University of Washington Informatics Program: An Overview

The University of Washington's (UW) Informatics program is an interdisciplinary field that explores the intersection of people, information, and technology. It prepares students to design, build, manage, and secure information systems that make a difference in society, organizations, and individual lives. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the program, covering its curriculum, admission requirements, learning objectives, and career opportunities.

What is Informatics?

Informatics is an exciting program that blends knowledge from the humanities and STEM for social good. Informatics students drive innovation as they explore the intersection of technology and human values. Informatics students' passion for analyzing and solving problems is reflected in the creativity they bring to the design and creation of information systems, user interfaces, mobile technologies and social media. The Information School explores the relationship between information, technology and people and prepares leaders who embrace the challenges associated with the way we find, store, manipulate, and share information. Graduates are adept at designing and building information systems, they are concerned with issues such as access, privacy, and usability, and they understand the transformative power of information and technology to improve organizations, society, and our individual lives. Informatics is a high-tech, high-touch field that uses information and technology (computers, the Internet, and devices) to make life better - at work, in society, and to improve our individual lives.

Curriculum and Experiential Learning

The Informatics curriculum uses an experiential learning approach that emphasizes problem solving, group work, research, writing, oral presentations, and technology. All informatics courses are designed to produce these outcomes through a rigorous experiential learning approach that emphasizes group work, research, writing, oral presentations, and technology. Students often use their capstone projects to identify interest areas, develop skills, and prepare for future pursuits. Through capstone projects, students demonstrate the skills, understanding, and competencies they can successfully use to prepare for employment and graduate studies.

General Education Requirements

The Informatics program requires students to complete a set of general education requirements, including:

English composition (5 credits)
Reasoning (RSN) (5 credits)
Writing courses (10 credits)
Natural Sciences (NSc) (20 credits)
Social Sciences (SSc) (20 credits)
Arts and Humanities (A&H) (20 credits)
Diversity (DIV) (5 credits). Of Special Note: For students admitted to the University prior to autumn quarter 2023, the DIV requirement is 3 credits. Up to 15 credits of INFO-prefix courses from the University Areas of Inquiry list may be counted toward the UW Areas of Inquiry requirements (NSc; SSc; A&H).

Major Requirements

The major requirements consist of 79-93 credits, depending on the credential/option.

Courses Required for Admission

(13-15 credits, as shown above)

INFO 200
Either CSE 121, CSE 122, CSE 123, CSE 142, CSE 143, CSE 154, CSE 160, CSE 163, INFO 180/STAT 180/CSE 180, or INFO 201
Either STAT 220, STAT 221/CS&SS 221/SOC 221, STAT 290, STAT 311, STAT 390, or QMETH 201

Core Courses

(54-58 credits): minimum 2.0 grade in each course

Exploring Informatics: INFO 201, INFO 290
Studying Information: INFO 300
Developing Information Technology (18-20 credits): one course from CSE 123, CSE 143, or CSE 163; INFO 330, INFO 340; one course from CSE 373, INFO 442, or INFO 443
Designing Information Experiences: INFO 360
Information and Organizations: INFO 380
Information and Society (8-10 credits): two courses at the INFO 350-level

Admission Requirements

Admission to the Informatics program is capacity constrained and based on the following criteria:

Regular Admission INFO 200*; either CSE 121, CSE 122, CSE 123, CSE 142, CSE 143, CSE 154, CSE 160, CSE 163, INFO 180/STAT 180/CSE 180, or INFO 201; either STAT 220, STAT 221/CS&SS 221/SOC 221, STAT 290, STAT 311, STAT 390, or QMETH 201; with a minimum 2.0 grade in each course. Departmentally approved transfer equivalents may be used to substitute for prerequisite courses.
Minimum 2.00 cumulative college GPA.
Overall academic performance
Grades in courses required for admission to the major
Statement reflecting an interest in and commitment to the major and the field of information science
Post-baccalaureate admission not offered for the Informatics degree program
Admission for current upper-division UW students and transfer students occurs twice a year for autumn and winter quarters. The application process begins prior to the admitted quarter.

Application Deadlines

April 5th for admission in autumn quarter.
October 5th for admission in winter quarter.

*Since equivalents to INFO 200 are not common, students who have transferred or will transfer to the UW can apply to the program and be admitted with the provision that they complete INFO 200 with a minimum 2.0 grade before the end of their first year in the program.

First-Year Direct Admission Program (FDAP)

Designed to recruit top high school students to the program and to the UW. Students who indicate an interest in the Informatics program are automatically considered for FDAP participation upon application to the UW. They are evaluated based on careful review of qualitative and quantitative factors, including high school GPA, personal statement, and any additional information provided in their application file.

Read also: History of the Block 'M'

Continuation Policy

All students must make satisfactory academic progress in the major. Failure to do so results in major-level academic notification, major-level warning, and major-level alerts, which can lead to dismissal from the major and being precluded from subsequently declaring the major in a future quarter.

Informatics Minor

The Informatics minor complements a variety of majors on campus by offering students an opportunity to learn about data, design, policy, ethics, and code in order to solve information problems. It may be especially helpful to students in the humanities and social sciences who wish to know more about data, code, design, and policy. The Informatics minor is open (not competitive or capacity-constrained, unlike most UW majors to which students must apply). In order to declare the Informatics minor, students need to have declared a major and should contact the advising staff of their major for the appropriate procedures.

Completion Requirements

Minimum 25 credits
INFO 200, INFO 201 (10 credits)
Upper-division course covering ethics, policy, and/or equity dimensions of information technology.
A minimum grade of 2.0 must be earned in each class being used to fulfill the minor requirements.

Student Outcomes and Opportunities

The informatics program prepares students for a wide range of endeavors in the information field including information management and technology, research and information services, interactive system design, human-computer interaction, and information science. Graduates of the informatics program are qualified for jobs in the information and technology industry and in business, public service, and other professions. Possible job titles include user experience designer, business analyst, consultant, usability engineer, data manager, information architect, web developer, network manager, project manager, and information assurance professional. The program also provides strong preparation for graduate studies. Graduates are successfully placed in prestigious graduate schools and pursue a variety of programs, including information and management science, information science, biomedical informatics, business and accounting, and information technology. Informatics student-learning outcomes include the ability to assess people's information needs and behavior; ability to design information systems to meet people's information needs; ability to work with information technologies (e.g., database, networks, Internet-based, interface design); ability to evaluate the impact of information technologies on people; ability to communicate effectively; ability to manage projects; ability to build working systems; ability to organize and manage information; ability to work effectively individually and as part of a team; and ability to understand the research process and its implication for information systems design and use.

Research, Internships, and Service Learning

Internships are encouraged, but not required. Students participate in a variety of internships, paid and non-paid. A significant number of students also work part-time in Informatics or technology-related positions, and participate in public service. Informatics students are extensively engaged in faculty research and internships. A significant percentage of informatics students participates in the University's Undergraduate Research Symposium each year. Students have co-authored publications with faculty, had their research accepted for presentation at national conference poster sessions, and been recognized with various awards, including the Mary Gates Research Training Endowment for three consecutive years (2001-03).

School Scholarships

The Henry Scholarships, in the amount of approximately $1500 each, are awarded to three second-year majors in recognition for academic achievement, leadership, and service to the School and in professional/student activities. Students to be considered for the award are nominated by the Information School faculty and Undergraduate Program Committee members. The merit-based awards, named after the founder of the school and first director, William Henry, are intended to recognize and honor student achievement.

Read also: Legacy of Fordham University

Student Organizations/Associations

Undergraduates participate in a number of the School's many student organizations, including the UW Informatics Undergraduate Association (IUGA) and the student chapter of the American Society of Information Scientists and Technology (ASIST).

Information School (iSchool) Overview

The Information School (abbreviated as iSchool) is the information school of the University of Washington, a public research university in Seattle, Washington. In 1911, it was a library school founded by Harriet Howe, Josephine Meissner, William E. Henry and Charles W. Name changes include: (1911-1916) Department of Library Economy; (1916-1932) Library School; (1932-1935) Department of Library Science in the Graduate School; (1935-1984) School of Librarianship; and (1984-2001) Graduate School of Library and Information Science. The Information School introduced several new continuing education certificate programs and degree programs in 2000 in response to changes in how people create, store, find, manipulate and share information. Under the leadership of Professor and Dean Emeritus Michael Eisenberg, the Information School introduced the Bachelor of Science in Informatics, online Master of Library and Information Science, Master of Science in Information Management, and Ph.D. in Information Science. The school is in Mary Gates Hall, one of several university buildings bordering Drumheller Fountain.

Degrees Offered

The Information School offers one undergraduate degree: the Bachelor of Science in Informatics. The program touches on privacy issues, ethics, and management, as well as design, search engines, web development, and database design. Students study a broad range of areas in the information field, including: information management and technology, information-related research, interactive system design, human-computer interaction, and information science, with a goal of improving user experiences and technology access. The program's curriculum culminates in a design or research capstone project.

Graduate Programs

Master of Science in Information Management (MSIM): The MSIM program takes a multidisciplinary approach to the management of information systems and policy. It draws on computer science, business, information science, philosophy, design, and law to inform its curriculum.
Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS): The MLIS is the iSchool's oldest degree. It is a professional degree that prepares students for careers in library and information professions. The MLIS program offers two degree options: 1) residential, and 2) online. The program consists of three elements: core courses, electives, and a final degree project. Additionally, the iSchool offers a third MLIS degreeâthe law librarianship master's program, a degree designed to prepare lawyers to serve as law librarians. The program is designed to take 10 months for full-time students and 22 months for part-time students to complete.
Ph.D. in Information Science: The Ph.D. program is designed to prepare students for careers in research and teaching.

Courses Offered

The Information School offers a wide range of courses covering various aspects of informatics, including:

INFO 102 Gender and Information Technology
INFO 103 Social Media, Ethics, and Automation
INFO 108 Music and Information
INFO 110 AI: Foundations and Society
INFO 180 Introduction to Data Science
INFO 198 Exploring Informatics
INFO 200 Intellectual Foundations of Informatics
INFO 201 Foundational Skills for Data Science
INFO 270 Data Reasoning in a Digital World
INFO 290 Orientation to Informatics
INFO 300 Research Methods
INFO 310 Information Assurance and Cybersecurity
INFO 312 Enterprise Risk Management
INFO 314 Computer Networks and Distributed Applications
INFO 330 Databases and Data Modeling
INFO 331 Introduction to Information Architecture
INFO 340 Client-Side Development
INFO 351 Information Ethics and Policy
INFO 352 Race, Gender, and Information
INFO 353 Indigenous Ways of Knowing in the Digital World
INFO 354 Data Justice
INFO 355 Information Policy Design
INFO 356 Moral Reasoning and Interaction Design
INFO 357 The Record of Us All
INFO 358 Exploring Information Science Through Popular Culture
INFO 360 Design Methods
INFO 362 Visual Information Design
INFO 365 Mobile Application Design
INFO 370 Core Methods in Data Science
INFO 371 Advanced Methods in Data Science
INFO 376 Introduction to Search and Recommender Systems
INFO 380 Product and Information Systems Management
INFO 386 Professionalism in Informatics
INFO 410 Cybersecurity Strategies and Policies
INFO 415 Emerging Topics in Information Assurance and Cybersecurity
INFO 430 Database Design and Management
INFO 431 Metadata Design
INFO 433 Content Strategy in Information Architecture
INFO 441 Server-Side Development
INFO 442 Cooperative Software Development
INFO 443 Software Architecture for Interactive Systems
INFO 448 Mobile Development: Android
INFO 449 Mobile Development: IOS
INFO 462 Design Systems for Digital Experiences
INFO 463 Input and Interaction
INFO 464 Value Sensitive Design

Reputation and Career Prospects

The University of Washington's Informatics program is highly regarded and offers a strong curriculum in the field. The Informatics major at UW emphasizes the intersection of information, technology, and human-centered design. While not as widely known as more traditional Computer Science programs, the Informatics degree is increasingly gaining recognition in the tech industry, thanks to its more interdisciplinary approach and focus on human-computer interaction, data science, information architecture, and user experience (UX) design.

Many graduates from UW's Informatics program go on to work at major tech companies, startups, and other organizations, which speaks to the program's strong reach in the job market. Additionally, the faculty at UW's Information School are well-regarded in their respective fields and consist of both accomplished academics and industry professionals.

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