO I502 Information Management (3 cr.)
Electives, IUB (21 cr.)
BIOL L505 Molecular Biology of Evolution (3 cr.)
BIOL L521 Problems in Genetics-Higher Organisms (3 cr.)
BIOL L585 Molecular Genetics (3 cr.)
BIOL L586 Cell Biology (4.5 cr.)
BIOL L587 Developmental Biology (4.5 cr.)
BIOL Z540 Genetics of Populations (3 cr.)
CHEM C571 Chemical Information Technology (3 cr.)
CHEM C572 Computational Chemistry and Molecular Modeling (3 cr.)
CHEM C581 Function and Structure of Macromolecules (3 cr.)
CHEM C687 Seminar: Computing Methods in Biochemistry (3 cr.)
CSCI A504 Introductory C++ Programming (2 cr.)
CSCI A506 Obect-Oriented Programming in C++ (2 cr.)
CSCI A546 User-Interface Programming (2 cr.)
CSCI A547 Network Technologies and Administration (2 cr.)
CSCI A548 Mastering the World Wide Web (2 cr.)
CSCI A591 Introduction to Computer Science (3 cr.)
CSCI A592 Introduction to Software Systems (3 cr.)
CSCI A594 Data Structures (3 cr.)
CSCI A596 Programming Languages (3 cr.)
CSCI A597 Introduction to Programming I (3 cr.)
CSCI A598 Introduction to Programming II (3 cr.)
CSCI B503 Algorithms Design and Analysis (3 cr.)
CSCI B521 Programming Language Principles (3 cr.)
CSCI B538 Networks and Distributed Computing (3 cr.)
CSCI B551 Elements of Artificial Intelligence (3 cr.)
CSCI B561 Advanced Database Concepts (3 cr.)
CSCI B581 Advanced Computer Graphics (3 cr.)
CSCI P536 Advanced Operating Systems (3 cr.)
CSCI P565-P566 Software Engineering I-II (6 cr.)
CSCI P573 Scientific Computing (3 cr.)
MATH M566 Mathematical Statistics I (3 cr.)
MATH M567 Mathematical Statistics II (3 cr.)
SLIS L505 Organization and Representation of Knowledge and Information (3 cr.)
SLIS L542 Introduction to Human Computer Interaction (3 cr.)
SLIS L544 Information Technology Standardization (3 cr.)
SLIS L578 User Interface Design for Information Systems (3 cr.)
SPEA E555 Topics in Environmental Sciences (3 cr.)
Electives, IUPUI (21 cr.)
BIOL 484 Cellular Biochemistry (3 cr.)
BIOL 507 Molecular Biology (3 cr.)
BIOL 540 Topics in Biotechnology (3 cr.)
BIOL 548 Techniques in Biotechnology (3 cr.)
BIOL 641 Microbial Genetics (2 cr.)
CSCI 503 Operating Systems (3 cr.)
CSCI 504 Concepts in Computer Organization (3 cr.)
CSCI 506 Management of the Software Development Process (3 cr.)
CSCI 507 Object-Oriented Design and Programming (3 cr.)
CSCI 520 Computational Methods in Analysis (3 cr.)
CSCI 536 Computer Networks (3 cr.)
CSCI 541 Database Systems (3 cr.)
CSCI 542 Distributed Database Systems (3 cr.)
CSCI 565 Programming Languages (3 cr.)
CSCI 580 Analysis of Algorithms (3 cr.)
CSCI 590 Artificial Intelligence (3 cr.)
CSCI 590 Data Mining (3 cr.)
CSCI 695 M.S. Project (3-6 cr.)
CSCI 698 Research M.S. Thesis (6-9 cr.)
GRAD G865 Fundamental Molecular Biology (2-5 cr.)
MGEN Q580 Basic Human Genetics (3 cr.)
MGEN Q630 Genetics of Populations (3 cr.)
STAT 511 Statistical Methods I (3 cr.)
STAT 514 Designs of Experiments (3 cr.)
Project/Thesis, IUB/IUPUI (6 cr.)
Students must perform an independent research project and produce a report or thesis for public defense. The project might consist of a research paper, a designed artifact, or other appropriate deliverable format.
INFO I692 Thesis/Project in Bioinformatics (1-6 cr.)
Return to Top
The size of the information problem in chemistry is staggering. It can be judged from the fact that Chemical Abstracts Service adds over 700,000 new compounds to its database annually. Massive amounts of physical and chemical property data are generated each year for new and existing chemical substances. The avalanche of data can bury a chemical research project unless chemists find ways to cope with it. Fortunately, those trained in chemical informatics provide the tools to acquire, organize, and evaluate data, yielding new insights for further chemical research. Chemical informatics companies combine molecular simulation and data analysis techniques with high-quality graphical visualization to obtain stunning results. Chemical informatics thus helps chemists investigate new problems and organize and analyze scientific data to develop novel compounds, materials, and processes through the application of information technology.
The curriculum for a Master of Science in Chemical Informatics in the School of Informatics, developed jointly by IUB and IUPUI, educates students in the following major aspects of chemical informatics:
- Information Acquisition: Methods used for generating and collecting data empirically (experimentation) or from theory (molecular simulation)
- Information Management: Storage and retrieval of information
- Information Use: Data analysis, correlation, and application to problems in the chemical and biochemical sciences.
Prerequisites
Prospective students for graduate study in chemical informatics will be expected to have training in both informatics and chemistry. If sufficient background has not been completed, some additional coursework may be necessary to ensure progress through the program.
Students with a Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science, Informatics, or Other Information Fields
Students with a B.S. in any information-based field will require approximately 22 undergraduate credit hours of coursework in chemistry to provide sufficient background for coursework required to study for the M.S. in Chemical Informatics. This includes:
General Chemistry with laboratory (two semesters)
Organic Chemistry (two semesters)
Biological Chemistry or Biochemistry (one semester)
Physical Chemistry (one semester)
Students with a Bachelor's Degree in Chemistry (B.A. or B.S.)
Students with undergraduate degrees in chemistry (typically 25 or more credits in chemistry or biochemistry courses) will need some preparative work in informatics. Four or more credits in formal informatics coursework, computer science courses relevant to informatics, or bioinformatics or chemical informatics coursework will provide the necessary background for graduate study. Students not having completed this study may need to take appropriate undergraduate courses to ensure regular progress through the program.
Core Courses, IUB/IUPUI (6 cr.)
INFO I501 Introduction to Informatics (3 cr.)
INFO I502 Information Management (3 cr.), P: INFO I501
Core Courses, IUB (6 cr.)
CHEM C571 Chemical Information Technology (3 cr.)
CHEM C572 Computational Chemistry and Molecular Modeling (3 cr.)
Core Courses, IUPUI (6 cr.)
CHEM 696 Special Topics in Chemistry (3 cr.) Course content changes each semester. Students register for 3 credit hours for two semesters.
Electives, IUB (18 cr., at least 6 of which must be in chemistry or biochemistry)
Some of the following courses may also be offered at IUPUI; check current course schedules.
Biology
BIOL L505 Molecular Biology of Evolution (3 cr.)
BIOL L519 Bioinformatics: Theory and Application (3 cr.)
BIOL L529 Bioinformatics in Molecular Biology and Genetics: Practical Applications (4 cr.)
BIOL L585 Molecular Genetics (3 cr.)
BIOL M400 Biomedical Sciences Documentation (1 cr.)
BIOL Z540 Genetics of Populations (3 cr.)
Biochemistry
CHEM C484 Biomolecules and Catabolism (3 cr.)
CHEM C485 Biosynthesis and Physiology (3 cr.)
CHEM C581 Function and Structure of Macromolecules (3 cr.)
CHEM C687 Computing Methods in Biochemistry (3 cr.)
Analytical Chemistry
CHEM C315 Chemical Measurements Laboratory I (3 cr.)
CHEM C317 Equilibria and Electrochemistry (2 cr.)
CHEM C318 Spectrochemistry and Separations (2 cr.)
CHEM C501 Chemical Instrumentation (4 cr.)
CHEM C502 Spectroscopic Methods in Inorganic Chemistry (3 cr.)
CHEM C503 Spectrometric Methods of Structure Determination (3 cr.)
CHEM C613 Mass Spectrometry and Stable Isotopes (1.5-3 cr.)
Inorganic Chemistry
CHEM C430 Inorganic Chemistry (3 cr.)
Organic Chemistry
CHEM C343 Organic Chemistry Laboratory I (2 cr.)
CHEM C344 Organic Chemistry Laboratory II (2 cr.)
CHEM C540 Advanced Organic Chemistry (3 cr.)
CHEM C543 Organic Reactions (3 cr.)
CHEM C644 Physical Organic Chemistry (1-3 cr.)
Physical Chemistry
CHEM C362 Physical Chemistry of Molecules (3 cr.)
CHEM C364 Introduction to Basic Measurements (3 cr.)
CHEM C460 Nuclear Chemistry (3 cr.)
CHEM C561 Atomic and Molecular Quantum Theory (3 cr.)
CHEM C562 Computational Quantum Chemistry (3 cr.)
Informatics
CHEM C578 Seminar in Chemical Informatics (1-3 cr.)
INFO I503 Social Impact of Information Technologies (3 cr.)
Computer Science
CSCI A504 Introductory C++ Programming (2 cr.)
CSCI A506 Object Oriented Programming in C++ (3 cr.)
CSCI A547 Network Technologies and Administration (3 cr.)
CSCI A548 Mastering the World Wide Web (2 cr.)
CSCI A597 Introduction to Programming I (3 cr.)
CSCI A598 Introduction to Programming II (3 cr.)
CSCI B503 Algorithms Design and Analysis (3 cr.)
CSCI B521 Programming Language Principles (3 cr.)
CSCI B538 Networks and Distributed Computing (3 cr.)
CSCI B561 Advanced Database Concepts (3 cr.)
CSCI B581 Advanced Computer Graphics (3 cr.)
CSCI B673 Advanced Scientific Computing (3 cr.)
CSCI P536 Advanced Operating Systems (3 cr.)
CSCI P565-P566 Software Engineering I-II (6 cr.)
Library and Information Science
SLIS L505 Organization and Representation of Knowledge and Information (3 cr.)
SLIS L542 Introduction to Human Computer Interaction (3 cr.)
SLIS L544 Information Technology Standardization (3 cr.)
SLIS L561 The Information Industry (1-3 cr.)
SLIS L570 Online Information Retrieval (3 cr.)
SLIS L571 Information Networking (3 cr.)
SLIS L576 Digital Libraries (3 cr.)
SLIS L578 User Interface Design for Information Systems (3 cr.)
Statistics
MATH M566 Mathematical Statistics I (3 cr.)
MATH M567 Mathematical Statistics II (3 cr.)
PSY P536 Theory of Tests and Measurements (3 cr.)
Other Courses
COGS Q550 Models in Cognitive Science (3 cr.)
MUS U522 Electronic Text Processing and Distribution (3 cr.)
Electives, IUPUI (18 cr., at least 6 of which must be in chemistry or biochemistry)
Biochemistry
BIOC B807 Enzyme Chemistry (3 cr.)
BIOC G865 Fundamentals of Molecular Biology (3 cr.)
BIOL K484 Cellular Biochemistry (3 cr.)
BIOL 507 Molecular Biology (3 cr.)
CHEM 533 Introduction to Biochemistry (3 cr.)
CHEM 636 Biochemistry (3 cr.)
CSCI 548 Introduction to Bioinformatics (3 cr.)
Analytical Chemistry
CHEM 621 Advanced Analytical Chemistry (3 cr.)
CHEM 629 Chromatography (3 cr.)
CHEM 696 Chemometrics (3 cr.)
Organic Chemistry
CHEM 651 Advanced Organic Chemistry (3 cr.)
CHEM 652 Synthetic Organic Chemistry (3 cr.)
Physical Chemistry
CHEM 575 Intermediate Physical Chemistry (3 cr.)
CHEM 672 Quantum Chemistry (3 cr.)
CHEM 675 Chemical Kinetics (3 cr.)
CHEM 696 Introduction to Computational Chemistry (3 cr.)
Computer Science
CSCI 542 Distributed Database Systems (3 cr.)
CSCI 590 Artificial Intelligence (3 cr.)
CSCI 590 Data Mining (3 cr.)
New Media
NEWM N502 Digital Media Motion and Simulation Methods (3 cr.)
NEWM N504 Advanced Interactive Design Application (3 cr.)
Project/Thesis or Internship, IUB, IUPUI (6 cr. taken in year two)
As a capstone experience, students will complete 6 credits of research, a project, or an internship under the guidance of a chemistry faculty member.
INFO I693 Informatics Thesis/Project (1-6 cr.)
Return to Top
The School of Informatics offers a Master of Science in Health Informatics at IUPUI to address needs emanating from the rapidly changing health care environment. Research and educational programs in medical, nursing, and health informatics are growing at a rapid rate nationally. This can be attributed in large part to the increasing complexity and importance of health care reimbursement, which has created a need for improved classification, storage, and analysis of medical information to establish best clinical practice and cost efficiency. Users of health informatics include clinicians, researchers, health care educators, health organization administrators, health policy analysts, health information administrators, quality improvement directors, and chief information officers. Those who are professionally involved in health informatics work in a variety of settings, including acute care hospitals, managed care organizations, consulting firms, claims and reimbursement organizations, accounting firms, home health care agencies, long-term care facilities, corrections facilities, pharmaceutical companies, behavioral health organizations, insurance companies, state and federal health care agencies, and health computing industries.
The IUPUI campus is uniquely suited to conduct graduate education in health informatics through its health schools, research centers, and affiliated academic units. The School of Medicine has a long history of fellowship training and research in medical informatics. The School of Allied Health Sciences offers an undergraduate degree in health information administration. This baccalaureate program prepares professionals to plan and manage health information systems. The curriculum is grounded in computer systems, health law, medical documentation, and organizational management. The School of Nursing, which is the largest in the country, is in the forefront in the development of nursing informatics, with a particular emphasis on consumer health informatics. The School of Library and Information Science offers master's and doctoral degrees in information science, which are distinguished by their sociotechnical orientation. The school also has a broad research thrust exploring the interconnection of social, behavioral, and technological issues associated with the use of information and communication technologies. The Department of Computer and Information Science offers a master's degree in Computer Science with a specialization in databases and data mining. The department supports the computer science requirements of the M.S. in Health Informatics. Faculty in the department are externally funded to conduct research in medical informatics and bioinformatics. Other academic programs at Indianapolis and Bloomington in public health, applied health sciences, and hospital administration offer important supporting course work.
General Requirements for the M.S. in Health Informatics
To receive the Master of Science in Health Informatics, students must complete 36 credit hours of prescribed courses. In addition to core courses, students choose, in consultation with advisors, a set of concentration electives. Examples of concentration areas include:
1) knowledge-based health care information,
2) health services informatics, and 3) clinical databases.
Knowledge-based health care information focuses on the storage, organization, evaluation, and dissemination of health and medical knowledge (e.g., textbooks, journals, other media, and information) to support evidence-based practice and patient education. End-users of knowledge-based health care information include clinicians, patients, health educators, and health planners.
Health services informatics focuses on information management in health care systems and addresses such diverse needs as patient flow, resource allocation, billing, and compiling and reporting of data. This involves developing information systems for processing and storing clinical data, complying with medical documentation requirements of accrediting and governmental agencies, and setting health information policies.
Clinical databases focuses on the storage of medical data and linkage of electronic systems. Study in this concentration would be based on an electronic medical record system which would include existing standards and coding, links between health-related databases, and data extraction for clinical care and management. Research would be oriented to using such databases to learn more about disease and health maintenance (e.g., clinical epidemiology, pharmacoepidemiology, public health informatics, and nursing informatics).
Prerequisites (12 cr.)
All students applying for the M.S. in Health Informatics should have prerequisite courses or equivalencies in the following areas:
Anatomy, biology, or physiology
(200-level or higher)
Computer Science CSCI N301
Medical Terminology
Statistics |
3 cr.
3 cr.
3 cr.
3 cr. |
To receive a master's degree, the applicant must be admitted as a graduate student and complete 36 credits in health informatics-related courses numbered 500 or above as listed below. The following courses are offered at IUPUI; courses may also be taken at IUB with approval of the advisor.
Core Courses (15 cr.)
All of the following are required:
INFO I501 Introduction to Informatics (3 cr.)
INFO I502 Information Management (3 cr.), P: INFO I501
INFO I503 Social Impact of Information Technologies (3 cr.)
INFO I530 Seminar in Health Informatics Applications (3 cr.)
Choose one of the following:
PBHL G651 Biostatistics for Public Health (3 cr.)
NURS R505 Measurement and Data Analysis (3 cr.)
SPEA H518 Public Health Statistics (3 cr.)
Electives (15 cr.)
Electives may be selected from existing graduate courses in numerous schools and other academic units, depending on student need. Of these 15 credit hours, 9 credit hours must be selected from the list of informatics and computer science courses. (This list is neither exhaustive nor exclusive.) In consultation with their advisors, students will have wide latitude in choosing appropriate courses.
Informatics and Computer Science
CSCI 503 Operating Systems (3 cr.)
CSCI 504 Concepts in Computer Organization (3 cr.)
CSCI 536 Computer Networks (3 cr.)
CSCI 541 Database Systems (3 cr.)
CSCI 542 Distributed Database Systems (3 cr.)
CSCI 565 Programming Languages (3 cr.)
CSCI 590 Topics: Artificial Intelligence (3 cr.)
NURS T619 Computer Technologies (3 cr.)
SLIS L542 Introduction to Human Computer Interaction (3 cr.)
SLIS L570 Online Information Retrieval (3 cr.)
SLIS L571 Information Networking (3 cr.)
SLIS L574 Communication in Electronic Environments (3 cr.)
SPEA H628 Healthcare Information Systems (3 cr.)
SPEA V516 Public Management Information Systems (3 cr.)
SPEA V519 Database Management Systems (3 cr.)
SPEA V611 Design of Information Systems (3 cr.)
SPEA V613 Implementation of Information Systems (3 cr.)
Design, Measurement, and Evaluation
AHLT W520 Research Methodology for Allied Health (3 cr.)
AHLT W570 Research Communication in Allied Health (3 cr.)
ECON E528 Economic Analysis of Health Care (3 cr.)
NURS L650 Data Analysis for Clinical and Administrative Decision Making (3 cr.)
NURS R500 Nursing Research Methods I (3 cr.)
NURS R600 Nursing Research Methods II (3 cr.)
NURS R601 Instrument Development for Health Behavior I (2 cr.)
NURS R602 Instrument Development for Health Behavior II (2 cr.)
NURS R720 Metanalysis of Health/Illness or Disease/Illness (3 cr.)
NURS T617 Evaluation in Nursing (3 cr.)
PBHL G652 Biostatistics II (3 cr.)
SPEA H517 Managerial Epidemiology (3 cr.)
SPEA H521 Management Sciences for Health Services Administration (3 cr.)
SPEA H615 Strategic Management, Decision Making, and Evaluation II (3 cr.)
SPEA V541 Benefit-Cost Analysis of Public and Environmental Policies (3 cr.)
Health Sciences
AHLT W510 Trends and Issues in Allied Health (3 cr.)
AHLT W560 Topics: Patient-Centered Outcomes Research (3 cr.)
HPER C501 Program Planning in Public Health Education (3 cr.)
HPER C515 Health Education in Clinical Settings (3 cr.)
NURS M560 Teaching Strategies to Promote Client Functioning (3 cr.)
PBHL P503 Public Health Community Project (3 cr.)
SOC R515 Sociology of Health and Illness (3 cr.)
SPEA H501 Introduction to Health and Medical Care Organization (3 cr.)
SPEA H503 Health Systems Organization and Management (3 cr.)
Project/Thesis, IUPUI (6 cr.)
As a capstone experience, students will complete either a project, planned in conjunction with their advisor, or a researched-based thesis, supervised by a research advisor and a thesis committee. Core and support faculty from the participating schools will have a wide range of research interests that will provide graduate students with choices relevant to their concentration areas.
INFO I691 Thesis/Project in Health Informatics (1-6 cr.)
Return to Top
Human Computer Interaction (HCI) is the branch of informatics that studies and supports the design, development, and implementation of humanly usable and socially acceptable information technologies. The goal of the field is to shape new media and tools that will support human use, augment human learning, enhance communication and lead to more acceptable technological developments at the individual and the social levels.
Research into HCI draws extensively on mainstream informatics concerns with cognition, communication, representation, and computation. HCI professionals seek to identify the nature and parameters of human information processing at the interface, to design forms of representation that support human interpretation and use of information, to reliably and validly test new technologies for usability and acceptability, and to determine how information technologies change working practices and social activities.
Regular job postings for HCI personnel express a desire for professionals with suitable scientific training in design and evaluation, and increasingly, applied social scientists with technological skills are finding employment in the software industry as HCI professionals. At Indiana University, the HCI program draws faculty from across campus to provide the appropriate blend of multi-disciplinary expertise required to study this new discipline.
General Requirements for the M.S. in Human Computer Interaction (HCI) To receive the master of science degree, the applicant must be admitted as a graduate student and complete 36 credits of graduate study in HCI according to the following schedule:
Core Courses (12 cr.)
INFO I501 Introduction to Informatics (3 cr.)
INFO I502 Information Management (3 cr.), P: INFO I501
SLIS L542 Introduction to HCI (3 cr.)
EDUC Y502 Intermediate Statistics (or equivalent) (3 cr.)
Electives (18 cr.)
Students may choose from among the following, and must take courses from at least two departments.
BUS S601 MIS Research Topics in Applications Systems Design (3 cr.)
BUS S602 MIS Research Topics in Administration and Technology (3 cr.)
CSCI A546 User Interface Programming (3 cr.)
CSCI B581 Advanced Computer Graphics (3 cr.)
CSCI B582 Image Synthesis (3 cr.)
CSCI B665 Software Engineering Management (3 cr.)
CSCI B666 Software Management Implementation (1-3 cr.)
CSCI B669 Topics in Database and Information Systems (1-6 cr.)
CSCI B689 Topics in Graphics and Human-Computer Interaction (1-6 cr.)
CSCI P565-P566 Software Engineering I-II (6 cr.)
EDUC P544 Applied Cognition and Learning Strategies (3 cr.)
EDUC P600 Topical Seminar in Learning Cognition and Instruction (3 cr.)
EDUC R685 Human Computer Interface Design (1-3 cr.)
JOUR J530 Issues in New Communication Technologies (3 cr.)
PSY P450 Human Factors (graduate credit available) (3 cr.)
SLIS L576 Digital Libraries (3 cr.)
SLIS L578 User Interface Design for Information Systems (3 cr.)
SLIS L642 Information Usage and the Cognitive Artifact (HCI II) (3 cr.)
SLIS L697 Advanced Topics in Information Systems (1-4 cr.)
SPHS S522 Digital Signal Processing (3 cr.)
TEL T541 Processes and Effects: Individual Level Theory and Research (3 cr.)
TEL T571 Applied Emotional and Cognitive Psychology Theory (3 cr.)
Project/Thesis, IUB (6 cr.)
Students will perform an independent research project, and produce a report or thesis, a designed artifact, or other appropriate deliverable format for public defense.
INFO I694 Thesis/Project in Human-Computer Interaction (1-6 cr.)
Return to Top
See the complete listing of Graduate Informatics Courses in the Courses section.
Return to Top
The Master of Science degree develops specialized skills and knowledge in new media with the purpose of preparing students to manage and conduct research on Internet and Web environments and multimedia production techniques. Like all new media programs, the masters degree is focused on applied research and application. The course of study is oriented toward professional practice and relies on a theory base drawn from fundamental disciplines which study communication as sight, sound and motion.
Skills and knowledge embedded in this degree program include: web page and multimedia research design, computer programming and database programming, multimedia authoring language skills and data collection, software, multimedia development of audio and video impact on users, digital graphics assessment techniques, and writing and editing of materials for multimedia evaluation and assessment.
The Master of Science in Media Arts and Science includes required courses in new media with specific emphasis of philosophy and principles of the field as well as techniques using technology in communication and cybernetic/human interaction theory. Graduates will be prepared to conduct research in the development and effects of using communication technology in academic, social, and vocational settings. Opportunity will exist within the field for students to conduct applied research in media related disciplines.
Career options include 2D/3D artist, animator, creative technologist, multimedia producer, director of software development, electronic publisher, hypermedia specialist, Internet developer, graphic artist, interactive trainer, music producer, multimedia developer, composer, techno-artist, video/audio editor, webmaster, and web site designer.
Application Procedures
See section on application procedures for informatics.
Admissions Requirements
Students must hold a Bachelor's degree with demonstrated media arts skills. Students must have an overall grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 point scale.
- Students will be required to attend an interview to assess the applicant's computer literacy, personal skills, and professional experience.
- Students must present a portfolio. This can include a multimedia application and/or an original computer software program.
- Students also must submit three letters of recommendation to support the application for admission.
- Arrange for official transcripts to be sent from all colleges and universities attended by the applicant. Transcripts indicating "issued to student" are not considered official. An official transcript bears the original signature of the registrar and/or original seal of the issuing institution. Transcripts should be mailed directly by a registrar, or given to the applicant by the registrar in a sealed and signed envelope. International applicants should refer to the guidelines outlined in the International Graduate Application for Admission form. If the student has not completed all undergraduate course work at the time of application, the admission decision will be based on information available at the time of application. However, a final transcript showing graduation must be submitted before enrollment. Students who have taken course work on any Indiana University campus do not need to submit an Indiana University transcript.
Degree Requirements
The Master of Science degree is a 30 credit-hour program that includes a core of 18 hours and a specialization area of 12 hours. Electives will be available which allow students to specialize in "major field" areas within the new media graduate curriculum.
Required Core Courses (18 hours)
N500 Foundations of Media Arts Production (3 cr.)
N501 TPCS: Principles of Multimedia Technology (3 cr.)
N502 Digital Media Motion and Simulation Methods (3 cr.)
N503 Multimedia Design Applications (3 cr.)
N504 Advanced Interactive Design Applications (3 cr.)
N505 Internship in Media Arts and Technology (3 cr.) or
N506 Media Arts and Technology Major Project (3 cr.)
N510 Web Database Concepts (3 cr.)
Specialization Core Courses (12 hours)
Specialization courses must be selected from the 400 and 500 level courses offered in the schools of: Informatics, Art, Journalism, Music, Library and Information Science, or the departments of Computer Science, and Computer Technology.
Area 1:
Computer Technology
Computer Science
Library Information and Science
New Media
Area 2:
Music
Art
Journalism
New Media
The specialization core MUST be approved by the School of New Media academic advisor and the head of graduate studies PRIOR to enrollment in the courses.
Return to Top
See the complete listing of Graduate New Media Courses in the Courses section.
Return to Top
