Department of Information Science

Faculty

Professor
Philip B. Eppard, Ph.D.
Brown University

Associate Professors
Hemalata Iyer, Ph.D.
University of Mysore, India
Abebe Rorissa, Ph.D.
University of North Texas
Donghee Sinn, Ph.D.
University of Pittsburgh
Joette Stefl-Mabry, Ph.D.
Long Island University
Xiaojun (Jenny) Yuan Ph.D.
Rutgers University

Lecturers
Lenore Horowitz, Ph.D.
University at Albany
Norman Gervais, M.A.
University at Albany

Adjuncts (estimated): 25
Affiliated Faculty (estimated): 25
Teaching Assistants (estimated): 6

The Department of Information Science is a newly-formed department comprised of the former Departments of Informatics and Information Studies. The Department of Information Science offers a broad, interdisciplinary understanding of information and information technologies in society and in organizations. Students are exposed to working with information in a wide variety of formats in order to gain conceptual and practical knowledge of how information is created, organized, represented, stored, accessed, retrieved, managed, and protected in both traditional and non-traditional media. In addition, students investigate the uses and impacts of information and technology on individuals, organizations, and society, including formal and informal communities, libraries, government, and business. This Department offers degree programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels that prepare students to enter professional or academic careers.

At the undergraduate level, the department offers a B.S. degree in Informatics with several possible concentrations, including a fully online Information Technology concentration. Continuing students who are declared in the B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies with a faculty-initiated concentration in Information Science can refer to previous Undergraduate Bulletins for degree requirements as well as to their degree audits.

The Department of Information Science also offers an Informatics minor. There are multiple options. One option combines the Informatics minor with any major. In other options, the minor is coupled with a specific major to enhance the Information Science perspective within that discipline. Currently, the options linked to a major are for Art, Communication, Computer Science, Criminal Justice, Economics, Geography, Journalism, Physics, Sociology, and Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies majors. See the “Minors” section of this bulletin for details.

At the graduate level, the department offers a Master of Science in Information Science (M.S.I.S.), accredited by the American Library Association (ALA), and a Doctor of Philosophy in Information Science. A combined B.A./M.S.I.S. or B.S./M.S.I.S. permits highly-qualified students to begin work on the master’s degree while still an undergraduate.

The Bachelor of Science in Informatics

The B.S in Informatics is a unique opportunity for students to study the application of technology across disciplines. The degree is a combined major and minor, requiring a total of 54 credits. This includes 42 credits of required core courses that focus on the relationship between technology and society, the use of various technologies across platforms, and programming fundamentals. Emphasis is also placed on providing students with various opportunities to gain real-world experience. As part of the 54 credits, students are required to complete 12 credits in a concentration.

The concentrations are:

• Interactive User Experience
• Cybersecurity
• Social Media
• Data Analytics
• Software Development
• Information Technology (offered fully online)

The B.S in Informatics prepares students for a wide array of careers. Some potential career options for each concentration are:

• Interactive User Experience: Web Designer, User Experience Analyst, and Information Architect
• Cybersecurity: Information Security Analyst, Data Security Administrator, Data Security Administrator, and Computer Security Specialist
• Social Media: Social Media Community Manager, Social Media Strategist, and Public Information Officer
• Data Analytics: Data Analyst, Data Mining Specialist, and Data Visualization Specialist
• Software Development: Application Developer, Software Architect, Software Design Analyst, Systems Programmer
• Information Technology: IT Project Manager, Computer Support Specialist, and Technical Support Specialist

Degree Requirements for the B.S. in Informatics

Informatics is a combined major and minor sequence, consisting of a minimum of 42 core credits and selection of a 12 credit concentration (54 credits total).

Core courses (42 credits)

Information and Society (9 credits)
I INF 100X Information in the 21st Century
I INF 301 Emerging Trends in Information and Technology
I INF 499 Senior Seminar in Informatics

Practical Applications (15 credits)
I INF 108 Programming for Problem Solving or I CSI 105 Computing and Information (or substitute I CSI 201 Introduction to Computer Science)
I INF 201 Introduction to Web Technologies
I INF 202 Introduction to Data and Databases
I INF 203 Introduction to Networks and Systems
I INF 305 Digital Project Management

Math (3 credits)
Any A MAT course between 100 - 299 (except A MAT 108 Elementary Statistics)

Research (6 credits)
I INF 200 Research Methods for Informatics (or substitute A SOC 220 Introduction to Social Research)
A MAT 108 Elementary Statistics (or substitute A SOC 221 Statistics for Sociologists)

Experiential Learning (9 credits)
Students will be advised into course-related experiences that complement their chosen concentration. Some classes may be repeated twice for a total of 6 credits but Online IT students only may complete I INF 469 (9 credits) to fulfill this requirement.

I INF 463 Professional Innovations I
I INF 464 Professional Innovations II
I INF 465 Senior Capstone in Informatics (repeatable)
I INF 466 Independent Research (repeatable)
I INF 467 Technology-Based Community Support (repeatable)
I INF 468 Undergraduate Internship (repeatable)
I INF 469 Undergraduate Internship for Fully Online Students
E APS 487 or E APS 456, E APS 457 Peer Education

Concentrations (at least 12 credits)
Select one concentration.

Interactive User Experience
I INF 302 Human-Computer Interactive Design
I INF 362 Intermediate Interactive Design
Select two courses from:
I INF 308 Programming for Informatics
I INF 363 Digital Design
I INF 401 Case Studies in Digital Citizenship
I INF 462 Current Technologies in Interactive Design
I INF 496 Intermediate Special Topics in Informatics (as appropriate, repeatable)
I CSI 107 Web Programming
I CSI 124X Computer Security Basics
A DOC/A JRL 324 Introduction to Documentary Photography
A DOC/A HIS 330 Foundations of Documentary Web/Hypermedia Production
A DOC/A HIS 406 Practicum in Historical Documentary Filmmaking
A DOC/A HIS 407 Readings and Practicum in Digital History and Hypermedia

Cybersecurity
I INF 306 Information Security and Assurance
I CSI 124X Computer Security Basics
Select two courses from:
I INF 401 Case Studies in Digital Citizenship
I INF 452 Computer and Network Security
I INF 453 Information Security and Privacy
I INF 454 Human Aspects of Cybersecurity
I INF 455 Prevention and Protection Strategies in Cybersecurity
I INF 496 Intermediate Special Topics in Informatics (as appropriate, repeatable)
I CSI 300Z Social, Security, and Privacy Implications of Computing
I CSI 424 Information Security
I CSI 426 Cryptography

Social Media
I INF 307 Current Topics in Social Media
I CSI 131 Introduction to Data Analytics: Seeking Information in Data with Computation
Select two courses from:
I INF 308 Programming for Informatics
I INF 363 Digital Design
I INF 401 Case Studies in Digital Citizenship
I INF 496 Intermediate Special Topics in Informatics (as appropriate, repeatable)
I CSI 432 Network Science
A DOC/A HIS 224 Nonfiction Media Storytelling
A SOC 210 Sociology of Culture
A SOC 255 Mass Media
A SOC 270 Social and Demographic Change

Data Analytics
I INF 300 Probability and Statistics for Data Analytics
I CSI 131 Introduction to Data Analytics: Seeking Information in Data with Computation
Select two courses from:
I INF 407 Modern Issues in Databases
I INF 428 Analysis, Visualization, and Prediction in Analytics
I INF 451 Bayesian Data Analysis and Signal Processing
I IST 433 Information Storage and Retrieval
I CSI 431 Data Mining
I CSI 432 Network Science
I CSI 436 Machine Learning

Software Development
I CSI 201 Introduction to Computer Science
I CSI 310 Data Structures
I CSI 418Y Software Engineering
Select one course from:
I INF 455 Prevention and Protection Strategies in Cybersecurity
I CSI 405 Object Oriented Programming Principles and Practice

Information Technology (online only)
I INF 302 Human-Computer Interactive Design
I INF 303 Intermediate Networking
I INF 306 Information Security and Assurance
I INF 308 Programming for Informatics

Self-Designed (with Departmental Approval only)
Student must provide a proposal of courses to take to support the proposed self-designed concentration that includes at least four courses. At least 9 credits of a self-designed concentration should be taken while enrolled in the INF B.S. program. A proposal must be approved by ISCI faculty before the student can declare it.

Combined B.A./M.S.I.S. or B.S./M.S.I.S. Program

The combined B.A./M.S.I.S. or B.S./M.S.I.S. program in Information Science provides a unique opportunity for capable, highly motivated students to pursue any undergraduate liberal arts major while at the same time beginning their professional preparation for a career in the rapidly expanding fields of information management and curation. A distinctive feature of the curriculum is the stress placed upon user and human as well as technological factors. Toward the end of their program of study, students will be expected to combine academic study with internship experience in locations such as corporations; New York State government agencies; archives; K-12 school libraries; or academic, public or special libraries.

Graduates will be prepared for employment in a wide variety of public and private sector settings within business, industry, law, humanities, health and human services, and education where they will function as librarians, archivists, records managers, school library media specialists, information systems specialists, information analysts, or information officers and managers.

The department is especially strong in five areas: (1) library and information services, (2) archives/records administration, (3) school media, (4) human computer interaction, and (5) information organization and retrieval.

Students may be admitted to the combined program at the beginning of their junior year or after successful completion of 56 credits. A carefully designed program can enable the student to earn the B.A. or B.S. and M.S.I.S. within 10 semesters. A cumulative grade point average of 3.20 or higher and three supportive letters of recommendation are required. The Graduate Record Exam is not required for admission. In qualifying for the baccalaureate, students will meet all University and school requirements, including existing major and minor requirements, general education requirements, minimum liberal arts and sciences requirements, and residency requirements.

Additionally, students will complete a minor in Library and Information Science including, as a minimum, the following courses: I CSI 105; I INF 201; I IST 601; I IST 602, and one additional I IST course at the 500 level or above.

In qualifying for the master’s degree, students will meet all University and school requirements, including completing a minimum of 42 graduate credits, and any conditions such as a research seminar, thesis, comprehensive examination, or other professional experience, and residency requirements. The combined program allows students to complete 12 graduate credits as an undergraduate that are applied to both the undergraduate and graduate degrees.