What is Informatics?
Informatics is the study, design, and development of information technology for the good of people, organizations, and society. As an Informatics student at the UW iSchool, you'll explore the intersection of technology and human values, gaining a deep understanding information in society while creatively imagining more equitable and just information technology and systems. Informatics graduates see the world as more than just innovative apps and websites, but as larger systems of people, information and technology that harness these technologies to address global challenges in democracy, health, wellness, climate, justice and more.
Curious about the word "Informatics"? Learn more.
Why the iSchool?
You'll find the Informatics major is less about narrowing options than expanding possibilities in your career and in your life. Informatics draws upon areas such as computer science, information science, sociology, psychology, design and information management. As a result, graduates are well-rounded information and technology professionals with the ability to apply their knowledge to positively impact organizations, their communities and society. Reasons to study Informatics include:
- Joining a vibrant, engaged, diverse and inclusive student community.
- Learning from our interdisciplinary curriculum, which examines the interaction of people, information and technology from the lenses of diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility, sovereignty and justice.
- Focusing on fields such as data science, health and well-being, human-computer interaction, information architecture, cybersecurity, information management, information and society, or software development. You can opt to choose one of our focus areas.
- Pursuing Informatics careers in software development, data science, UX design and research, product management, cybersecurity, biomedical and health informatics, and information architecture. Learn more about students' successful placement across for-profit, not-for-profit and governmental organizations.
Learn about the admissions process.