IUPUI Campus Bulletin 2012-2014

Welcome to the IU School of Informatics!

Moore's Law says that computing power doubles every 18 months. Regardless of whether that law is literally correct, it illustrates the rapid changes in information technology that will continue for the foreseeable future. The School of Informatics prepares students to meet the continuing demand for information technology professionals who know how to grow and adapt to this environment of rapid technological change.

Informatics is focused on the best applications of technologies and emphasizes the social and psychological aspects of information technology. Some have called informatics "technology with a human face." Informatics prepares professionals to use information technology to solve problems in a variety of settings. The degrees emphasize the development of new uses for technologies, always keeping in mind the needs of people and the best and most appropriate uses for technology.

Informatics students have:

• a technical understanding of how computing systems and programs operate
• an ability to adapt/assess and apply new trends in information technology (IT)
• well-developed problem-solving skills
• experience working on a team, such as those formed for the senior capstone experience
• well-developed communications skills to clearly convey solutions and observations to others
• an understanding of social and ethical principles as they relate to IT issues
• the ability to create 3-D animations to help explain surgery to patients
• accelerated drug discovery through information technology
• developed computer applications to manage disaster relief
• explored human interactions with computers, mobile devices, and robots

Informatics is all of this - and so much more. Harnessing the power and possibility of technology, Informatics turns data and information into knowledge that people can use every day. In the world of information and technology, it's the bridge to all things useful. Informatics is the future.

Degrees from the School of Informatics are unique because they involve students in learning how information technology relates to a traditional discipline in the sciences, liberal arts, or professions. Students of Informatics learn to solve real problems that directly impact our lives and the lives of those around us. They use their technology and problem solving skills to make a difference in the world. For students interested in a career with infinite potential, Informatics stands out as a strong, flexible and dynamic field of study.

The undergraduate curriculum looks at information technology from a balanced perspective. It includes a technical core in the areas of mathematical foundations, distributed information, human-computer interaction, social/organization informatics, and new media. In addition to knowledge of core informatics and of informatics in the context of a traditional discipline, students must take a set of general-education courses to ensure that they can communicate clearly in both written and spoken English, read effectively, and reason quantitatively. They must be able to raise and rationally debate ethical concerns suggested by information technologies and their interactions with other people. Students also must have some knowledge of the world and its peoples, and their cultural, artistic, and scientific achievements. To this end, the general-education requirement exposes students to the arts and humanities, social and historical studies, and the natural sciences.

The school offers a Bachelor of Science in Informatics degree, specialized professional master's degrees, a variety of undergraduate and graduate programs in New Media, a Bachelor of Science in Health Information Administration, and a certificate in Medical Coding. Informatics research is conducted at the Informatics Research Institute, which provides expanded educational opportunities for both undergraduate and graduate students.

Informatics Research Institute

Research and theory in informatics move rapidly to application and development. The faculty teaching in the School of Informatics participate in research activities and new applications of technology. As a result, faculty can transmit state-of-the-art knowledge to their students. Indiana University is capitalizing on this great research strength in informatics with the formation of the Informatics Research Institute (IRI). IRI conducts research in areas of emphases shared with the School of Informatics, including: fundamental research in human-computer interaction; fundamental research in capturing, managing, analyzing, and explaining information and making it available for its myriad uses; and expanding research into policy and socioeconomic issues arising from information technology.

Undergraduate Programs

The School of Informatics offers a Bachelor of Science degree in Informatics, a Bachelor of Science degree in Media Arts and Science, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Health Information Administration.

The very nature of these degrees, with the changing technologies and applications, requires that the content of each degree be continuously assessed and revised. Therefore, the faculty of the School of Informatics will periodically review and revise the curricula to ensure that students are prepared to meet contemporary workplace and intellectual demands. Please contact the School of Informatics office, or refer to our Web site at www.informatics.iupui.edu, to confirm current program requirements.

Probationary Admission

Individuals who do not qualify for a direct admission or whose college grade point average is lower than 2.0 on a 4.0 scale (C) may petition the school for probationary admission. Special consideration is given to adult learners and students returning after five or more years. Petitions are available from the Informatics Student Services Office, phone (317) 278-4636.

Deadline to petition for the fall semester: July 15
Deadline to petition for spring semester: November 15
Deadline to petition for summer session: April 15

At the discretion of the dean, the School of Informatics may admit on a probationary basis those students who do not meet the minimum requirements for direct admission. To be considered for probationary admission, students must be in the upper two-thirds of their high school graduating class and have combined SAT I math and verbal (critical reading) scores of at least 650. Such students are counseled through the Informatics Student Services Office and remain on probation until they have successfully raised their cumulative grade point average to 2.0 (C) and satisfied any other limitations set. Students admitted on probationary status become eligible for dismissal if they fail to achieve a minimum GPA of 2.3 during each semester until they have reached a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 (C). Students who do not achieve a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 (C) after two semesters, or 24 credit hours, will be dismissed.

Academic Regulations

Absences

From Final Examinations Students are required to adhere to the policies regarding final examinations as published in the Schedule of Classes.

From Scheduled Classes Illness or equivalent distress is the only acceptable excuse for absence from class. Other absences must be explained to the satisfaction of the instructor, who will decide whether omitted work may be made up.

Credit for Correspondence Courses

With prior approval, the School of Informatics will accept a maximum of two courses (6 credit hours total) by correspondence study to count toward the degree requirements. Only general elective courses may be taken by correspondence. Distance learning courses and courses conducted online are not considered correspondence courses and, therefore, do not have a credit hour limit associated with them.

Degree Application

Candidates for graduation must file an application with the school by March 1 for December graduation and October 1 for May, June, or August graduation. Credits for all course work, except that of the current semester, must be recorded on the candidate's Indiana University transcript at least one month prior to the date of graduation.

Statute of Limitations

Candidates for the bachelor's degree in informatics have the right to complete the degree requirements specified by the bulletin in effect at the time they entered Indiana University, provided that the required courses are available and that no more than eight calendar years have elapsed since the date of entry.

Grading Policies

The School of Informatics follows the official grading system of Indiana University described in the front of this Bulletin.

 

Pass/Fail

During an undergraduate program, students in the School of Informatics in good standing (not on probation) may enroll in up to a maximum of eight university elective courses to be taken with a grade of P (pass) or F (fail). Students may take up to two Pass/Fail courses during an academic year. The procedure for declaring this option may be found in the Schedule of Classes. A grade of P is not counted in the grade point average; a grade of F is included. Grades of P cannot be changed to any other letter grade.

Probation/Dismissal/Readmission at School of Informatics

Academic Warning

A student whose semester (fall or spring) grade point average (GPA) falls below a 2.0, but whose cumulative GPA is a 2.0 or higher will be placed on academic warning. An advising hold will be placed on the student’s record and the student will be required to meet with their academic advisor prior to registration. 

Academic Probation

 A student whose cumulative grade point average (GPA) falls below a 2.0 will be placed on probation for the subsequent semester. A probation hold will be placed on the student’s record and the student will be required to meet with their academic advisor prior to registration. Once the cumulative GPA is 2.0 or higher, the student will be removed from probationary status. 

Dismissal

A student on probation who has completed a minimum of 12 IU GPA hours is subject to dismissal if they fail to attain a GPA of at least 2.0 in any two consecutive semesters (fall and spring) and their cumulative IU GPA is below 2.0.

Readmission

Students who are dismissed for the first time must sit out for a minimum of one regular fall or spring semester (not summer) and petition by the established deadlines to be eligible for readmission. Students dismissed two or more times must remain outof school for two regular (fall and spring) semesters and petition by the established deadlines to be eligible for readmission.  Readmitted students may only begin in either the fall or spring semester.

Grade Replacement

The Grade Replacement Policy is available only to undergraduate students. It may be exercised for a maximum of 15 credit hours, no more than two times for a given course, with each attempted replacement counting toward the 15 credit hour limit.  Any grade may be replaced with the last grade earned for the course, as long as the most recent grade is equal to or higher than the grade being replaced. The replaced grade will then be excluded from the cumulative grade point average. However, the course listing and the replaced grade will remain on the student’s academic record with an “X” notation indicating that the grade is excluded from the cumulative grade point average.

 The policy became effective beginning with the fall 1996 semester, and any courses being used to replace an earlier grade must have been taken in the fall of 1996 or later. Grades previously granted FX will be honored and will count toward the 15 credit hour limit. Once invoked, a student may not subsequently request reversal of the grade replacement granted for a given course. Also, this policy is not available for graduate students or students seeking any second undergraduate degree.  Please see your academic advisor to discuss grade replacement and obtain a form. For more information about the policy, visit http://registrar.iupui.edu/replace.html

Informatics Degree Programs

Prior to each semester's enrollment, a faculty member or an academic advisor provides academic counseling for each student in the School of Informatics. Although academic counseling is intended to provide effective guidance, students are responsible for planning their own programs and for meeting the following degree requirements for graduation. Students are advised to read bulletin descriptions of all courses selected, paying careful attention to conditions concerning awarding of credit.