Indiana University East will initiate a new four-year degree program in the fall 2009 to provide students the necessary knowledge and skills for careers in information technology. The Bachelor of Science in Informatics degree program will provide students with technical and analytical skills that can be applied in a variety of industries, organizations and professions throughout the state of Indiana and beyond.

The decision to build a degree program in informatics was based in part on the university’s mission to provide baccalaureate and graduate level education with economic and social development value to the region. This degree program will serve both employers and students in east central Indiana and west central Ohio. IU East Chancellor Nasser Paydar projects that job growth in the region will be fueled by the application of powerful software technology in new industries and fields of endeavor.

“For those students interested in the innovative application of information technology, this degree program can propel them into highly rewarding professional occupations and careers where they will use both their technical knowledge and their creativity,” Paydar said. “This program makes sense for the region. Jobs in this field are expected to grow in Indiana and Ohio more than any others during the next several years.”

The Indiana Department of Workforce Development projects employment in information technology to grow the most in both number of jobs and compensation through 2016, according to its 2008 Hoosier Hot 50 Jobs list.

The degree is for those students who are interested in gaining a broad background in information technology and its applications. Many students are expected to specialize in the development of software or in web-based applications. However, the degree is highly flexible, allowing students to pursue special interests and augment discipline specific knowledge with an ability to use information technology and tools to solve everyday problems. Special areas of study, called cognates, include new media, web technology, health services administration, business and bio-informatics, as well as one that can be customized to a specific student’s interests.

 “Indiana University is a pioneer in offering the Informatics degree, recognizing the growing importance of professionals who not only know the technical aspects of computing, but also its potential applications in a wide variety of areas,” says IU East Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Larry Richards. “Students earning a degree in Informatics can apply the skills they learn to fields as diverse as medicine, business, social services, biotechnology, marketing and communication, as well as the arts and humanities. Students who successfully complete the degree program at the baccalaureate level, will also be well prepared for graduate work.”

For more information, contact the IU East Office of Admissions at (765) 973-8208 or 800-959-3278 or e-mail applynow@iue.edu.