Informatics

The minor in informatics prepares students to understand the relationship between information technology and people. The finance, movie, journalism, and pharmaceutical industries are just a few examples of where the use of innovative information technology has radically changed our world, in terms of what is now possible, how humans perform their jobs, and how society has critically reacted and adapted to new realities brought forth by information technology use. Students in the minor learn how existing technologies shape human behavior, society and culture, and are introduced to techniques that will enable them to design future technologies that better fit human and organizational practices.

The minor is ideally suited for students in programs such as film and media studies, education sciences or social policy, and public service, where information technology is an integral part of the profession, but not necessarily the primary focus.

The minor includes course work covering a variety of topics, including programming, software engineering, human computer interaction, and social analysis of computerization. Students completing the minor will gain practical experience in designing and building small software systems, creating novel user interfaces, and examining how information technology affects those around it.

The minor offers flexibility in the courses that students choose to take, and does not require prior programming experience. The minor does have a technical underpinning, however, with core courses that teach students how to program software.

Requirements

NOTE: A maximum of two courses can be taken Pass/Not Pass toward a minor. Bren School majors should refer to the Majors/Minors Restrictions Catalogue section before attempting to minor in Digital Information Systems, Health Informatics, Informatics, or Software Engineering. Students who are considering a major in Informatics must complete the major requirements for a letter grade.