What is Informatics?
Informatics is the future—a bridge to all things useful.
Informatics harnesses the power and possibility of digital technology to transform data and information into knowledge that people use every day. This strong focus on the human use of computing helps people to interact with technology in the best and most efficient way possible.
At the IU Luddy School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering at IUPUI, we believe informatics is the human part of the IT equation, making computer software and hardware relatable, accessible, and enjoyable to use.
The architect of our experience with technology
With the right hardware (construction materials) and software (knowledge), engineers can create a building that is structurally sound. But the architect transforms it into a livable space, placing doors, windows, and utilities with functionality and ease of use in mind. It’s also possible to prepare food with the proper equipment and a recipe, but it takes a chef to transform ingredients into an unforgettable meal.
Likewise, informatics is about understanding how people will “live” in the digital space, with an elegance of design that makes sense to users of a particular technology. The informatician examines the data to discover solutions and determines which hardware and software will deliver the best user experience possible.
Informatics makes things work better
The Luddy School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering at IUPUI is committed to a highly practical education delivered alongside cutting-edge research. Our students and faculty are redefining what informatics means every day, as they:
- Build innovative computing tools and applications
- Help us to interact intuitively with technology
- Explore the ways informatics shapes our relationships, our organizations, and our world
Degrees that get things done
Because informatics can be applied in so many ways, Luddy IUPUI offers many ways to explore the possibilities through our certificates, Bachelor’s degrees, and graduate programs in wide-ranging fields.
See our degrees
Informatics is everywhere
Nearly every area of our lives—community, arts, health, business, science—is influenced and enhanced by informatics. See how our students and alumni put their skills to work in multiple industry verticals.
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Animation, film, game production
MEDIA: What we do
- Create 2D and 3D animation and visualizations
- Explore the best use of digital media to solve problems in education, health care and entertainment
- Study and design the structure of information and its aesthetic presentation
- Build simulation and virtual reality environments
How it makes life better
- Employ digital tools to create learning experiences that engage all the senses
- Create educational computer games that immerse users in useful learning through casual and serious play
- Design and develop interactive websites for business, education and medical enterprises
- Model new platforms for learning
Our degrees:
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Business
BUSINESS: What we do
- Develop information tools to capture and analyze data to create better business intelligence
- Design decision support systems to assist business leaders
- Create software tools that automate warehouses and factories
How it makes life better
- Integrate computer technology into vital business operations
- Provide tools that manage global supply chains
- Drive the innovation businesses need to be competitive in the 21st century
Our degrees:
- Informatics Bachelor of Science
- Informatics and Media Arts and Science double major to learn to be a Full-Stack Developer
- Crisis Informatics Master of Science
- User Experience Design Master of Science
- Bachelor of Science in Applied Data and Information Science
- Master of Science in Applied Data Science
- Data Science Ph.D.
- Data Science Ph.D. Minor
- Applied Data Science Undergraduate Certificate
- Applied Information Science/Data Studies Undergraduate Certificate
- Legal Informatics Certificate
- Software Bots for Cognitive Automation Undergraduate Certificate
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Communities
COMMUNITIES: What we do
- Create information and communication technologies that bridge cultural gaps
- Build geographic information systems that map our communities and help with urban planning
- Use technology to promote government participation and voting
How it makes life better
- Connect world communities so that they may better understand one another
- Provide tools to design more livable and sustainable cities
Our degrees:
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Digital Design
DIGITAL DESIGN: What we do
- Devise theories and methods to improve human interaction with computers
- Design and develop computer interfaces that connect individuals and groups
- Study human intelligence to create better machine intelligence
How it makes life better
- Design desktop, mobile and medical devices that sense user needs
- Create shared work applications that increase successful collaboration
- Complement human abilities with artificial intelligence and robotic skills
Our degrees:
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Health
HEALTH: What we do
- Construct computer health information systems by studying the needs of doctors, nurses, patients, and health care organizations
- Create health networks that allow doctors and nurses to share knowledge and best practices
- Create new methods of information delivery that motivate patients to follow treatment recommendations
How it makes life better
- Provide accurate digital health records available instantly when needed
- Identify the best treatment for patients based on evidence drawn from national health networks
- Allow patients to participate in their own care through the creation of digital Personal Health Records
Our degrees
- Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management
- Master of Science in Health Informatics
- Master of Library Science + Master of Science in Health Informatics
- Ph.D. in Health Informatics
- Ph.D. Minor in Health Informatics
- Medical Coding Certificate
- Omics Technology and Precision Medicine Certificate
- Biomedical Data Analytics Certificate
- Clinical Informatics Graduate Certificatee
- Public Health Certificate
- Health Information Management and Exchange Certificate
- Health Information Security Certificate
- Health Information Systems Architecture Certificate
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Science and Data
SCIENCE & DATA: What we do
- Extend our understanding of the human genome
- Develop computing applications that manage data from biotechnical and pharmaceutical collaborations
- Manage and understand data collected to solve scientific challenges in the natural and social sciences
How it makes life better
- Find new and more effective personalized medicines
- Track the spread of disease and find new ways to reduce its impact
- Visualize scientific data in ways that aid human understanding
Our degrees:
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Sports
SPORTS: What we do
- Equip students with the data science skills needed to excel in sports analytics
- Prepare graduates for sports-related careers in Indianapolis and elsewhere
How it makes life better
- Allows students to combine their love of sports and tech
- Opens new opportunities for utilizing data for better decision-making
Our degree:
Informatics examines not just the technologies we use … but how, why, where, and when we use them.
Informatics = your future
With every new technology there’s an opportunity for informatics to play a role—to create knowledge, bridge a gap, and impact the future.
You can be a part of this rapidly developing field. Information skills are crucial in an ever-changing world. Discover how informatics can help you to create a career with infinite potential.