Analysis of Computing Options at ISU

Computing Majors The Informatics and CS department offers degrees in Business Informatics, Health Informatics, and Computer Science. All are STEM degrees. All are in high demand with excellent salaries. The informatics degrees have an internship requirement, so students graduate with experience.

Majors: Computer Science Computer Science is the study of principles, applications, and technologies of computing and computers. It involves the study of data and data structures and the algorithms to process these structures; of principles of computer architecture‒both hardware and software; of problem-solving and design methodologies; of computer-related topics such as numerical analysis, operations research, and artificial intelligence; and of language design, structure, and translation techniques.

CS continued Particular emphasis is placed on making processes efficient and endowing them with some form of intelligence. The discipline ranges from theoretical studies of algorithms to practical problems of implementation in terms of computational hardware and software.

CS continued Some of the crucial areas are theory, algorithms, programming methodology and languages, and computer elements and architecture. Other areas include software engineering, artificial intelligence, parallel computation, distributed computation, computer-human interaction, computer graphics, operating systems, and numerical and symbolic computation.

Informatics Informatics is the interdisciplinary study of the design, development, adoption, and application of IT-based innovations in a particular domain like business, health, or energy.

Majors: Business Informatics Business informatics integrates applied computer science and business administration into a single field in order to develop strategic uses of information technology to address the challenges that businesses face.

Majors: Health Informatics Health informatics integrates applied computer science and healthcare administration into a single field in order to develop strategic uses of information technology to address the challenges that healthcare organizations face, and to revolutionize healthcare practice and research.

Informatics Informatics combines the relevant portions of applied computer science, various aspects of a domain like business or healthcare, and information technology.

Informatics continued Students must have an interest in more than building software and studying improved algorithms and theory. They must be interested in finding ways to use their software applications to better manage an organization or company.

Informatics continued Informatics students are taught not only to understand and explain IT-related problems, but also to propose and work through solutions, often by applying new strategies and technologies. Informatics places less emphasis on mathematics, and more emphasis on interpersonal communication.

Informatics is STEM Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) codes are assigned to every major in order to classify the program. Every major offered by the ICS department has a CIP code indicating it is a STEM Designated Degree Program, according to the Department of Homeland Security.

Commonality All degrees in ICS share a common core:

Outlook All degrees offered by ICS are technically rigorous and demanding. Graduates from all degrees are in great demand. Graduates from all degrees can earn substantial salaries.