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 Requirements

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 HSS-A 101 Student Success Seminar (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.

5.  Mathematics requirement - students must take 6 credit hours consisting of:

• MATH-M 118 Finite Mathematics (3 cr.) or MATH-M 125 Pre-Calculus Mathematics (3 cr.)
• MATH-K 310 Statistical Techniques (3 cr.)

6.  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. A minimum overall GPA of 2.0 is required for graduation.

7.  Informatics Core Courses (43 cr.).

• ENG-W 221 Writing in the Disciplines (3 cr.)
• ENG-W 231 Professional Writing Skills (3 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.)
• INFO-I 450 Systems Design (3 cr.)
• INFO-I 451 Systems Development (3 cr.) (senior standing; capstone courses).

8.  Students enrolled in this degree shall complete no more than 75% of their program requirements through online courses

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 43 credit hour requirement. (See Informatics core courses).

1. Cognate Areas (15-18 cr.). See below. Other courses may be approved for any of the cognate areas by permission.
2. 30 of the last 60 credit hours must be completed at Indiana University Kokomo.

Cognate Areas (15-18 cr.)

Biology

Required Courses:  

• BIOL-L 121 Biology 1 (5 cr.)
• BIOL-L 122 Biology 2 (3 cr.)
• BIOL-L 364 Genetics (3 cr.)

A minimum of 3 cr. credits from the following:

• BIOL-L 321 Human Immunology (3 cr.)
• BIOL-L 367 Cell Physiology (3 cr.)
• BIOL-L 473 Ecology (3 cr.)
• MICR-M 310 Microbiology (3 cr.)
• MICR-M 315 Microbiology Laboratory (2 cr.)
• PHSL-P 416 Comparative Animal Physiology (3 cr.)

Business

• BUS-W 100 Business Administration: Introduction (3 cr.)
• ECON-E 200 Fundamentals of Economics (3 cr.) or ECON-E 201 Introduction of Microeconomics (3 cr.) and ECON-E 202 Introduction of Macroeconomics (3 or 6 cr.)

Choose two courses:  

• BUS-A 201 Introduction to Financial Accounting (3 cr.) or BUS-A 200 Foundations of Accounting (3 cr.)
• BUS-L 201 Legal Environment of Business (3 cr.)
• BUS-K 201 The Computer in Business (3 cr.)

Choose two courses:  

• BUS-D 301 The International Business Environment (3 cr.)
• BUS-K 321 Management of Information Technology (3 cr.)
• BUS-Z 302 Managing and Behavior in Organizations (3 cr.)

Chemistry

Required Courses:  

• CHEM-C 105/125 Principles of Chemistry I (5 cr.)
• CHEM-C 106/126 Principles of Chemistry II (5 cr.)
• CHEM-C 341 Organic Chemistry I: Lecture (3 cr.)
• CHEM-C 342 Organic Chemistry II: Lecture (3 cr.)

Choose 1 course from the following:

• CHEM-C 310 Analytical Chemistry (3 cr.)
• CHEM-C 343 Organic Chemistry I: Laboratory (2 cr.)
• CHEM-C 361 Physical Chemistry I (3 cr.)
• CHEM-C 430 Inorganic Chemistry (3 cr.)

Cognitive Science

Required Courses:

• PHIL-P 100 Introduction to Philosophy (3 cr.)
• PHIL-P 150 Elementary Logic (3 cr.)
• PSY-P 103 General Psychology (3 cr.)
• PSY-P 335 Cognitive Psychology (3 cr.)

Select two from the following:

• PHIL-P 304 Nineteenth-Century Philosophy (3 cr.)
• PHIL-P 306 Business Ethics (3 cr.)
• PHIL-P 335 Phenomenology and Existentialism (3 cr.)
• PHIL-P 352 Logic and Philosophy (3 cr.)
• PHIL-P 360 Introduction to the Philosophy of the Mind (3 cr.)
• PSY-P 259 Introduction to Psychological Inquiry (3 cr.)
• PSY-P 326 Neuroscience (3 cr.)
• PSY-P 355 Experimental Psychology (3 cr.)
• Other 300-/400-level courses in Philosophy and Psychology may be approved (consult with an advisor).

Computer Science

Students are required to take any four of the following courses:

• CSCI-B 438 Computer Networks (4 cr.)
• CSCI-C 311 Programming Languages (3 cr.)
• CSCI-C 343 Data Structure (4 cr.)
• CSCI-C 436 Introduction to Operating Systems (4 cr.)
• CSCI-C 455 Analysis of Algorithms (3-4 cr.)
• 300-/400-level course in Client-Server Programming for the Web (3-4 cr.) (Other CSCI courses may be approved for the cognate by permission).

Environmental and Earth Sciences

Select one from the following list:

• GEOL-G 100 General Geology (5 cr.)
• GEOG-G 107 Physical Systems of the Environment (3 cr.)
• GEOL-G 133 Geology of the United States (5 cr.)

Select four or more courses from the following:

• BIOL-L 473 Ecology (3 cr.)
• CHEM-C 300 Energy and Green Chemistry (4 cr.)
• GEOL-G 300 Environmental Geology and Urban Geology (3 cr.)
• GEOG-G 315 Environmental Conservation (3 cr.)
• GEOL-G 400 Energy: Sources and Needs (3 cr.)
• GEOL-G 421 United States Geology: Field Experience (1-5 cr.)
• GEOL-T 312 Geology of Indiana (3 cr.)
• GEOL-T 326 Geology of Mineral Resources (3 cr.)
• PHYS-P 310 Environnemental Physics (3 cr.)
• SUST-S 305 Topics in Environmental Chemistry (3 cr.)

Mathematics

Required Courses:

• MATH-M 215 Calculus I (5 cr.)
• MATH-M 216 Calculus II (5 cr.)
• MATH-M 311 Calculus III (4 cr.)

Select one from the following:

• MATH-M 303 Linear Algebra for Undergraduates (3 cr.)
• MATH-M 313 Elementary Differential Equations with Applications (3 cr.)
• MATH-M 347 Discrete Mathematics (3 cr.)
• MATH-M 463 Introduction to Probability (3 cr.).

Sociology

• SOC-S 100 Introduction to Sociology (3 cr.) or
• SOC-S 101 Social Problems and Policies (3 cr.)
• SOC-S 252 Methods of Sociological Research (3 cr.). 

Three additional Sociology electives at the 300 – 400 level.

Public Administration

Required Courses:

• CJHS-J 101 American Criminal Justice System (3 cr.).
• PAHM-V 171 Introduction to Public Affairs (3 cr.)

Select three from the following:

• PAHM-V 263 Public Management (3 cr.)
• PAHM-V 372 Government and Finance (3 cr.)
• PAHM-V 373 Human Resources Management (3 cr.)
• PAHM-V 376 Law and Public Policy (3 cr.)
• PAHM-V 412 Leadership and Ethics (3 cr.)

Consult with an advisor for other PAHM courses.