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DEGREES & PROGRAMS

• Courses
  • Descriptions
  • Schedules
• Undergraduate
  • Major
  • Minor
• Graduate
  • MSIS
  • MSLS
  • Certificates of Specialization
  • Dual Degrees
  • Ph.D.
  • CAS
• Continuing Education
• International Programs
• Web-based Information Science Education (WISE)




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BSIS:
• Overview
• Curriculum
• Admissions
• Cost & Financial Aid
• Research
• Academic Policies

The information science major consists of 10 courses (30 credits), including a prerequisite course, INLS 200. The courses required for completion of the BSIS are as follows:

• INLS 200 (40), Retrieving and Analyzing Information (prerequisite to enrollment, usually taken in the sophomore year)
• INLS 261 (50), Tools for Information Literacy
• INLS 285 (55), Information Use for Organizational Effectiveness
• INLS 382 (60), Information Systems Analysis and Design
• INLS 523 (156), Database Concepts and Applications
• INLS 697 (92), Emerging Topics in Information Science (taken in the senior year)

In addition to these required courses, each student should work with his or her adviser to select a coherent set of four or more electives that will meet the student's objectives.

The undergraduate committee has devised several concentrations based on clusters of electives in particular areas:

• Databases
• Geographic Information Systems
• Human-Computer Interaction
• Health Information Systems
• IS Generalist
• Networks, Programmer/Analyst
• Web Development
• Web Design
• Graduate school
  • MSLS
  • MSIS

These suggestions are to serve as guides for students and advisors, but all students are expected to work with their advisor to choose electives that best fit their interests.

BSIS students are not allowed to complete more than 40 credits of their program (i.e., 40 of the 120 credits needed for graduation from UNC) in SILS courses. They may take a few additional electives in SILS, but are encouraged to acquire a broad education in the liberal arts and sciences.

Other electives that are not included on the suggested concentration lists but that may be of interest to some students are:

• BIOS 511 (111), Introduction to Statistical Computing and Data Management
• BUSI 520 (192), Business Innovation through Information Technology(only 1.5 hours, but be taken with another elective of at least 1.5 hours)
• CHEM 442 (142), Analytical Research Techniques
• COMP 121 (015), Introduction to Functional Programming (as a substitute for COMP 14)
• COMP 116 (161), Introduction to Scientific Programming (as a substitute for COMP 14)
• COMP 521 (421), Files and Databases
• INLS 584 (105), Information Ethics
• INLS 510 (115), Natural Language Processing
• INLS 525 (165), Records Management
• MUSC 239 (039), Introduction to Music Technology
• OR 305 (140), Decision Making Using Spreadsheet Models
• PHYS 633 (193), Scientific Programming
• PLCY 190 (198.1), Computer Applications in Policy and Programming

The above electives have already been approved by the undergraduate committee. Any course offering in any department related to the study of Information Science can be considered as a potential elective subject to review by the undergraduate committee.

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Database Concentration

Suggested Elective Courses

• INLS 623 (157), Database Systems I (strongly recommended)

• INLS 520 (150), Organization of Information

• INLS 572 (181), Internet Applications

• One programming course:

  • COMP 14, Introduction to Programming OR

  • INLS 560 (161), Non-numeric Programming for Information Systems Applications

Other Related Courses

• INLS 509 (172), Information Retrieval

• INLS 576 (183), Distributed Systems and Administration

• INLS 566 (187), Information Security

• INLS 723 (258), Database Systems II

• INLS 760 (259), Web Databases

• COMP 401 (114), Foundation of Programming

• COMP 410 (210), Data Structures

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Geographic Information Systems Concentration

Suggested Elective Courses

• INLS 520 (150), Organization of Information

• INLS 623 (157), Database Systems I

• One programming course:

  • COMP 14, Introduction to Programming OR

  • INLS 560 (161), Non-numeric Programming for Information Systems Applications

• GEOG 477 (177), Introduction to Remote Sensing and Digital Image Processing

• GEOG 491 (191), Technical Issues in Geographic Information Systems

• GEOG 591 (192), Applied Issues in Geographic Information Systems

Other Related Courses

• INLS 582 (162), Systems Analysis

• INLS 720 (252), Metadata Architectures and Applications

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Human-Computer Interaction / Interface Design / Interaction Design Concentration

Suggested Elective Courses

• INLS 318 (062), Human-Computer Interaction

• One programming course:

  • COMP 14, Introduction to Programming OR

  • INLS 560 (161), Non-numeric Programming for Information Systems Applications

• One social science research methods course:

  • INLS 395 (098), Research Methods in Information Science OR

  • PSYC 210 (030), Statistical Principles of Psychological Research

• INLS 500 (180), Human Information Interactions

• INLS 572 (181), Internet Applications

• PSYC 230 (020), Cognitive Psychology

Other Related Courses

• INLS 582 (162), Systems Analysis

• INLS 520 (150), Organization of Information

• COMP 401 (114), Foundation of Programming

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Health Information Systems / Medical Information Systems Concentration

If you want to work in the medical field, choose either the IS generalist or programmer/analyst specialization, and supplement it with some of the courses listed below. Students interested in this specialization may wish to minor in Health Policy and Administration or health-related area. If you are a double major in HPAA or are a minor in HPAA, no more than one of your SILS electives may be selected from the courses counted toward your second major/minor.

Suggested Elective Courses

• HPAA 380 (057), Data Base Design for Health Care Applications (in place of INLS 156)

• HPAA 350 (070), Introduction to Health Services Systems

• HPAA 341 (085), Computers in Health Administration (in place of INLS 50)

• One programming course:

  • COMP 14, Introduction to Programming OR

  • INLS 560 (161), Non-numeric Programming for Information Systems Applications

• HPAA 101, Information Management in Health Policy and Administration

• HPAA 440 (155), Management Information Systems in Health Care

Other Related Courses

• INLS 748 (216), Health Sciences Environment

• INLS 705 (225), Health Sciences Information

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IS Generalist Concentration

The IS Generalist is prepared for positions where a knowledge of the entire range of information systems is needed, such as in a small business or non-profit organization.

Suggested Elective Courses

• INLS 318 (062), Human-Computer Interaction

• INLS 582 (162), Systems Analysis

• INLS 623 (157), Database Systems I

• INLS 574 (182), Introduction to Local Area Networks

• INLS 566 (187), Information Security

• One programming course:

  • COMP 14, Introduction to Programming OR

  • INLS 560 (161), Non-numeric Programming for Information Systems Applications

Other Related Courses

• INLS 520 (150), Organization of Information

• INLS 576 (183), Distributed Systems and Administration

• INLS 578 (184), Protocols and Network Management

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Networks Concentration

Suggested Elective Courses

• One programming course:

  • COMP 14, Introduction to Programming OR

  • INLS 560 (161), Non-numeric Programming for Information Systems Applications

• INLS 574 (182), Introduction to Local Area Networks

• INLS 576 (183), Distributed Systems and Adminstration

• INLS 578 (184), Protocols and Network Management

• INLS 566 (187), Information Security

Other Related Courses

• COMM 544 (144), Communication and Information Technologies

• COMP 401 (114), Foundations of Programming

• COMP 411 (211), Computer Organization

• COMP 410 (210), Data Structures

• COMP 431 (331), Internet Services and Protocols

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Programmer/Analyst Concentration

Suggested Elective Courses

• INLS 318 (062), Human-Computer Interaction

• INLS 623 (157), Database Systems I

• INLS 582 (162), Systems Analysis

• INLS 574 (182), Introducation to Local Area Networks

• One beginning programming course:

  • COMP 14, Introduction to Programming OR

  • INLS 560 (161), Non-numeric Programming for Information Systems Applications

• One advanced programming course:

  • COMP 401 (114), Foundation of Programming

  • COMP 416 (226), Introduction to WWW Programming

  • COMP 426 (118), Advanced WWW Programming

Other Related Courses

• INLS 576 (183), Distributed Systems and Adminstration

• INLS 578 (184), Protocols and Network Management

• INLS 566 (187), Information Security

• COMP 410 (210), Data Structures

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Web Development Concentration

Suggested Elective Courses

• INLS 318 (062), Human Computer Interaction

• INLS 572 (181), Internet Applications

• One programming course:

  • COMP 14, Introduction to Programming OR

  • INLS 560 (161), Non-numeric Programming for Information Systems Applications

• COMP 401 (114), Foundation of Programming

• COMP 416 (226), Introducation to WWW programming

Other Related Courses

• INLS 760 (259), Web Databases

• COMP 426 (118), Advanced WWW Programming

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Web Design Concentration

Web designers need a background in visual communications and to some degree in programming for the web. For this specialization, students may:

• double major in SILS and JOMC (may only count one elective for both majors)

• major in SILS and minor in JOMC (may not count any class for both)

• major in SILS and be admitted to JOMC classes on a space-available basis

Suggested Elective Courses

• INLS 318 (062), Human-Computer Interaction

• INLS 572 (181), Internet Applications

• INLS 668 (191), Advanced Internet Applications

• One programming course:

  • COMP 14, Introduction to Programming OR

  • INLS 560 (161), Non-numeric Programming for Information Systems Applications

• JOMC 185 (085), The World of Graphic Design

• JOMC 188 (088), Introduction to Multimedia

• JOMC 488 (188), Cybercasting and Cyberpublishing

• JOMC 489 (189), Multimedia Web and CD-ROM Production

Other Related Courses

• JOMC 485 (185), Publication Design

• JOMC 486 (186), Promotion Design

• JOMC 487 (187), Information Graphics

• COMM 431 (130), Advanced Audio Production

• COMM 636 (136), Interactive Media

• COMM 450 (150), Popular Culture

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Preparation for MSLS

This specialization will prepare students to enter our graduate program in library science. It is expected that they wil practice in some area of librarianship when they complete the master's degree.

Choose one of the specialist areas such as IS generalist . Graduate admissions committees tend to look more favorably on applicants who have knowledge of a content area in addition to Information Science. Therefore, a minor in a particular discipline or a double major is highly recommended.

Suggested Elective Courses

• INLS 397 (091), Information Science Internship (in a library setting)

• INLS 550 (108), History of the Book and Other Information Formats OR

• INLS 551 (109), History of Libraries and Other Information Related Cultural Institutions

• One of the required courses for the MSLS

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Preparation for MSIS

This specialization will prepare students to enter our graduate program in information science. It is expected that they will use the master's program to focus on a particular area of practice in information science.

Graduate admissions committees tend to look more favorably on applicants who have knowledge of a content area in addition to information science. Therefore, a minor in a particular discipline or a double major is highly recommended.

Suggested Elective Courses

• INLS 318 (062), Human-Computer Interaction

• INLS 397 (091), Information Science Internship (in a library setting)

• INLS 395 (098), Research Methods in Information Science

• INLS 691 (099), Honors Thesis

• INLS 582 (162), Systems Analysis

• One or two programming courses:

  • COMP 14, Introduction to Programming OR

  • INLS 560 (161), Non-Numeric Programming for Information Systems

• COMP 380 (180), Computers and Society

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