Informatics, B.S.
Want to learn how to design better user interfaces? Curious to learn how to observe people when they use information technology and how to turn your findings into innovative products? Wondering how evolving privacy laws affect the design of software worldwide? Care about helping people in need with smart apps? Interested in learning how organizations work and how information technology can support their practices?
If you answered yes to one or more of these questions, UC Irvine’s Informatics major just 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, three specializations — human-computer interaction, health informatics, and organizations and information technology — enable students to focus their learning with more than three dozen courses from which they can choose. The major is inherently interdisciplinary, with courses ranging from sociology and psychology to management and public health, depending on the specialization chosen.
Throughout the major, a variety of 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 strongly emphasizes people and design; building an understanding of how existing technologies shape human behavior, society, and culture; and 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 continuous new circumstances 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.
Informatics majors complete one of four specializations: Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Organizations and Information Technology (OIT), Health Informatics (HI), or Specialization in Individual Studies. More information 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.
Bren School of ICS majors (including shared majors, BIM, and CSE) pursuing minors within the Bren School of ICS may not count more than one course toward both the major and minor. Some ICS majors and minors outside of the School are not permitted due to significant overlap. Visit the ICS Student Affairs Office website for Majors and Minors restrictions. All students should check the Double Major Restrictions Chart and view our information page on double majoring to see what degree programs are eligible for double majoring.
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 | |
| C. Select four 4-unit upper-division courses from the School of ICS (COMPSCI, GDIM, IN4MATX, I&C SCI, STATS). At most, two courses (8 units) may be honors research (H198) or an independent study (199). | |
Sample Program of Study — Informatics: Health Informatics (HI)
| 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 | Specialization |
| IN4MATX 121 | IN4MATX 131 | General Education III |
| IN4MATX 161 | U-D Writing | General Education IV |
| General Education III | ||
| Junior | ||
| Fall | Winter | Spring |
| Specialization | IN4MATX 151 | Specialization |
| Specialization | Specialization | Specialization |
| General Education III | General Education IV | General Education VI |
| Senior | ||
| Fall | Winter | Spring |
| IN4MATX 191A | IN4MATX 191B | Specialization |
| Specialization | Specialization | Specialization |
| General Education IV | General Education VII | General Education VIII |
Sample Program of Study — Informatics: Human-Computer Interaction (HCI)
| 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 | Specialization |
| IN4MATX 161 | IN4MATX 131 | General Education III |
| Specialization | General Education IV | General Education IV |
| Junior | ||
| Fall | Winter | Spring |
| IN4MATX 121 | IN4MATX 151 | Specialization |
| Specialization | Specialization | General Education III |
| General Education III | U-D Writing | General Education VI |
| Senior | ||
| Fall | Winter | Spring |
| IN4MATX 191A | IN4MATX 191B | Specialization |
| Specialization | Specialization | Specialization |
| General Education IV | General Education VII | General Education VIII |
Sample Program of Study — Informatics: Organizations and Information Technology (OIT)
| 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 | Specialization |
| IN4MATX 161 | IN4MATX 131 | General Education III |
| Specialization | General Education III | General Education IV |
| General Education IV | ||
| Junior | ||
| Fall | Winter | Spring |
| IN4MATX 121 | IN4MATX 151 | Specialization |
| Specialization | Specialization | Specialization |
| General Education III | U-D Writing | General Education VI |
| Senior | ||
| Fall | Winter | Spring |
| IN4MATX 191A | IN4MATX 191B | Specialization |
| Specialization | Specialization | General Education IV |
| General Education VII | Specialization | General Education VIII |