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Informatics

The Information School

Informatics is the study of people, information and technology. Students are prepared to design, build, manage and secure information systems that make a difference in society, organizations and individual lives. The curriculum uses an experiential learning approach that emphasizes problem-solving, group work, research, writing, oral presentations and technology.

Major category: Capacity-constrained

Curricular options: Biomedical & Health Informatics, Data Science

Topic(s): Arts, Humanities and Design, Business, Computing, Engineering option

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Degree requirements

Applicant type

Applicant type

Freshmen can apply to the UW to begin autumn quarter or winter quarter (U.S. applicants only)

Read more about applying to the UW as a freshman, including details for programs that provide high school students with college credit (like Running Start).

Informatics is a capacity-constrained major. While the vast majority of students enter this major by submitting an additional application once they are enrolled at the UW, you may be considered for direct admission as a freshman by listing Informatics as your first-choice major on the freshman application. Admission may be competitive. Visit the department website for more information.

Quarters of general admission to UW: autumn / winter (U.S. applicants only) / spring / summer

Preparation for the major is a factor in transfer admission.

  • Use the information below to help you prepare for this degree
  • Visit MyPlan to run a degree audit.
  • Use the UW Equivalency Guide to find out how courses taken at a Washington state community or technical college will transfer to the UW.
  • UW college and school graduation requirements

Department admission information

Departmental application deadline: Autumn: first Friday of spring quarter; Winter: first Friday of autumn quarter
Please contact the department for details about the application process.

This major is capacity-constrained. Completion of prerequisites does not guarantee admission.
  • Learn about applying to Informatics as a transfer student on the Department’s website.

Read more about applying to the UW as a transfer student.

Courses required for the major:

  • INFO 200 SSc – Intellectual Foundations of Informatics
  • CSE 142 NSc RSN– Computer Programming I OR CSE 143 NSc RSN – Computer Programming II OR CSE 154 RSN – Web Programming OR CSE 160 NSc RSN – Data Programming OR CSE 163 RSN – Intermediate Data Programming OR INFO 180/STAT 180 RSN – Introduction to Data Science OR INFO 201 RSN – Foundational Skills for Data Science
  • STAT 220 NSc RSN – Statistical Reasoning OR STAT 221 NSc RSN – Statistical Concepts & Methods for Social Sciences OR STAT 311 NSc RSN – Elements of Stat Methods OR STAT 390 NSc – Statistical Methods in Engineering and Science OR QMETH 201 NSc RSN – Intro to Statistical Methods
  • Social Sciences (SSc) course
  • Minimum grade of 2.0 in each course.

Entering transfer information:

Total undergraduates: 746
Total from Washington community colleges: 51

Entering transfer GPA (from WA community colleges):

3.75 – 4.00: 17
3.50 – 3.74: 18
3.25 – 3.49: 7
3.00 – 3.24: 5
2.75 – 2.99: <5
2.50 – 2.74: <5
2.49 and below: <5

Career outcomes

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See list of all majors