Informatics, Bachelor of Science
School of Informatics, Computing and Cyber Systems
College of Engineering, Informatics, and Applied Sciences
The Bachelor of Science degree in Informatics aims to prepare students to apply their informatics expertise to an emphasis area of interest. By providing a broad foundation in computing and data analysis, consisting of computer science, programming, software engineering, statistics, and mathematics expertise, with in-depth study in an emphasis area, this program prepares graduates for a broad range of interdisciplinary careers in industry, government, and academic organizations or further post-graduate study. This program focuses on the practical application of computing and data analysis expertise to a broad range of domains. Study in this program is initially grounded in rigorous coursework that gives students the opportunity to master foundational computing and data analysis skills as well as gain in-depth knowledge in a scientific area closely associated with their emphasis, i.e. biology for the bioinformatics emphasis, ecology for the ecoinformatics emphasis, and astronomy for the astroinformatics emphasis.
Continued study in the Informatics program is focused on undergraduate research and problem-based learning closely supervised by a faculty mentor with specialized expertise. Students in the bioinformatics emphasis will focus on applications and building expertise in cellular and molecular biology, including genetic and genomic analyses and the study of microbiology and disease mechanisms. Students in the ecoinformatics emphasis will have opportunities to study ecosystem and microorganism dynamics with applications in conservation and managing global environmental change. Students electing the astroinformatics emphasis will focus on applications in solar system mechanics, object motion, and observation and imaging analyses. During their junior and senior years in the program, students will embed in the research lab of a faculty mentor working in problems appropriate to each student’s emphasis and research interests. As a member of a collaborative research group, students will have the opportunity to strengthen their computing and data analysis skills, gain extensive hands-on experience in informatics applications and emphasis-appropriate tools and methods, and develop innovative methods to help answer critically-important scientific questions. Furthermore, this experience will result in tangible outcomes, such as software packages and tools, scientific papers, and conference presentations, all of which support students’ future careers goals in either industry, government, or academia and post-graduate study.
Our program is strengthened by our broad range of collaborations and partnerships with many other academic units and research centers, including: Center for Bioengineering Innovation, Center for Microbial Genetics and Genomics, Center for Ecosystem Science and Society, Merriam-Powell Center for Environmental Research, Department of Biological Sciences, Department of Physics and Astronomy, School of Earth Sciences and Environmental Sustainability, and School of Forestry. Our faculty also work with regional research collaborators such as Translational Genomics Research Institute, Northern Arizona Healthcare and Flagstaff Medical Center, North Country HealthCare, U.S. Geological Survey, and Northern Arizona Planetary Science Alliance.
- Available Emphasis Areas:
- Astroinformatics - Emphasis
- Bioinformatics - Emphasis
- Ecoinformatics - Emphasis
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To receive a bachelor's degree at Northern Arizona University, you must complete at least 120 units of credit that minimally includes a major, the liberal studies requirements, and university requirements as listed below.
- All of Northern Arizona University's diversity, liberal studies, junior-level writing, and capstone requirements.
- All requirements for your specific academic plan(s).
- At least 30 units of upper-division courses, which may include transfer work.
- At least 30 units of coursework taken through Northern Arizona University, of which at least 18 must be upper-division courses (300-level or above). This requirement is not met by credit-by-exam, retro-credits, transfer coursework, etc.
- A cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0 on all work attempted at Northern Arizona University.
The full policy can be viewed here.
In addition to University Requirements:
- Complete individual plan requirements.
- At least 33 units of preprofessional requirements
- At least 64 units of major courses
- Up to 9 units of major prefix courses may be used to satisfy Liberal Studies requirements; these same courses may also be used to satisfy major requirements.
- Elective courses, if needed, to reach an overall total of at least 120 units.
Students may be able to use some courses to meet more than one requirement. Contact your advisor for details.
| Minimum Units for Completion | 120 |
| Highest Mathematics Required | MAT 226 |
| Additional Admission Requirements | Required |
| Research | Required |
| University Honors Program | Optional |
| Progression Plan Link | View Progression Plan |
Student Learning Outcomes
Graduates of the Informatics program will be able to demonstrate the following competencies:
- Identify, explain, and apply the fundamental methods of informatics, including programming, data structures, computer science, software design and development techniques and tools, mathematics, and statistical analysis.
- Identify, explain, and apply the interdisciplinary combination of core informatics and specialized expertise defining one of the following emphasis areas:
- Bioinformatics, emphasizing applications in cellular and molecular biology, microbiology and disease mechanisms, genetics and evolution, and genomic analyses.
- Ecoinformatics, emphasizing applications in ecosystem and microorganism population and community dynamics, biological diversity and conservation, and global environmental change.
- Astroinformatics, emphasizing applications in solar system mechanics and object motion, stellar evolution, astrometry, telescope-based observations, and electronic imaging.
- Identify, organize, and distill scientific literature within an informatics emphasis area to effectively contextualize research questions.
- Apply appropriate methods and tools to the creative execution of an investigation that addresses informatics research questions.
- Engage in effective teamwork as a member of co-located and distributed interdisciplinary research teams.
- Compose and engage in effective written and oral communication in informatics, including scholarly dissemination and lay-communication.
Additional Admission Requirements
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Individual program admission requirements over and above admission to NAU are required.
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Admission is competitive and based on the following criteria:
- Successful completion of all pre-major course requirements with a “C” or better, or current enrollment in any remaining course requirements during the semester of application.
- A minimum GPA of 3.0 in all pre-major course requirements, although this minimum does not guarantee admission and higher GPA is expected.
Major Requirements
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Preprofessional Requirements:
If completing the Bioinformatics Emphasis (17 units):If completing the Ecoinformatics Emphasis (17 units):If completing the Astroinformatics Emphasis (14 units):
Take the following 33 - 36 units:
Foundations:
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Professional Requirements
Take the following 64 units:
Core Requirements (45 units)- CS 249, CS 345, CS 386, CS 480 (12 units)
- EE 222 (3 units)
- MAT 226 (3 units)
- STA 275, STA 371 (6 units)
- ENG 302W (3 units)
- INF 376, INF 386, INF 476C, INF 486C (12 units)
An additional 6 units of elective coursework at the 200-level or above, chosen after consulting with your academic or faculty advisor, from CS, EE, MAT, STA, BIO, PHY, or AST. Students may petition for approval of courses with other prefixes.
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Emphasis Requirements (19 units):
Select one:
Bioinformatics Emphasis (19 units):- BIO 205, BIO 205L, BIO 240, BIO 344, BIO 450, BIO 482C (16 units)
- Additional BIO coursework at the 300-level or above (3 units)
General Electives
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Additional coursework is required if, after you have met the previously described requirements, you have not yet completed a total of 120 units of credit.
You may take these remaining courses from any of the academic areas, using these courses to pursue your specific interests and goals. You may also use prerequisites or transfer credits as electives if they weren't used to meet major, minor, or liberal studies requirements.
We encourage you to consult with your advisor to select the courses that will be most advantageous to you.
Additional Information
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Be aware that some courses may have prerequisites that you must also successfully complete. For prerequisite information, click on the course or see your advisor.