Jump to Main Content
Jump to Top Navigation
Jump to Page Navigation
Jump to Footer Navigation
University of Washington

University of Washington Information School

  • Programs
    • Informatics Undergraduate major and minor
    • MLIS Master of Library and Information Science
    • MSIM Master of Science in Information Management
    • Ph.D. Doctorate in Information Science
    • More Options Professional development and continuing education
  • Research
    • Updates The latest news from our faculty and research staff
    • Research Areas Core topics of iSchool research
    • Research Groups Hubs for innovative scholarship & research
    • Grants & Awards Recent funding for iSchool research projects
    • Research Events Guest lectures and our Research Fair showcase
  • News & Events
    • News The latest stories from our community
    • Events What's happening on campus and beyond
    • Podcast Documents That Changed the World, with Joe Janes
  • People
    • Directory Find iSchool faculty, staff and students
    • Alumni Stay connected with the iSchool and fellow alumni
    • Advising & Support Find help from our team of student advisors
    • Faculty Affairs Making the iSchool a joyful professional community for faculty
  • The School
    • About Us The iSchool is home to innovators and leaders who make information work
    • Diversity We are committed to building an inclusive community
    • Employers & Partners How to collaborate with faculty and students
    • Capstone Students work with organizations to solve information problems
    • Support the iSchool Every gift makes a difference to students
Customize Your
Experience

Would you like to see information for Future Students, Current Students, Faculty & Staff, or Everyone?

Audience Tools
Search Menu
banner image

Informatics

  • Informatics
    • Academics
    • Community
    • Admissions
    • Careers
    • Focus Areas
    • Research
    • Financial Aid & Scholarships
    • Informatics Minor
  • MLIS
  • MSIM
  • Ph.D.
    • Academics
    • Admissions
    • Committees
    • Scholarships & Funding
    • People
  • More Options

Resources:

  • Advising & Support
  • Capstone Projects
  • Upcoming Info Sessions
  • Videos: Alumni at Work
  • Request more information

What is Informatics?

  1. Programs
  2. Informatics
  3. What Is Informatics?

The term “informatics” broadly describes the study, design, and development of information technology for the good of people, organizations, and society.

When the iSchool chose "informatics" as the name of its bachelor of science degree in 1999, the term was not widely used in the U.S.  The name was chosen because it spoke to the opportunities that are available to students with the strong technical background needed to develop solutions to the world’s information challenges.

The Informatics major was designed to be conceptual and practical, academic and professional, and focused on the human and humanistic dimensions of the design and use of information systems. The vision remains intact: the Informatics major at UW speaks directly to the need for trained and skilled professionals in every sector of society who can turn information into actionable knowledge.

The Classification of Instructural Programs (CIP) describes Informatics as:

"A program that focuses on computer systems from a user-centered perspective and studies the structure, behavior and interactions of natural and artificial systems that store, process and communicate information. Includes instruction in information sciences, human computer interaction, information system analysis and design, telecommunications structure and information architecture and management."

Resources:

  • Advising & Support
  • Capstone Projects
  • Upcoming Info Sessions
  • Videos: Alumni at Work
  • Request more information

News

Two women work on a project.

Summit brings online MSIM students to campus

Monday, March 20, 2023
Journalist and author Mónica Guzman’s advice for Master of Science in Information Management students: “Where you can, welcome disagreement.” She shared those words with dozens of online students March 17 at the opening keynote...
Read more

World struggles to make progress on meaningful access to information

Thursday, March 16, 2023
Information access is a fundamental driver of many of the goals in the United Nations’ 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda, yet many countries are struggling to make progress. A new analysis has found that statistical indicators of...
Read more

Events

Apr 1
 
9:00-2:30PM

WE Rise Annual Conference

Husky Union Building
Apr 3
 
12:30-1:20PM

iSchool Research Symposium: Meredith Broussard

Zoom only
Apr 4
 
12:30-1:00PM

Alternative Summer Plan

Online
Apr 5
 
6:00-7:00PM

MSIM Program Overview

Virtual / Zoom
iSchools.org
  • Jobs
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Logo & Brand Guidelines
  • IT / Help Desk
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Youtube
  • LinkedIn
Make a Gift
iSchools.org
© 2023 UW Information School
Box 352840 - Mary Gates Hall, Ste. 370
Seattle, WA 98195-2840
United States of America
206-685-9937
Close menu
Toolkit
Customize
Your Experience
Change audience type

Search:

All People
  • Programs
    • Informatics
    • MLIS
    • MSIM
    • Ph.D.
    • More Options
  • Research
    • Updates
    • Research Areas
    • Research Groups
    • Grants & Awards
    • Research Events
  • News & Events
    • News
    • Events
    • Podcast
  • People
    • Directory
    • Alumni
    • Advising & Support
    • Faculty Affairs
  • The School
    • About Us
    • Diversity
    • Employers & Partners
    • Capstone
    • Support the iSchool

toolkit

  • iSchool Intranet
  • MyUW
  • Outlook on the web
  • Office 365
  • Workday
  • UW Time Schedule
  • UW Academic Calendar
  • iSchool Slack
  • Knowledge Base
  • Watermark
  • Azure Dev Tools
  • Online Learning Help
  • Zoom
  • Streaming Support
  • Canvas LMS
  • Qualtrics
  • Emergency Info
  • Site Login
Loading Results...Loading search results, please wait.

Highlights

Full Results

See Full Results
See Full Directory

Customize Your Experience

  • Future Students
  • Current Students
  • Faculty & Staff
  • Everyone