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Social Justice Informatics

Data, information, and technology have the potential to reduce or eliminate inequalities in society, but can also exacerbate existing inequalities or create new ones.

This Informatics major concentration will prepare students for a career using data, information, and technology for societal good, helping to ensure a level playing field for everyone in the Information Age. Learn to evaluate data and information to better understand social inequalities and injustices, and to use technological tools to solve problems—especially those which affect historically marginalized communities.

Bachelor's Degree in Informatics

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Social Justice Informatics is an emerging field that involves leveraging public interest technology toward the pursuit of social justice. It requires a combination of social science and information technology expertise.

Social Justice Informatics

Core Competencies

Students in the Social Justice Informatics major concentration will learn to:

  • Combat systemic inequities and injustices in society using data, information, and technology.
  • Understand the intersectional aspects of identity and lived experiences and how they impact and are impacted by data, information, and technology.
  • Partner with community members and stakeholder organizations to achieve change that can promote equity and justice across society.

Social Justice Informatics Major Concentration

BA/BSI in Informatics

View the complete Informatics curriculum or download degree plans from the links below.

BA in Informatics Degree Plan

BSI in Informatics Degree Plan

Informatics majors learn the skills and knowledge required to collect, manage, and analyze data and information, and prepare for the great ethical responsibility that comes with these societally transformative roles.

Students develop an understanding of the complex social, cultural, and ethical context related to communicating with digital and social media tools, and to apply this understanding to creating digital solutions and technologies that are effective, inclusive, and responsive to the needs, values, and perspectives of people with many different lived experiences.

Social Justice Informatics major concentration requirements include:

I 301 : Introduction to Informatics - 3 HRS

In this introductory course, students will explore the foundational theories, concepts, and challenges in Cultural Heritage Informatics, Health Informatics, Human-Centered Data Science, Social Informatics, Social Justice Informatics, and User Experience Design. View Course Listings

I 310J: Introduction to Social Justice Informatics - 3 HRS

In Introduction to Social Justice Informatics, students will explore how to leverage data, information, and technology for the greater benefit of society and to help ensure a level playing field for everyone in the Information Age. View Course Listings

I 310X: Additional Introductory Concentration Course - 3 HRS

In addition to taking the introductory course for their selected Informatics major concentration, students must also complete an introductory course in another Informatics major concentration:

  • I 310C - Cultural Heritage Informatics
  • I 310D - Human-Centered Data Science
  • I 310M - Health Informatics
  • I 310S - Social Informatics
  • I 310U - User Experience Design

View Course Listings

I 320J: Advanced Topics in Social Justice Informatics - 9 HRS

Students must complete nine credit hours in Advanced Topics in Social Justice Informatics. View Course Listings

I 379C: Capstone - 3 HRS

Students pursuing the School of Information Honors distinction may substitute I 679H: Honors Thesis (6 HRS). View Course Listings

I Elective - 3 HRS

Students must complete three credit hours of Informatics elective coursework at the School of Information. View Course Listings

iSchool General Education Requirements - 27 HRS

  • Informatics 302 - Academic Success in the Digital University (3 hours)
  • Informatics 372 - Career Success in the Digital Organization (3 hours)
  • Informatics 303 - Ethical Foundations for Informatics or equivalent (3 hours)
  • Informatics 304 - Programming for Informatics or equivalent (3 hours)
  • Informatics 305 - Research Methods for Informatics or equivalent (3 hours)
  • Informatics 306 - Statistics for Informatics​ or equivalent (3 hours)
  • Foreign Language: Beginning-level proficiency coursework, or the equivalent, in a foreign language (3 hours)
  • Additional liberal arts OR science, technology, engineering, and math coursework (6 hours)
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Undergraduate Informatics Program

Leverage insights from data and information technology to solve problems.

Curriculum
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