Information Science
Welcome to the Department of Information Science.
Love people? Love technology? You’ll fit in perfectly.
Information science is the study of the relationships between people, places and technology and how they are intertwined. Our data-driven, interdisciplinary approach—drawing on social science, computer science and the humanities—allows students to develop the conceptual understanding and practical skills needed to succeed in a future characterized by new ways of working, communicating and creating. A degree in information science enables students to imagine what technology makes possible, invent new ways to use technology and positively impact the world.
Housed within CU ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ’s College of Media, Communication and Information, our department is proud to cultivate an inclusive community of scholars who share a commitment to excellence and innovation in research and teaching. Our research program is exceptionally strong in human-computer interaction, data science and social and collaborative computing, and our faculty expertise covers a broad range of areas including information visualization, machine learning, technology ethics, health informatics education and learning and more. Students can pursue bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees, as well as minors in both information science and data science.
We welcome graduate students from a range of backgrounds, such as computer science, social science and quantitative research. Many of our graduate students participate in cutting-edge research labs and build community by joining the INFO Graduate Student Association.
Undergraduate students can take advantage of our Bachelor’s Accelerated Master’s program (BAM) to seamlessly earn both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree. They have opportunities to work on real-world research projects with faculty and graduate students and can join our INFO Buffs club to find a friendly group of passionate peers with similar interests.
The Department of Information Science is committed to exploring how the future of information, data and technology can embrace and embody principles of diversity, equity and inclusion. Our community, curriculum and research efforts are deeply informed by the DEI and inclusive excellence principles of our broader college. Our focus on seeing these goals realized in the technologies and information systems that permeate our lives is reflected in our work in this domain, including our department’s role in leading CMCI’s Center for Race, Media and Technology.
Read about our world-class faculty experts, admissions process and research labs to learn more.
Undergraduate Opportunities
As an undergraduate student in the Department of Information Science, you will learn to collect, analyze and interpret many different information sources to understand our world. You’ll study how we interact with all things digital, including software, devices and algorithms. By the time you graduate, you’ll be able to create social and technological solutions that are truly engaging for those who use them, apply those solutions to real problems and evaluate their effectiveness.
You will also apply information science to the topics that matter to you. From journalism to music to healthcare, you will gain tools that can address many problems. By applying your new knowledge, you’ll address real problems and create an impact on our society.
Student Voices: Why CU?
"The information science department at CU has introduced me to so many professors and faculty that genuinely care about my growth as a student. They have been more than willing to help me learn and thrive while teaching me skills to help me understand our increasingly digital world."
“The professors and faculty in INFO are unmatched. They care about each and every one of their students as well as helping them thrive in whatever topic they choose to study.â€
“The Information Science department is the best place to obtain an education. The number one reason I decided to come to CU was for the knowledge and experiences I knew I would gain from this major. What I have achieved since freshman year has been absolutely due to the skills, connections and opportunities this phenomenal department has given me.â€
“Our department has a very inclusive culture. I’m always encouraged to bring my unique perspective and experiences to our community. And my colleagues all have diverse backgrounds, which is really helpful as I am exploring research areas.â€
Graduate Programs
Our program is designed to help students tailor their education towards their own research interests and skillsets while developing a shared body of knowledge around methods, computational techniques, theoretical frameworks, and design practices.
Information Science is a broad discipline, and our students come from a range of backgrounds. Some have computer science degrees and come prepared to take on information science with a toolkit of computational and data science methods. Some have little to no experience in computing but have backgrounds in social science or qualitative research. Some come to us with a rich knowledge of domains (e.g., public health, education or journalism) to which information science research and techniques can be applied. Some come straight out of undergraduate programs, others have already completed graduate degrees and others have years of professional experience. Wherever your experience lies, we encourage you to explore our programs and join us!
Department News
INFO & College Events
Careers in Information Science
- Business analyst
- Data scientist
- Game designer
- Information policy specialist
- Interaction designer
- Project manager
- Social media strategist
- Software developer
- Systems analyst
- Tech journalist
- User experience designer
- Visualization designer
Contact the Department of Information Science
CMCI Department of Information Science (INFO)
1045 18th Street, UCB 315
ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ, CO 80309
303-735-7581