Student working in front of two monitors in an emergency operations center.

Bachelor of Science in
Informatics
Online or On Campus

Program of Study

programofstudy

Core Courses

  • Information in the 21st Century
  • Emerging Trends in Information and Technology
  • Senior Seminar in Informatics
  • Any level 100 – 299 math course except Elementary Statistics

 

Research Courses and Applied Learning

  • Research Methods for Informatics or Introduction to Social Research
  • Elementary Statistics or Statistics for Sociologists
  • Practical, real-world experience that complements your concentration

 

Practical Applications Courses

  • Programming for Problem Solving or Computing and Information or Introduction to Computer Science
  • Introduction to Web Technologies
  • Introduction to Data and Databases
  • Introduction to Networks and Systems
  • Digital Project Management
     

Concentration Courses

Careers and Concentrations
Interactive User Experience

Take courses such as Human-Computer Interactive Design, Intermediate Interactive Design, Digital Design, Web Programming, Intro to Documentary Photography.

Job titles: Web Application Developer, Digital Designer, User Experience Analyst, Information Architect

Online Option: If you choose this concentration, you have the option to earn your informatics degree entirely online. For more information contact Michael Baumgardner at [email protected].


Four-Year Plan  |  Online Four-Year Plan

Social Media

Choose courses like Introduction to Data Analytics: Seeking Information in Data with Computation, Current Topics in Social Media, Nonfiction Media Storytelling, Sociology of Culture, Mass Media.

Job titles: Online Community Manager, Social Media Strategist, Content Manager, Web Analytics Specialist

Online Option: If you choose this concentration, you have the option to earn your informatics degree entirely online. For more information contact Michael Baumgardner at [email protected].


Four-Year Plan

Data Analytics

Select from courses such as Introduction to Data Analytics: Seeking Information in Data with Computation, Probability and Statistics for Data Analytics, Modern Issues in Databases, Information Storage and Retrieval, Machine Learning.

Job titles:  Information Systems Manager, Database Analyst, Data Mining Specialist, Data Visualization Specialist, Data Processing Manager

Online Option: If you choose this concentration, you have the option to earn your informatics degree entirely online. For more information contact Michael Baumgardner at [email protected].


Four-Year Plan

Software Development

Course options include Introduction to Computer Science, Data Structures, Software Engineering, Prevention and Protection Strategies in Cybersecurity, Object-Oriented Programming Principles and Practice.

Job titles: Application Developer, Software Architect, Quality Assurance Engineer, Systems Programmer,  Software Design Analyst


Four-Year Plan

Information Technology

Required courses are Human-Computer Interactive Design, Intermediate Networking, Information Security and Assurance, Programming for Informatics.

Job titles: IT Project Manager, Computer Support Specialist, Help Desk Analyst, IT Escalation Engineer

Online Option: If you choose this concentration, you have the option to earn your informatics degree entirely online. For more information contact Michael Baumgardner at [email protected].

Four-Year Plan  |  Online Four-Year Plan

Game Design and Development

The Game Design and Development concentration provides you with hands-on experience working with digital gaming and simulation technologies and tools. You will have opportunities to develop and practice a wide variety of technical and non-technical skills including coding, art, design, UI/UX, audio, understanding hardware, software, networking and cybersecurity. This concentration prepares you for a career in industries including game development, VR/AR/MR, training and simulation, eSports and software design.

Course options include eSports & the Digital Gaming ecosystem, Digital Design, Digital Game Design and Development, Introduction to Games for Learning: Theory and Practice, Introduction to Game Design for Educators and Learning and Teaching Computer Science Principles.

Job titles: Game Designer/Editor, Game Programmer, Game Artist, Game Animator, Software Developer, Quality/Lead Quality Assurance Game Tester, Creative Game Director, Video Game System Designer, Audio Engineer, Market Research Analyst

Note: Students may declare this concentration beginning in the Fall 2021 semester.

Four-Year Plan


"What surprised me the most is a lot of the coursework is hands-on, compared to just watching a lecture and taking notes." 

- Matthew Liz, '24

UAlbany Majors: BS Informatics

Honors Program

honors

The Informatics Honors Program engages well-qualified Informatics majors in more immersive research and writing. The coursework provides you with the tools and strategies needed to complete an independent and original honors thesis project.

In addition to the regular requirements for the Informatics major, students in the Honors Program complete an Honors Thesis Proposal Seminar and an Honors Thesis Project.

For more information about the Honors Program, please contact [email protected].

UAlbany Informatics students working on a project in the CEHC Makerspace.
A CEHC student demonstrates a 3D printer
Applied Learning

The College of Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity provides an experiential learning component to all students. Through authentic simulations, work with real-world clients, and research in contemporary and highly relevant topics, students will further their classroom learning in an applied environment. The college partners with various offices, agencies and centers that help to provide research and training opportunities for students, academics, and professionals.

Accelerated Undergraduate/Graduate Options


You can save time and money by beginning your graduate degree coursework while still enrolled as an undergraduate student. Up to 12 academic credits, billed at the undergraduate rate, will count towards both degrees – so you’ll complete your combined program in only 5 years and spend less than you would if you completed each program separately. Choose to combine your Informatics undergraduate degree with the following graduate programs:

combined

MS in Digital Forensics and Cybersecurity (Risk, Policy & Compliance or Health Security & Privacy concentrations) 
This NSA-designated master’s program teaches you how to rapidly detect and deter malicious network intruders and use special forensics tools to gather and analyze digital evidence. 

MS in Emergency Management and Homeland Security
The master's program encompasses the fundamental principles of emergency management and homeland security: identifying stakeholders, studying past incidents and research, evaluating governance and ethics, and designing appropriate solutions.

MS in Information Science 
This ALA-accredited master's program covers a broad range of interdisciplinary topics related to library science, information processing, information management and data analysis.

UAlbany graduate at Commencement
Alumni Outcomes

UAlbany’s Informatics program provides you with the technical skills and specialization area experience that prepares you to achieve your professional goals. Our graduates have careers in both the public and private sector, ranging from technology and finance companies to health care and government agencies.

Recent alumni employers for Informatics majors include:

  • Amazon
  • Google
  • Nike
  • Fidelity Investments
  • Apple
  • MVP Healthcare
  • NYS Agencies
  • Microsoft
  • Ernst & Young
  • NBC Sports Group


 

Students working in UAlbany’s Informatics Lab
alumni-outcomes
Jordan-Marie Moulton

"I never envisioned myself being the leader on a project or running events. It just ended up happening that way, thanks to the support of faculty at CEHC. I’m very proud for putting myself out there."

- Jordan-Marie Moulton, BS Informatics '24

Student Learning Objectives


Learning objectives that UAlbany students are expected to attain through their course of study within their academic program.

Informatics Core
  • Capable of working as part of a team
  • Ability to lead a project
  • Present data, information, arguments, and research verbally
  • Think critically and solve problems related to current digital, technological, or information challenges
  • Collect and analyze data
  • Apply skills learned in the classrooms to real-world situations
  • Create a web site with interactive design elements as appropriate for a specific audience
  • Understand the basics of computer networking
  • Explore computing and information in today’s society
  • Create computer programs to address a specified problem
  • Demonstrate and understanding of concepts and issues in digital privacy and security
  • Recognize the importance of data and its organization and manipulation in business, government, and society as a whole
  • Implement basic design principles
  • Distinguish between types and forms of databases, and the types of data problems such databases can address
  • Distinguish between types and forms of data, and the potential uses of that data
  • Identify current and future trends in information-based technologies
  • Demonstrate an ability to critically evaluate the sources, content, and intention of information, along with the ability to communicate, clearly and coherently, any findings to a wider audience
Interactive User Experience Concentration
  • Understand basic visual design principles
  • Predict trends
  • Be familiar with a variety of technologies and tools used in web and mobile design
  • Write computer programs for various purposes
  • Design or create new applications, ideas, or products
  • Back up or modify applications and related data to provide for disaster recovery
  • Determine sources of web page or server problems, and take action to correct such problems
  • Critique content and design
  • Implement security measures, such as firewalls or message encryption
  • Administer Internet/intranet infrastructure, including components such as web, file transfer protocol (FTP), news and mail servers
  • Collaborate with development teams to discuss, analyze, or resolve usability issues
  • Test backup or recovery plans regularly and resolve any problems
  • Implement updates, upgrades, and patches in a timely manner to limit loss of service, and using appropriate tools
  • Create various forms of digital media
  • Use communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media
Social Media Concentration
  • Competency with current social media platforms
  • Compare and utilize third-party social media management tools
  • Extrapolating meaning from platform-specific and third-party social media tracking and analytics tools
  • Predict trends in social media
  • Create various forms of digital media
  • Communicate orally and in written form for a variety of purposes (understand when it is important to be less formal and more professional)
  • Develop and implement creative social media programs and campaigns
  • Ability to employ community moderation techniques
  • Perform outreach activities
  • Use social media to foster interactivity, engagement, community growth, and loyalty
Data Analytics Concentration
  • Competency with current data management and database platforms
  • Utilize third-party data management tools
  • Extrapolating insights from very large data sets
  • Using visualization tools to represent meaning from data
  • Use data modeling techniques to represent meaning from data
  • Communicate orally and in written form for a variety of purposes (understand when it is important to be less formal and more professional)
  • Coding and testing data analysis algorithms
  • Quantifying uncertainty in analysis results
Software Development Concentration
  • Develop software applications at varying levels of proficiency
  • Apply principles and practices of object-oriented design to projects
  • Create software using current practices and design principles
  • Implement debugging and testing principles and practices
  • Ability to use multiple software design methodologies (e.g. waterfall, agile).
  • Demonstrate knowledge of life-cycle management.
  • Demonstrate proficiency in team-based software systems design, implementation and testing.
Information Technology Concentration
  • Develop and implement IT projects
  • IT Fundamentals
  • Apply concepts of human computer interaction to projects
  • Model current principles of information assurance and security
  • Analyze information management concepts and fundamentals
  • Apply integrative programming techniques and technologies
  • Understand and explain the foundations of networking
  • Compare and utilize a variety of platform technologies
  • Apply system administration and maintenance tools and techniques
  • Apply a variety of web technologies
slo

What Makes The University at Albany Great

Student move-in day.

Living-Learning Communities

Live and take classes with other incoming freshmen who share your personal interests, passions or intended academic major.

A student abroad visiting a monument.

Study Abroad

Become a global citizen: international experience is crucial to success in business, education, research, and public policy.

A student conducting undergraduate research.

Undergraduate Research

Research, scholarship, and creative activities at the University at Albany is an option for all students, across all academic disciplines. You will be able to learn more about a specific academic field or career path all while building a long-lasting mentoring relationship with a faculty member or principal investigator.

Explore Minors

Build competency in a passion or strengthen your resume.

A minor consists of 18–24 graduation credits which must include a minimum of 9 graduation credits of advanced coursework at or above the 300 level. Most undergraduate degrees require completing a minor and it has to have a different title from your major.

Full List of Minors
  • Acting
  • Africana Studies
  • Anthropology
  • Art
  • Art History
  • Atmospheric Science
  • Bioethics
  • Biology
  • Broadcast Meteorology
  • Business
  • Chemistry
  • Chinese Studies
  • Cognitive Science
  • Communication (Fully Online Option)
  • Computer Science
  • Creative Writing
  • Criminal Justice Studies (Fully Online Option)
  • Cybersecurity (Fully Online Option)
  • Documentary Studies
  • East Asian Studies
  • Economics
  • Educational Studies
  • Electrical and Computer Engineering
  • Electronics
  • Film Studies
  • Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity (Fully Online Option)
  • English
  • Forensic Science
  • French
  • Game Design and Development
  • Geographic Information Science
  • Geography
  • Globalization Studies
  • Hebrew
  • History (Fully Online Option)
  • Informatics (Fully Online Option)
  • Instrumental Performance
  • International Studies
  • Italian
  • Japanese Studies
  • Journalism (Fully Online Option)
  • Judaic Studies
  • Korean Studies
  • Latin American and Caribbean Studies
  • Law and Philosophy
  • Leadership
  • Legal Studies
  • LGBTQ Studies
  • Library and Information Science
  • Linguistics
  • Machine Learning
  • Mathematics
  • Medical Anthropology
  • Music
  • Musical Performance
  • Musical Theatre
  • Philosophy
  • Physics
  • Political Science
  • Portuguese
  • Pre-Education
  • Psychology (Fully Online Option)
  • Public Health
  • Public Policy
  • Religious Studies
  • Russian
  • Russian and Eastern European Studies
  • Social Welfare Studies
  • Sociology (Fully Online Option)
  • Spanish
  • Statistics
  • Sustainability
  • Theatre
  • Theatrical Design/Technology
  • Urban Studies and Planning
  • U.S. Latino Studies
  • Vocal Performance
  • Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies

On-Campus or Online Informatics Degree FAQs
 

What can you do with an informatics degree?

Earning your BS in Informatics will qualify you for any of a wide variety of roles in any organization that can benefit from your knowledge and skills in the use of data and technology. For example, informatics expertise is critical in areas such as health care, science, public health, research, digital learning and digital communication.

Is the Bachelor of Science in Informatics program accredited?

UAlbany is fully accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

How long is the on-campus informatics program? How long is the online informatics program?

If you attend on a full-time basis either on campus or online, you can complete the BS in Informatics program in four years. Part-time students will take longer to earn their degrees.

What are the program concentrations?

UAlbany’s BS in Informatics program offers concentrations in the following six areas:

  •  Interactive User Experience

  • Social Media

  • Data Analytics

  • Software Development

  •  Information Technology

  • Game Design and Development

How do the combined master’s programs work?

The combined master’s programs are five-year programs through which students earn both their bachelor’s and master’s degrees. They are accelerated programs that allow students to apply a maximum of 12 credits hours to both their bachelor’s and master’s degrees. The cost savings and accelerated nature of these programs are beneficial to undergraduate students who already know they want to pursue graduate education.