Informatics Program Home > Press Release
IU Southeast introduces new Informatics degree for Fall 2006
New Albany, Ind. (April 3, 2006) - Indiana University Southeast today announced that students will be able to pursue a bachelor of science degree in informatics beginning with the Fall 2006 semester. The new degree is focused on understanding and interpreting information technology to solve problems in a wide range of fields.
"Informatics is an ideal course of study for the student who wants to combine a strong understanding of information technology with how that technology applies to the larger world," said IU Southeast Chancellor Sandra Patterson-Randles. "Informatics majors choose an area of specialization--such as fine arts, health information, business or computer science--so they become technical professionals, but with strong expertise in a specific, applied area."
Patterson-Randles says IU Southeast plans to hire two additional faculty members to support the informatics degree.
"Since the curriculum employs many of the classes we are already offering, we are able to start the program now and will add new faculty positions as required," said Patterson-Randles.
IU Southeast will become the fourth IU campus to offer the informatics degree, which was launched at the Bloomington and the Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis campuses in 2000 and at the South Bend campus in 2002. Nearly 1,600 students are enrolled in the program and 700 students have already earned a degree in informatics.
The informatics degree requires students to choose a cognate, or special area of focus. Cognate areas offered by IU Southeast will include business, fine arts, psychology, criminal justice, computer science, and health information. Additional cognate areas may be introduced by IU Southeast as the program develops.
J. Michael Dunn, dean of the School of Informatics at IU Bloomington, says introduction of the informatics degree at the Bloomington, Indianapolis, and South Bend campuses has been highly successful.
"When the degree program was first offered at IU South Bend, we enrolled six students, and there are now 40 students pursuing informatics degrees," says Dunn. "Our programs at all campuses are robust and spawning special areas such as bioinformatics, cybersecurity, computer science, human-computer interaction, new media, complex systems, social informatics, chemical and biological informatics, and much more."
Dunn, who has been at the helm of the School since its founding, describes its education, research and outreach programs as unique. "The School of Informatics offers students opportunities they cannot get at any other academic institution - and with IU Southeast joining the School we will continue to grow our programs."
The IU School of Informatics was the first of its kind in the nation and is recognized internationally for its research, particularly in areas such as the life sciences and cybersecurity. The School is the first to offer a doctorate degree in informatics.
When IU introduced informatics in 2000 at Bloomington and Indianapolis, it marked a bold step and a heavy commitment. For the first time in 25 years, IU created an entirely new school with additional funding coming from the State of Indiana, as well as donors, foundations, and grants.
For more information, visit the School's Web sites:
- www.informatics.indiana.edu
- www.informatics.iupui.edu
- www.informatics.iusb.edu
- www.informatics.ius.edu
