Information Sciences, BSC
Whether you plan to work with data, information, or to design databases and user-friendly interfaces, a Bachelor of Science in Information Sciences sets you up for a rewarding career in information sciences across diverse roles and environments.
Program Overview
Information sciences professionals are integral to a growing field where the ability to manage, organize, and present information effectively to targeted audiences is highly valued. Our information sciences major equips students to skillfully manage, analyze, and organize information and data into actionable insights in various settings.
With four concentrations to chose from, students who declare an information sciences major are set up for success as they learn the foundations of information sciences and technology alongside curriculum specific to their chosen path. It’s a great opportunity for those students who enjoy being both creative and analytical, as they will go on to use the skills they learn in their studies to become creative problem solvers who can make a meaningful impact in both public and private sector careers.
Presented in a mix of in-person classes alongside options for synchronous and asynchronous online courses, our program allows a unique flexibility that most undergraduate majors do not get to experience. As technology advances, so do our ways of teaching, which is why we continue to evolve our curriculum and its delivery to fit the needs of our students. This also allows us to offer an online degree completion program, which you can learn more about here.
Concentrations
The School of Information Sciences offers four concentrations that allow students to find their specific path forward as professionals in their field.
- Data, Information Management, and Analytics – Pursue a career in storytelling with data. Courses featured include data analysis/visualization, database management, and more! This concentration consists of the five core BSIS courses, the following four concentration courses, and one capstone project.
- Information Sciences – The general Information Sciences concentration allows you to study the foundations of the field and to learn how to connect people, information, and technology in the setting that most excites you.
- Information Security and Cybersecurity – This concentration provides students with the knowledge and skills necessary to understand cybersecurity’s conceptual, practical, theoretical, and policy underpinnings in the context of information and data life cycles. The program will prepare students to apply their knowledge and skills to assess and recognize evolving security vulnerabilities, threats, attacks, and risks to information and data; implement effective policies and governance frameworks; and manage their implementations to mitigate the threats to ensure information and data integrity.
- User Experience Design – Our UXD concentration prepares you for a career as a UX professional. Courses include topics like UX foundations; interface and interaction design; usability testing; and UX analytics.
Why study Information Sciences?
Information sciences is a broad field that can be applied in a variety of sectors and settings; often, the only limit is one’s imagination and willingness to try out a new role.
A growing field
Our alumni are in jobs where they do everything from creating important data visualizations for the public and decision-makers, to contributing their expertise in emerging areas such as AI.
Many information science careers have above-average salaries due to the need for individuals with 21st-century skills, who use information to investigate complex issues, connect people and data, solve problems, and help organizations make better decisions. Information sciences related careers also can expect a job growth rate much faster than the national average.
Hands-on work
We ensure our curriculum and course projects mirror the work information professionals conduct in the field, whether it is presenting data that has been analyzed, interpreting results of data analytics, or writing a report about usability testing on a digital platform. Students can also choose to complete a Professional Development course to gain experience and fulfill their capstone requirements.
Cutting-edge technology
Our brand-new iLab allows students to get hands-on experience in data analytics, interactive social robots, and virtual reality. The User eXperience Lab not only provides the technology and equipment necessary for students to conduct both qualitative and quantitative UX research, but the lab’s manager also offers guidance so students can have a quality hands-on learning experience.
What can you do with a BS in Information Sciences after graduation?
Graduates of the BSIS program serve in various roles, such as information and data analyst, user experience designer, database designer and manager, and information/interaction designer. They can pursue careers that connect people, information, and technology, and ones where data and information are used to tell stories, and make informed business and mission-critical decisions.
General Information Sciences
Implementation Consultant
- Tasks:
- Communicate with key stakeholders to determine project requirements and objectives for new software deployment
- Confer with project personnel to identify and resolve problems and make necessary configurations
- Create project status presentations for delivery to customers or project personnel
- Related minors:
- Business Administration
- Entry-level salary: $55,000
User Experience (UX)
Junior UX Designer
- Tasks:
- Collaborate with management or users to develop e-commerce strategies and to integrate these strategies with websites
- Conduct user research to determine design requirements and analyze user feedback to improve design quality
- Related minors:
- Graphic Design
- Digital Media
- Advertising and Public Relations
- Entry-level salary: $60,000
Data, Information Management, and Analytics
Management Analyst
- Tasks:
- Document findings of study and prepare recommendations for implementation of new systems, procedures, or organizational changes
- Gather and organize information on problems or procedures
- Related minors:
- Business Administration
- Data Science
- Entry-level salary: $60,000
Helping CCI students start their career
Whether it is landing an internship, resume and portfolio building, or honing interview skills, our Office for Professional Development helps our students achieve their career goals.
Office of Professional Development
Featured courses
Requirements and Curriculum for the Information Sciences major
INSC 436 – Analytics and Metrics for User Experience
Concepts in analytics and metrics. Identifying, selecting, and applying appropriate tools. Analyzing and interpreting data to improve services and systems.
Programming for Information Applications
Programming languages with emphasis on data structures, in-built functions, user-defined variables, syntax, and control structures for processing and visualizing datasets.
INSC 435 – Usability Testing and Methods
Processes and methods of testing information services and systems. Developing assessment reports for websites, mobile content, and other information products.
INSC 439 – Interfaces and Interaction Design
Human-computer interaction and system design. Interface evaluations and prototype development for improved interfaces.
INSC 489 – Information Visualization
Visual, intuitive and interactive representation of information. Fundamental understanding of human perceptual and cognitive capabilities, computer graphics, user interface, and creativity. Designs and techniques for visualizing various types of data.
INSC 412 – Information Security and Cybersecurity Policy
The course offers students an opportunity to develop the necessary skills and knowledge for understanding, developing, evaluating, and implementing effective policies and governance frameworks for information and data in the context of cybersecurity. Information Security and Cybersecurity policy and governance topics include but are not limited to ethics, privacy, accountability, bias, provenance, defamation, confidential information, electronic communication, compliance, audit, and legal issues related to privacy and security.
Complementary minors
Minors that pair well with a major in Information Sciences include:
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