Informatics, B.S.
Do you want to learn how to design better user interfaces? Are you curious to learn how to observe people when they use information technology and how to turn your findings into innovative products? Do you wonder how data privacy laws affect the design of software worldwide? Do you care about helping people in need with mobile apps? Are you interested in learning how organizations apply AI to their problems?
If you answered yes to one or more of these questions, UC Irvine’s Informatics major might be the choice for you.
The B.S. in Informatics is designed around a small set of core courses that introduce the fundamentals of Informatics (human computer interaction, design), software (programming, requirements analysis), and human behavior (social analysis of computerization). From there, students can pick clusters of classes in different advanced topics like human-computer interaction, health informatics, and organizations and information technology to advance their skills and develop their interests. The major is inherently interdisciplinary, with courses drawing on areas from sociology and psychology to management and public health, depending on the direction you choose.
Throughout the major, project courses offer students hands-on experiences in creative design practices, app development, ethnography, information management, business IT, and other topics. You learn how to apply your skills in different domains and work in different teams, culminating in a two-quarter capstone course in which you engage in a real-world project sponsored by a company or organization outside the university.
Overall, the major emphasizes people and design. It teaches you how existing technologies shape human behavior, society, and culture, and explores how we can design future technologies that better fit human and organizational practices. Given the fluid nature of people’s expectations for information technology and what tomorrow’s technology can offer, students learn how to adapt to the evolving nature of the profession — whether it is a new client and their habits, an emerging new device or software capability, or a new team and its practices. More information about the major and its opportunities is available at the Department of Informatics website.
Freshmen Applicants: See the Undergraduate Admissions section.
Transfer Applicants:
Transfer applicants who satisfactorily complete course prerequisites will be given preference for admission. All applicants must complete the following required courses: one course in statistics or boolean algebra, one year of object-oriented programing (python, java, C++), and completion of lower-division writing. Students are encouraged to complete as many of the lower-division degree requirements as possible prior to transfer. Visit the UCI Office of Admissions website for information on transfer requirements for our major.
All students must meet the University Requirements.
Major Requirements
| Lower-division | |
| A. Select one of the following series: | |
| Introduction to Programming and Programming with Software Libraries and Intermediate Programming | |
| or | |
| Python Programming and Libraries (Accelerated) and Intermediate Programming | |
| B. Complete: | |
| I&C SCI 45J | Programming in Java as a Second Language |
| IN4MATX 43 | Introduction to Software Engineering |
| I&C SCI 6B | Boolean Logic and Discrete Structures |
| STATS 7 | Basic Statistics |
| or STATS 67 | Introduction to Probability and Statistics for Computer Science |
| Upper-division | |
| A. Informatics Core Requirements: | |
| IN4MATX 113 | Requirements Analysis and Engineering |
| IN4MATX 121 | Software Design: Applications |
| IN4MATX 131 | Human Computer Interaction |
| IN4MATX 151 | Project Management |
| IN4MATX 161 | Social Analysis of Computing |
| IN4MATX 191A- 191B | Senior Design Project and Senior Design Project |
| B. Select six 4-unit courses from IN4MATX 100-190, GDIM 127, GDIM 131, GDIM 165 | |
| C. Select four 4-unit courses from the following: COMPSCI 100-199, GDIM 51, 55, 100-199, IN4MATX 100-199, I&C SCI 100-199, STATS 100-199. Note: At most, two courses (8 units) may be honors research (H198) or an independent study (199). Courses used to satisfy Section B may not also be used to satisfy Section C. | |
Sample Program of Study — Informatics
| Freshman | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Winter | Spring |
| I&C SCI 31 | I&C SCI 32 | I&C SCI 33 |
| STATS 7 | I&C SCI 6B | IN4MATX 43 |
| WRITING 40 | WRITING 50 | WRITING 60 |
| Sophomore | ||
| Fall | Winter | Spring |
| I&C SCI 45J | IN4MATX 113 | IN4MATX Upper Division I |
| IN4MATX 121 | IN4MATX 131 | I&C SCI 139W |
| IN4MATX 161 | General Education III | General Education IV |
| Junior | ||
| Fall | Winter | Spring |
| IN4MATX Upper Division II | IN4MATX 151 | IN4MATX Upper Division IV |
| ICS Upper Division I | IN4MATX Upper Division III | ICS Upper Division II |
| General Education III | General Education IV | General Education VI |
| Senior | ||
| Fall | Winter | Spring |
| IN4MATX 191A | IN4MATX 191B | IN4MATX Upper Division VI |
| IN4MATX Upper Division V | ICS Upper Division III | ICS Upper Division IV |
| General Education IV | General Education III/VII | General Education VIII |
The department of Informatics website lists a set of competencies intended to support different career paths which the degree supports.