Course Descriptions

Undergraduate

INF100
Intro to Informatics I - Basic Concepts
The course deals with the nature of Informatics within the information technology space. The core concept of integration of people, technology and information will be addressed. The emphasis will be on the practical dimension of Informatics, real problems, and the socio-economic situations in which they arise. A variety of Informatics tools will be presented from a variety of domains, and their implications for science, engineering, art, the humanities and society will be discussed. 3 credits.

INF110
Intro to Informatics II - Information Infrastructures
Basic concepts of computing and network hardware. Software architecture of information systems. Basic concepts of systems and applications programming. Fundamental programming constructs, including loops, arrays, classes, and files. General problem-solving techniques. Building secure and reliable information infrasturctures. Prerequisite: INF 100. 3 credits.

INF200
Social Informatics
Social and behavioral foundations of informatics. Theoretical approaches to how technology is used from psychological and sociotechnical perspectives. Examples of how current and emerging technologies such as games, e-mail, and electronic commerce are affecting daily lives, social relations, work, and leisure time. Prerequisites: INF 110 and PHIL 114. 3 credits.

INF200
Introduction to Healthcare Informatics
Introduces the fields of informatics within the healthcare sector. Emphasizes core concept of the integration of people, technology and information. Focuses on the applications of informatics within healthcare delivery settings, from hospitals to provider offices to long-term care facilities to the home care setting. Informatics domains in various healthcare fields are presented, and changes in healthcare practice due to technology integration and deployment are highlighted. 3 credits.

INF210
Organizational Informatics
Needs, uses, and consequences of information in organizational contexts. Topics include organizational types and characteristics, functional areas and business processes, information-based products and services, use of and redefining role of information technology, changing character of work and organizational practices, socio-technical structures, and rise and transformation of information-based industries. Prerequisites: INF 110 and PHIL 114. 3 credits.

INF220
Human-Computer Interaction
The analysis of human factors and the design of computer application interfaces. A survey of current best practices with an eye toward the evolutionary path of future technologies. Prerequisites: INF 110 and PHIL 114. 3 credits.

INF300
Digital Media
This course studies how the paradigm shift to a digital world will affect humanity. The course will consider the evolution of media arts and its underlying principles of communications. Introduction to, and comparison between, digital media for secure storage of disparate media types. Secure media management. Students will study application development paradigms in current practice. Prerequisite: INF 220. 3 credits.

INF310
Information and Computer Systems Security
Current information and computer systems security issues, tools and practices. Basic cryptography, operations security, personnel and administrative security. Legal issues in information, computing and networked systems. Technical aspects of information and computer systems security required for optimal decision making. Risk analysis. Risk management. Information warfare. Information economics. Privacy. Maintaining continuous operation. Incident response. Security training. Security certifications. Case studies. Prerequisite: INF 210. 3 credits.

INF320
Informatics Project Management
The fundamentals of project management, planning, reporting, team building, and team leadership. The project lifecycle: planning, analysis, design, implementation, testing, evaluation, and maintenance. Security risks and controls. Responding to changes in market conditions, resources, requirements, and schedules. Securing systems and processes. Security risks, risk management, and controls. Budgeting for information security, reliability and privacy. Prerequisites: INF 210 and MATH 132. 3 credits.

INF345 (Formerly CS345)
Information Warfare
Introduction to the principles of information security. Survey of information security technologies, management and administration techniques necessary to improve information security and respond to a security breach, legal and ethical issues relating to information security, case studies. Prerequisite: Junior standing. 3 credits.

INF400
Advanced Topics in Informatics
Varied topics. Emphasis is on new developments and research in informatics. May be repeated for credit when topics vary with permission of advisor and Director. Prerequisites: INF 300, 310, 320 and junior standing. 3 credits.

INF420
Advanced HCI - Theory and Concepts
Covers the cognitive theory relevant to interactive system design. Addresses multidisciplinary foundations of Human Computer Interaction varying from social and behavioral sciences to information and computer technologies. Prerequisite: INF 220. 3 credits.

INF421
Advanced HCI - Design and Implementation
Organized around readings in Human Computer Interaction and various design projects applying HCI interaction principles to the design, implementation, and evaluation of interactive systems. Reading topics include interactive design basics, design rules, implementation, and evaluation techniques. Prerequisites: INF 220 and CS 135. 3 credits.

INF450
Digital Forensics
Broad overview of digital forensics and cyber-crime scene analysis. Topics include: digital forensics in law enforcement; digital evidence collection and analysis; digital forensic tools; computer forensic laws, regulations, and international standards; and network forensics. Prerequisite: INF 110. 3 credits.

INF451
Computer Forensics
Principles, process, procedures, and the technologies behind computer forensics. Topics include: structured cyber-crime scene investigations; media types; computer hardware and operating system dependent issues; data acquisition and analysis; and open source forensics tools. Prerequisite: INF 450. 3 credits.

INF452
Network Forensics
Principles and the technologies behind Network Forensics. Topics include: digital evidence in network layers; intrusion detection/prevention systems; network forensics tools and investigation techniques, and various case studies in network forensics. Prerequisite: INF 450. 3 credits.

INF499
Informatics Professional Internship
Students gain professional work experience in an industry or research organization setting, using skills and knowledge acquired in informatics course work. Prerequisites: INF 300, 310, 320 and junior standing. 3 credits.

Graduate

INF 700
Theoretical Foundations of Informatics
Overview of theoretical concepts in informatics, including first-order logic, computability theory, complexity theory, graph theory, sets and relations, combinatorial math, and statistics. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor. 3 credits

INF 710
Informatics Systems and Networks
In-depth study of various types of informatics systems and networks. Topics include: types of informatics systems; data and knowledge management; computer networks and the Internet; wireless and mobile network; e-business and e-commerce; network management. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor. 3 credits

INF 720
Information Security
Overview of the principles and the technologies behind information security. Topics include: risks and vulnerabilities; principles of information security; encryption; security mechanisms in information systems; administration of information security, information crime, and legal and ethical issues. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor. 3 credits

INF 730
Human Computer Interaction
This course covers the fundamental concepts and techniques for design, implementation, and evaluation of human computer interfaces. Topics include Foundations of Human computer interaction, design and implementation techniques for graphical user interfaces, evaluation techniques, and different interface models. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor. 3 credits

INF 740
Digital Media Design, Technology and Representation
This course covers principles of design to visualize new media concepts in any medium. Students are exposed to new and emerging digital media technologies and applications. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor. 3 credits

INF 760
Advanced Theoretical Foundations of Informatics
Advanced course to cover mathematical methods for information modeling, analysis, and manipulation. This course requires various research article reading and discussions. The topics include proof techniques, first-order logic, computability theory, complexity theory, and statistics. Prerequisite: INF 700 Theoretical Foundations of Informatics. 3 credits

INF 770
Social Foundations of Informatics
This course covers the relationships between social systems and information and communication technologies. It focuses on social factors that influence the organization of information technologies, possible applications of information technologies in social and organizational systems, and how the human social factors and technological tools mutually contribute to the field of Informatics. Prerequisite: INF 700 Theoretical Foundations of Informatics. 3 credits

INF 780
Special Topics in Informatics
Emphasis is on new developments and research in science, humanities, fine arts, and other domain informatics. Prerequisite: INF 700 Theoretical Foundations of Informatics. 3 credits

INF 790
Informatics Project
Advanced project in informatics. May be repeated for different project topics, but only three credits will be applied to the student's program. S/F grading only. Prerequisites: INF 700 Theoretical Foundations of Informatics and consent of instructor. 3 credits

INF 792
Internship
Supervised internship in business, industry, government, or educational institution providing experience to use skills and knowledge acquired in informatics and cognate course work. Prerequisites: INF 700 Theoretical Foundations of Informatics and consent of instructor. 3 credits

INF 794
Research Methods
Examination of research methods including: the scientific method, sampling, statistics, research design, analytical technique, literature review, technical writing, professional ethics, faculty research areas and potential topics for thesis. Prerequisite: INF 700 Theoretical Foundations of Informatics. 3 credits

INF 799
Dissertation Research
Research analysis and writing towards completion of dissertation and subsequent defense. May be repeated but no more than 18 credits will be allowed in the degree. S/F grading only. Prerequisite: Passing;the written comprehensive examination. 1-6 credits