Informatics@UNLV

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is Informatics?

Informatics develops new uses for information technology and in order to solve specific problems in areas as diverse as biology, fine arts, and economics. Informatics is also interested in how people transform technology, and how technology transforms people. The following are exemplars of new informatics areas:

digital cinematography (Entertainment Informatics)
design of interactive IT systems for resorts and casinos (Hospitality Informatics)
design of digital interfaces in computing, entertainment, digital appliances, etc. (Digital Media/Human Computer Interaction)
developing anti-spam and anti-phishing tools (Cybersecurity)
computing and Network Forensics (Cybersecurity)
innovation with virtual reality technologies (Digital Media/Human Computer Interaction)
digitizing the choreography of a play (Entertainment Informatics)
understanding the human genome (BioInformatics)

In many ways, informatics is a bridge connecting IT to a particular field of study such as biology, chemistry, fine arts, telecommunications, geography, engineering, business, economics, journalism, etc. Because of this, all undergraduate Informatics students choose a field or discipline that interests them (which we call a cognate ). The cognate allows them to follow their own personal interests, and take courses in other programs at UNLV.

Some cognates lead to recently recognized disciplines, as ecology leads to eco-informatics. Other cognates lead to well-understood careers that are just now emerging as disciplines, such as fine arts leading to the design of interactive Internet Web sites, animations, digital motion pictures, and interactive art. For those interested in computers and programming, the computer science cognate adds further technology strength to our human-centered, problem solving curriculum.

2. What is the difference between Informatics and Computer Science or Management Information Systems?

Informatics is inherently multi-disciplinary. One cannot obtain an informatics degree without taking the prescribed number of cognate courses from fine arts, humanities, engineering and the sciences. Cognate courses are tightly integrated with the informatics core and focused on a particular career objective. Examples of the marketability of such a multi-disciplinary approach include:

informatics + hotel administration for an IT career in the hospitality industry
informatics + film for a career in digital cinematography
informatics + criminal justice for a career in computer forensics
informatics + psychology or fine arts for a career in interactive video game design
informatics + business or law for a career in digital rights management
informatics + biology for a career in bioinformatics
informatics + law for a career in Internet and intellectual property law
informatics + law for a career in criminal law specializing in Internet and computer crimes

3. Why does UNLV need another IT program?

The job market has shifted over the past two decades. The market for computing generalists is shrinking worldwide. Future jobs will require less technical ability but far more sensitivity to the core business strategy of the employer and "soft skills" (aka, communication skills, writing skills, people skills, process controls, project management). This applies to most expanding IT areas from pharmaceutical manufacturing to information security. Many of the traditional IT jobs are being outsourced and off-shored. Informatics jobs, because of their tight coupling to a specific industry and their emphasis on soft skills, are proving to be relatively immune to this trend.

Discussion of this trend has been reported extensively by the media and professional associations. The excerpts below were taken from the 2004 and 2005 Taulbee Survey Reports published by the Computing Research:

"The number of new undergraduate [computer science and computer engineering] majors dropped 10% [in 2004]. This follows last year's 23% drop in new majors." (source: May, 2005, CRA Newsletter).

"The percentage of incoming undergraduates indicating that they would major in CS declined by more than 60 percent between the fall of 2000 and 2004, and is now 70 percent lower than its peak in the early 1980's."

Three explanations are given for this trend (May, 2004, CRA Newsletter):

"decline in the technology industry and the moving of jobs offshore are making computer science and engineering less alluring..."
"some programs have restricted admission... either by setting numerical limits or increasing the standards for admission."
"the introduction of new undergraduate programs in the IT field [such as Informatics] has created alternatives to the traditional CS and CE majors."

Existing UNLV IT-related programs do not offer the multidisciplinary, application-focused approach to IT education that informatics will.

4. How does Outsourcing and Off-Shoring affect Informatics jobs?

The most recent (February, 2006) ACM report on job migration, outsourcing and offshoring is summarized by ACM President David Patterson in his President's Letter in the February, 2006 issue of Communications of the ACM. In reviewing the voluminous ACM report, Patterson recommends the following strategy for IT education [underscoring added to identify keywords]:

"Students must be taught to be innovative and creative ..."
"Teamwork and communication skills remain important, but an understanding of other cultures and languages [are] helpful in this global economy ."
"More attention must be paid to large applications , standard tools and platforms that will be used by IT workers around the world, such as J2EE or .NET"
"Industry should be given greater opportunity to participate in model curriculum development ..."

Patterson also lists several types of IT work that is not likely to be off-shored or outsourced:

"Work that has not been routinized "
"Work that if off-shored would result in ... losing too much control over critical operations ."
"Situations [that] would place the procuring company at too great a risk to its data security, data privacy, or intellectual property ."
[jobs] "that rely on a specific application-domain knowledge and IT knowledge ..."

Patterson's recommendations define programs like those offered by UNLV's School of Informatics . The Informatics graduate thinks globally, is taught to innovate, work in teams, and is trained in the use of the latest applications, tools and platforms. The curriculum was developed by a team of UNLV faculty and local business executives. The two initial emphasis areas of digital media and security are two of the mission-critical areas within modern enterprises that are unlikely to be outsourced or off-shored for the reason Patterson gives.

5. What do the stakeholders say?

UNLV STUDENTS: This past fall we surveyed a cross-section of UNLV students in a computer literacy course. Not only were the students supportive of the concept of an Informatics course, but 60.4% of the respondents indicated that they would consider majoring in informatics if such a program became available at UNLV.

EXTERNAL CONSULTANTS: UNLV brought in the Dean of the Indiana University School of Informatics (the largest program in the nation) to review our proposals. Here's what he said:

"I believe that UNLV is strategically positioned to take a leadership position in some key areas of informatics - security and entertainment among them. You are fortunate to have someone on faculty who actually witnessed and documented the recent birth of the new IT programs in North America . This will serve you well since he recorded both the successes to emulate and failures to avoid in his research in the area. I also believe that you have a decided advantage in having a local business community that is willing to invest in informatics programs that serve their considerable recruiting needs." (Report to UNLV Provost Ray Alden, April 12, 2005 )

In an earlier report in November, 2002, three external consultants (also Deans of I-schools) reported:

"UNLV has an exciting opportunity to build strength in teaching, research, and public service in the areas of computing and information technology applications. With appropriate care and investment the university could leverage its unique regional assets to become a world leader in important subdomains of this expanding field. The consultants speak from experience on this matter: all three have been intimately involved in creating large and innovative programs that have brought distinction to their universities. In all three cases, success was due to a combination of strong leadership from faculty, university leadership, and external patrons who were willing to commit substantial resources to the endeavor. The essential conditions to accomplish this at UNLV are in place." (Report to UNLV Provost Ray Alden, November 30, 2002 )

LOCAL INDUSTRY STAKEHOLDERS : This quote from UNLV's external consultant says it all:

"When I and the other consultants met with CIOs from the gaming industry, they reported that while they were very satisfied with current UNLV graduates [in IT areas], they only needed 10/year. However if UNLV would respond to their needs with a degree program in informatics, they'd hire 250-300/year." (April 12 report)

The informatics curriculum was developed in cooperation with local business and industry leaders. This approach to the curriculum development ensures that UNLV Informatics graduates will maintain a competitive advantage in the local job market in IT. This is good for the graduates, good for their employers and good for the city and State as our graduates find gainful employment here and are not forced to relocate to other regions of the country.

6. What sub-areas of Informatics will be developed first?

The first few years of the program will emphasize entertainment and security because that's where the preponderance of IT jobs in the Las Vegas area are. Both sub-areas are broadly defined to include a spectrum of specializations, including but not limited to, the IT aspects of Hotel Administration, IT in the digital arts, IT security in the computing and communications industries, and so forth. We will expand from the entertainment and security sub-areas as student interest and local support warrants.

7. What makes an Informatics graduate distinctive?

Informatics students build solid technology skills on a traditional liberal arts foundation. The informatics graduate understands and appreciates the strengths and weaknesses of technology in the context of an application area. They understand the core business strategies of their organization, and see Information Technology as one of the many tools available to them to add value to their organization, and help it innovate and maintain a competitive advantage. They understand the value of teamwork and have extensive experience working with disparate groups. The Informatics graduate understands IT in the context of the organizational mission.

8. What are the admission requirements?

The basic requirements are UNLV admission, a passion for some cognate area, and math proficiency that includes college algebra and/or discrete mathematics.

9. How does Informatics affect UNLV's commitment to diversity?

There is no question that minorities and women are under-represented in IT. There are many reasons for that. Calculus-based programs tend to be off-putting to some, while static and inflexible degree requirements are discouraging to others. As a result, many potentially successful students seek to avoid the field of information technology altogether.

The multi-disciplinary approach of Informatics has much broader appeal than more narrow IT disciplines, for the curricula are sensitive to the needs of the marketplace. This principle of relevance-first will be a guiding theme for all Informatics programs of study.

We are sensitive to the problem of artificial academic barriers as a discouragement to under-represented constituencies and are committed to eliminate those that are not absolutely necessary for the successful matriculation in Informatics and gainful employment upon graduation.

10. Is there an Informatics internship program?

Not only is it available, it is required. Students need to know how to set themselves apart in the job market. This is especially true in tight job markets. The graduates with the most job experience are in highest demand. UNLV Informatics graduates will have a minimum of one-semester's work-experience prior to graduation with a local business or organization.

11. What high school courses prepare me for a major in Informatics?

any course that helps you expand your experience with computing and information technology
develop strengths in math, science, humanities, and art, as all play an important role in Informatics
develop your communications skills - both written and oral.
learn a popular programming language, such as Java, C#, C++, or Visual Basic
design and develop a Website
learn everything you can about information technology and its impact on society

12. Contact Information:

Robert J. Abella, Ph.D.

Howard R. Hughes College of Engineering
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
4505 Maryland Parkway
Las Vegas , NV 89154-4015

robertab@egr.unlv.edu

702-895-3699