Informatics Minor
Informatics is a high-tech, high-touch field that uses information and technology (such as computers, the Internet, and beyond) to make life better — at work, in society, and to improve our individual lives.
Students who complete the Informatics minor will have strong advantages in completing their education and launching their careers. Students will obtain knowledge of design thinking, how to work with others in teams, gain insight into the complex technology policy issues of our time, and gain skills in using data and information in problem-solving and decision-making.
If you love your major but want to know more about how to apply data, information and technology to solve problems in your chosen field, then the Informatics minor might be for you.
Informatics Minor Requirements
Effective Spring 2026:
- Complete the following requirements with a minimum 2.0 cumulative grade point average. Minimum 25 credits total.
- INFO 200: Intellectual Foundations of Informatics (5 credits)
- INFO 201: Foundational Skills for Data Science (5 credits)
- One course covering ethics, policy and/or equity dimensions of information technology (4-5 credits)
- Additional INFO courses, providing depth in data, design or development (10-11 credits)
- Minimum 15 credits taken in residence at UW Seattle
- Except for one course for the ethics, policy, and/or equity requirement, no courses outside of Informatics can be used for minor requirements. Approved electives for the INFO major do not apply to the minor.
Ethics, Policy and/or Equity Requirement
The equity, policy, and/or equity (EPE) dimensions of information technology requirement guides students to analyze the impacts of information technologies on individuals and society as a whole.
The courses listed below have been approved to fulfill the EPE requirement of the Informatics minor.
Declare the Minor
The Informatics minor is open (not competitive or capacity-constrained). To declare the Informatics minor, students need to have declared a major, earned a minimum of 45 college credits, and should contact their major advisor to submit the appropriate form.
In general, minors are an optional component of a student’s degree. You are also welcome to take informatics courses for your own development without having to declare the minor.
Course Registration
Informatics courses follow the registration policies outlined in the resources below. Many students find success in completing the minor by registering for lower division (100-200 level) INFO courses or during summer quarter where spaces are more readily available.
Please refer to the following web pages for more information on INFO course registration and planning:
Questions
Email: INFOMinors@uw.edu