Undergraduate Programs

Certificates & Minors

The undergraduate minors or certificate allows a student majoring in another school to get appropriate training in informatics and obtain certification as someone who knows how to apply informatics tools to that subject area. Students may obtain a maximum of three minors.

** Equivalent honors versions of regular courses may substitute throughout the certificate or minor. **

Certificate in Informatics

Students must be an IU admitted degree-seeking student and certificate will be awarded concurrently or after an IU degree.

Students may obtain an area certificate in Informatics by successfully completing 8 courses.  INFO-I 101 must be completed with a minimum grade of C.  A minimum grade of C- in all other courses with an overall certificate GPA of 2.0 is required.

Required Courses:

  • INFO-I 101 Introduction to Informatics (minimum grade of C required in this course)
  • INFO-I 201 Mathematical Foundations of Informatics
  • INFO-I 202 Social Informatics
  • INFO-I 210 Information Infrastructure I
  • INFO-I 211 Information Infrastructure II
  • INFO-I 300 Human-Computer Interaction Design and Programming
  • INFO-I 308 Information Representation

In addition, students must take one course from the list of informatics electives (list can be found under the BS Informatics area, SoIC Degree and Major Requirements).  CSCI majors may not count upper level CSCI courses in this certificate if used in major requirements.

Minor in Informatics

Students may obtain a minor in Informatics by successfully completing five courses totaling a minimum of 17 credit hours. At least two of the five courses must be at the 300/400 level.  INFO-I 101 must be completed with a minimum grade of C.  A minimum grade of C- in all other courses with an overall minor GPA of 2.0 is required.

Required Course:

  • INFO-I 101 Introduction to Informatics (minimum grade of C required in this course)

A programming course selected from the following:

  • INFO-I 210 Information Infrastructure I
  • CSCI-A 201 Introduction to Programming I
  • CSCI-C 211 Introduction to Computer Science

Three additional Informatics courses.

  • At least two of these courses must be at the 300/400 level. Excludes INFO-I 110, I 111, I 130, T 100, Y 100 and Y 395. Independent study, internship and capstone courses may only be counted with approval of the Director of Undergraduate Studies.
Minor in Human-Centered Computing

Students may obtain a minor in Human-Centered Computing by successfully completing a minimum of 15 credit hours. INFO-I 101 must be completed with a minimum grade of C.  A minimum grade of C- in all other courses with an overall minor GPA of 2.0 is required.

The minor introduces students with little or no background in computing to the social, cultural, ethical and organizational dimensions of computing and information technology, as well as the role of design in the creation of new technology.


For Informatics Majors:
Select five courses from the following:

  • CSCI-A 216 Digital Multimedia Concepts and Technologies
  • INFO-I 303 Organizational Informatics
  • INFO-I 310 Multimedia Arts and Technology
  • INFO-I 330 Legal and Social Informatics of Security
  • INFO-I 356 Globalization, Where We Fit In
  • INFO-I 441 Human-Computer Interaction Design I
  • INFO-I 453 Computer and Information Ethics
  • Approved topic in INFO-I 399 or I 400

For non-Informatics Majors:

Required Courses:

  • INFO-I 101 Introduction to Informatics (minimum grade of C required in this course) OR CSCI-A 110 Introduction to Computers and Computing
  • INFO-I 202 Social Informatics
  • INFO-I 300 Human-Computer Interaction Design and Programming

Select two courses from the following:

  • CSCI-A 216 Digital Multimedia Concepts and Technologies
  • INFO-I 303 Organizational Informatics
  • INFO-I 310 Multimedia Arts and Technology
  • INFO-I 330 Legal and Social Informatics of Security
  • INFO-I 356 Globalization, Where We Fit In
  • INFO-I 441 Human-Computer Interaction Design I
  • INFO-I 453 Computer and Information Ethics
  • Approved topic in INFO-I 399 or I 400
Minor in Information Technology

Computer Science majors may not claim this minor.

Students may obtain a minor in Information Technology by successfully completing a minimum of 15 credit hours.  A minimum grade of C- in each course and an overall minor GPA of 2.0 is required.

  • CSCI-A 338 Network Technologies and Administration
  • CSCI-C 211 Introduction to Computer Science and CSCI-C 212 Introduction to Software Systems
    OR
  • CSCI-A 201 Introduction to Programming I and CSCI-A 202 Introduction to Programming II

Select one course from the following:

  • CSCI-A 216 Digital Multimedia Concepts and Technologies
  • CSCI-A 321 Computing Tools for Scientific Research
  • CSCI-A 348 Mastering the World Wide Web
  • 3 CSCI-A 290 Tools for Computing (if not part of a CSCI-A 202 course - see advisor for this exception)   
Minor in Security Informatics

Students may obtain a minor in Security Informatics by successfully completing a minimum of 16 credit hours.  A minimum grade of C- in each course and an overall minor GPA of 2.0 is required.

The minor is an appropriate addition for students interested in gaining significant exposure to issues, challenges and techniques relevant to computer based security.

Required Courses:

  • INFO-I 130 Introduction to Cybersecurity
  • INFO-I 230 Analytical Foundations of Security
  • INFO-I 231 Math Foundations of Cybersecurity   

Select three courses from the following:

  • INFO-I 330 Legal and Social Informatics of Security
  • INFO-I 400 Topics in Informatics (when security related, approval required)
  • INFO-I 430 Security for Networked Systems
  • INFO-I 433 Systems & Protocol Security & Information Assurance
  • INFO-I 453 Computer and Information Ethics  
Minor in Computer Science

Students may obtain a minor in Computer Science by successfully completing a minimum of 15 credit hours.  A minimum grade of C- in each course and an overall minor GPA of 2.0 is required.

  • CSCI-C 211 Introduction to Computer Science
  • CSCI-C 212 Introduction to Software Systems
  • CSCI-C 241 Discrete Structures for Computer Science
  • CSCI-C 335 Computer Structures OR CSCI-C 343 Data Structures   
Outside Minors

Students may pursue minors and certificates in other schools. Up to three minors may appear on the student's Indiana University transcript.  Many cognates automatically complete minor requirements, including: Biology; Chemistry; Communication and Culture; Computer Science; Economics; Environmental Management; Geography; Health Systems Administration; Human-Centered Computing; Information Technology; Mathematics; Medical Sciences (if cognate GPA is 2.7); Philosophy of Mind and Cognition; Policy Studies; Psychology; Public Finance; Security; Telecommunications (all options);

For outside minor requirements, refer to the bulletin of the school offering the minor.  The department offering the minor defines the requirements for the minor. Students are required to follow the department's rules regarding grades, prerequisites and course requirements.

Academic Bulletins

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