Informatics Program
Informatics studies the design, application, use, and impact of computational principles and technology.
Informatics can enhance a wide range of disciplines that encompass much of human activity. The Informatics program seeks to provide students with the understanding and skills so that they can facilitate such enhancements. Thus, our program has goals that are consistent with recent trends within computing that attempt to link core computing ideas, e.g., computational thinking, to other disciplines.
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With its slant toward computational thinking as applied to other disciplines, our Informatics program is tied significantly to relevant endeavors in other departments. The Informatics / Data Science track consists of a common technical core of six courses, 3 or 4 concentration courses, and 3 or 4 additional electives.
Informatics and BDIC Program
At this writing the Computer Science program does not yet grant degrees in Informatics. However through an arrangement with the BDIC (Bachelor's Degree with Individual Concentration) program, a limited number of students can now pursue an Informatics Track within BDIC, leading to the receipt of a BDIC degree having the intellectual substance of the Informatics degree described above. A Student who completes the Informatics Track through the BDIC program will receive a BDIC degree.
How do I get started?
Interested students should take a look at our list of FAQs and our course offerings for upcoming semesters and make contact with one of the peer advisors or the faculty advisor for the Informatics program. You can also try our course planning tool* designed by Elaina Bliss (Informatics '17), for an estimate of courses that you might still need to complete the major.
Peer Advisors hold open advising hours in the LGRC room 322 through May 1, 2018 (the last day of advising until the start of the fall 2018 semester):
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Elaina Bliss Mondays 4:00-6:00PM |
Kimberly Smith Tuesdays 4:30-6:30pm |
Chief Undergraduate Advisor:
Dr. Michelle Trim
LGRC A 347
mtrim@cs.umass.edu
*Requires Microsoft Excel