Informatics/Information Studies (BA/MSIS)
Department website: http://www.ischool.utexas.edu/
Graduate Handbook
Graduate handbook information is updated and maintained by each program. Graduate handbooks are available within each program's office and online. Please contact the program with concerns or questions.
Admission
Admission to the integrated Bachelor of Arts with a major in Informatics and Master of Science in Information Studies (BA/MSIS) program is open only to undergraduate students within the School of Information at The University of Texas at Austin. It results in the awarding of a Bachelor of Arts with a major in Informatics degree, followed by the Master of Science in Information Studies degree. Only current undergraduate Informatics students in good academic standing with at least a 3.5 grade point average (GPA) in required undergraduate Informatics courses may apply to the BA or BSI/MSIS
Integrated Program.
Total Hours Required: 150
Undergraduate: 120
Graduate: 30
The integrated program requires completion of a total of 150 credits: 120 hours for the BA degree program and 30 hours of graduate coursework offered by the School of Information for the MSIS degree program. Students can complete the integrated program in five academic years of full-time study. Please note the Informatics (BA) program below is offered in six different concentrations, the example below is one potential path.
Plan of Study
The Plan of Study is a suggested four-year course sequence to support academic planning and serves as a helpful guide. Currently enrolled students should meet with their academic advisor to tailor their course selections and timelines to their individual goals and circumstances.
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Semester 1 | Hours | |
| I 301 | Introduction to Informatics | 3 |
| I 302 | Academic Success in the Digital University | 3 |
| U.S. History (060) | 3 | |
| Social and Behavioral Sciences (080) | 3 | |
| First-Year Signature Course (090) | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| I 303 | Ethical Foundations for Informatics | 3 |
| I 304 | Programming for Informatics | 3 |
| Mathematics (020) | 3 | |
| U.S. History (060) | 3 | |
| RHE 306 | Rhetoric and Writing | 3 |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Semester 1 | ||
| I 310J | Introduction to Social Justice Informatics | 3 |
| I 305 | Research Methods for Informatics | 3 |
| Transcript-recognized minor or certificate | 3 | |
| Visual and Performing Arts (050) | 3 | |
| GOV 310L | American and Texas Government | 3 |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| I 306 | Statistics for Informatics | 3 |
| I 310D | Introduction to Human-Centered Data Science | 3 |
| Transcript-recognized minor or certificate | 3 | |
| E 316M | American Literature | 3 |
| GOV 312L | Issues and Policies in American Government | 3 |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Semester 1 | ||
| Hours chosen from: Liberal Arts | 3 | |
| Foreign Language other than English, Beginning Proficiency | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Natural Science and Technology, Part I (030) | 3 | |
| I 320D | Topics in Human-Centered Data Science | 3 |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| I 372 | Career Success in the Digital Organization | 3 |
| Hours chosen from: Liberal Arts | 3 | |
| Transcript-recognized minor or certificate | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 6 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Year 4 | ||
| Semester 1 | ||
| Free Elective | 6 | |
| Transcript-recognized minor or certificate | 3 | |
| I 320D | Topics in Human-Centered Data Science | 3 |
| Natural Science and Technology, Part I (030) | 3 | |
| Graduate Coursework | 3 | |
| Hours | 18 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| I 379C | Capstone | 3 |
| Transcript-recognized minor or certificate | 3 | |
| Free Elective (informatics) | 3 | |
| Natural Science and Technology, Part II (093) | 3 | |
| I 320D | Topics in Human-Centered Data Science | 3 |
| Graduate Coursework | 3 | |
| Hours | 18 | |
| Year 5 | ||
| Semester 1 | ||
| Graduate Coursework | 9 | |
| Hours | 9 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| Graduate Coursework | 9 | |
| Hours | 9 | |
| Semester 3 | ||
| Graduate Coursework | 6 | |
| Hours | 6 | |
| Total Hours | 150 | |
Requirements
All requirements are listed below, starting with the most specialized moving to the most general. Additional requirements may follow the table, so be sure to read the entire page. Some required courses listed below may also satisfy General Education requirements, including Core Curriculum.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate | ||
| Concentration | ||
| I 301 | Introduction to Informatics | 3 |
| I 310D | Introduction to Human-Centered Data Science | 3 |
| Hours chosen from: | 3 | |
| Introduction to Cultural Heritage Informatics | ||
| Introduction to Social Justice Informatics | ||
| Introduction to Health Informatics | ||
| Introduction to Social Informatics | ||
| Introduction to User Experience Design | ||
| Hours chosen from: (advanced topics) | 9 | |
| Topics in Human-Centered Data Science | ||
| I 379C | Capstone (Students pursuing the School of Information Honors distinction may substitute I X79H) | 3 |
| Informatics Elective | ||
| Hours chosen from: Informatics elective coursework | 3 | |
| Subtotal | 24 | |
| Major | 24 | |
| Subtotal | 24 | |
| Degree (see details below) | ||
| Free electives: Additional coursework to reach total hours required. | 30 | |
| Subtotal | 30 | |
| General Education | ||
| Core Curriculum | 42 | |
| Foreign Language other than English, Beginning Proficiency | ||
| Subtotal | 42 | |
| College Requirements - Natural Sciences | ||
| General University Requirements | ||
| Graduate | ||
| Graduate Coursework | 30 | |
| Graduate Natural Sciences Requirements | ||
| Graduate University Requirements | ||
| Total Hours | 150 | |