2024-2025

Informatics, Master of Science

School of Informatics, Computing and Cyber Systems

College of Engineering, Informatics, and Applied Sciences

Informaticists apply their interdisciplinary scientific and technological skillsets to analyze and develop solutions for problems central to contemporary science. The MS in Informatics enables students to either enter the informatics workforce or continue on to a doctoral program of study.
 
Individual and team-based assignments will enable students to build mastery of important informatics skills and their practical applications in areas that include population health, bioinformatics, remote sensing, ecological modeling, wearable computing, and machine learning and data science.
 
The non-thesis option of this program allows students to complete their degree through coursework and project-based learning, while the thesis option is focused on engagement with research projects under the mentorship of a faculty member and culminating in the preparation and defense of a thesis.
 
The program is strengthened through broad collaborations and partnerships, including the Center for Bioengineering Innovation, Pathogen and Microbiome Institute, 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. Regional research collaborators include the Translational Genomics Research Institute, Northern Arizona Healthcare and Flagstaff Medical Center, North Country HealthCare, U.S. Geological Survey, and Northern Arizona Planetary Science Alliance.

  • To receive a master’s degree at Northern Arizona University, you must complete a planned group of courses from one or more subject areas, consisting of at least 30 units of graduate-level courses. Many master’s degree programs require more than 30 units.

    You must additionally complete:

    • All requirements for your specific academic plan(s). This may include a thesis.
    • All graduate work with a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0.
    • All work toward the master's degree must be completed within six consecutive years. The six years begins with the semester and year of admission to the program.

    Read the full policy here.

In addition to University Requirements:

  • Complete individual plan requirements.

Minimum Units for Completion 30
Additional Admission Requirements

Individual program admission requirements over and above admission to NAU are required.
Thesis Thesis may be required by chosen emphasis or offered as an option.
Comprehensive Exam Comprehensive Exam may be required by chosen emphasis or offered as an option.
Oral Defense Oral Defense may be required by chosen emphasis or offered as an option.
Research Individualized research may be required by chosen emphasis or offered as an option.
Progression Plan Link View Program of Study
Accelerated Undergraduate/Graduate Plan Optional

Purpose Statement

This MS in Informatics will prepare you to either enter the informatics workforce or continue on to a doctoral program of study, building core skills that are widely applicable to many areas of science.
 
Core coursework provides learning opportunities in the foundations of informatics, programming and computer science, structuring large-scale data sets, machine learning, and statistical data analysis. Elective coursework allows students to customize their program of study so that it is maximally aligned with their professional or research interests, with coursework available in many areas of informatics, including epidemiology, bioinformatics, ecological modeling, and remote sensing. Thesis option students will have additional opportunities to engage in informatics research and scholarship under the mentorship of an informatics faculty member as prepare a thesis on their specific research.
 
This program is designed for students with strong preparation in an area of science, such as biology or ecology, and experience in computer programming and data analysis gained through successful completion of a relevant undergraduate program or other professional experience. The non-thesis option of the program is designed for students seeking professional preparation, while the thesis option is particularly appropriate for students for considering further graduate study in a doctoral program.
 
As a graduate, you will be prepared to contribute in a wide variety of informatics areas, including population health, bioinformatics, remote sensing, ecological modeling, wearable computing, and machine learning and data science.

Student Learning Outcomes

  • Identify, explain, and synthesize fundamental concepts of informatics, including population health, bioinformatics, remote sensing, ecological modeling, wearable computing, and machine learning and data science.
  • Analyze and critically distill scientific literature to identify informatics theories and development and research methods appropriate to relevant science problems and research areas.
  • Apply informatics theories and development and research methods to formulate, develop, and assess informatics solutions to relevant science problems and research areas.
  • Compose and engage in highly effective written and oral communication in informatics areas that demonstrates clear argumentation and logical cohesion.

Graduate Admission Information

  • The NAU graduate online application is required for all programs. Admission to many graduate programs is on a competitive basis, and programs may have higher standards than those established by the Office of Graduate and Professional Studies.

    Admission requirements include the following:

    • Transcripts.
    • Undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited institution with a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale ("A" = 4.0), or the equivalent.


    Visit the NAU Graduate Admissions website for additional information about graduate school application deadlines, eligibility for study, and admissions policies.

    Ready to apply? Begin your application now.

    International applicants have additional admission requirements. Please see the International Graduate Admissions Policy.

Additional Admission Requirements

  • Individual program admission requirements over and above admission to NAU are required.

    • Expertise in key informatics areas such as computer science, biology, or ecology.
    • Letter(s) of Recommendation or Reference(s)
      • Two letters from recommenders who are familiar with the prospective student’s informatics qualifications.
    • Personal Statement or Essay
      • Personal statement outlining the prospective student’s professional goals in informatics and an indication of interest in either the thesis or non-thesis option.
  • For those applying for Fall 2025 and beyond, the following will also be required:
    • Resume or Curriculum Vitae
Master's Requirements

  • This Master’s degree requires 30 units distributed as follows:

    • Computing Foundation Coursework: 6 units
    • Statistical Methods Coursework: 9 units
    • Professional Development Coursework: 3 units
    • Thesis or Non-Thesis Option: 12 units


    Take the following 30 units:

  • Computing Foundations Coursework (6 units)

  • Professional Development Coursework (3 units)

  • Thesis or Non-thesis Option (12 units)

    • Thesis Option (12 units)

      • Thesis (6 units)
        • Complete INF 699 under the direction of an informatics research advisor. (6 units)
      • Informatics Electives (6 units)
        • Any INF, CS, EE, EES, ENV, BIO, FOR, GLG, STA, MAT prefixed 500-level courses (6 units)

      Thesis option students are responsible for selecting a research advisor who will act as their thesis committee chair as well as other members of their thesis committee before completing 9 units of coursework in the degree program.

      Thesis option students must successfully complete a thesis and thesis final defense and are responsible for following all applicable NAU Requirements for Theses and Dissertations (policy number 100806).

      Students are responsible for ensuring that they meet all course prerequisites.

    • Non-Thesis Option (12 units)

      • Informatics Electives (12 units)
        • Complete any INF, CS, EE, BIO, FOR, EES, ENV, GLG, STA, MAT prefixed 500-level courses 

      Students are responsible for ensuring that they meet all course prerequisites.

  • Students enrolled in this plan may not enroll in or pursue the following due to the number of overlapping units:

Accelerated Bachelor's to Master's Program

    • This program is available as an Accelerated Undergraduate/Graduate Plan wherein a student may start a master's degree while simultaneously completing their bachelor's degree.

    • Students ernolled at the Flagstaff campus for both undergraduate and graduate programs are eligible to complete the Bachelor of Computer Science in Computer Science and start a Master of Science in Informatics - Non-thesis option at NAU.

      OR

      Students ernolled at the Flagstaff campus for both undergraduate and graduate programs are eligible to complete the Bachelor of Science in Informatics and start a Master of Science in Informatics - Non-thesis option at NAU.

      OR

      Students ernolled at the Flagstaff campus for both undergraduate and graduate programs are eligible to complete the Bachelor of Science in Software Engineering and start a Master of Science in Informatics - Non-thesis option at NAU.

    • Students must apply to the master's program by the graduate program's application deadline, meet all admissions requirements listed in the policy Accelerated Bachelor's to Master's Programs, as well as the admissions requirements for the specified master's plan to be considered for admission. Admission to programs is competitive and qualified applicants may be denied because of limits on the number of students admitted each year.

      Be sure to speak with the Master's Program Director/Coordinator regarding your interest in the accelerated plan.

    • Students accepted into the Accelerated Program should complete the following requirements:

    • Master's Requirements

      This Master’s degree requires 30 units distributed as follows:

      • Computing Foundation Coursework: 6 units
      • Statistical Methods Coursework: 9 units
      • Professional Development Coursework: 3 units
      • Non-Thesis Coursework: 12 units


      Take the following 30 units:

    • Computing Foundations Coursework (6 units)

    • Professional Development Coursework (3 units)

    • Non-Thesis Option (12 units)

      • Informatics Electives (12 units)
        • 400-Level Electives (6 units)
          • Complete any INF, CS, EE, BIO, FOR, EES, ENV, GLG, STA, MAT 400-level courses. (6 units)
        • 400- or 500-Level Electives (6 units)
          • Complete any INF, CS, EE, BIO, FOR, EES, ENV, GLG, STA, MAT prefixed 400- or 500-level courses. (6 units)
       

      Students are responsible for ensuring that they meet all course prerequisites.

    • Students enrolled in this plan may not enroll in or pursue the following due to the number of overlapping units:

Additional Information

  • 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.

  • Program Fee Information

  • Program fees are established by the Arizona Board of Regents (ABOR). A program fee has been approved for this program. See program fee details. Program fees are subject to change and updated July 1 for the next academic year.