Undergraduate

The Bachelor of Science in Information Science (BSIS), the Dual Bachelor's - Master's, and the Minor in Information Systems are designed to prepare graduates for a variety of careers in the information industry, including information architecture; database design and implementation; Web design and implementation; networking support and information consulting; as well as for graduate study.

 
 

For information on how to apply to our program, please visit the Admissions page.

The BSIS curriculum is the only program of its kind in North Carolina and one of only a few nationwide.

Information science is one of the fastest growing fields in the nation. It combines working with people, designing technology and developing information content. When you think of information science, think Twitter, Facebook, Web design, database design, online communities, Internet searches and much more that connect people with content and technology.

The BSIS program draws on our faculty's strengths in fields like usability, human-computer interaction, open source development, database design, information retrieval and human-information behavior and is designed to prepare graduates for a variety of careers in the information industry. Graduates go into positions of:

  • Social Media Manager (Facebook, Twitter, etc.)
  • Web Master
  • Knowledge Management Analyst
  • Information Technology Analyst
  • Software Quality Engineer
  • Risk Management: Vulnerability Analysis, Disaster Recovery and Business Continuation
  • Project Manager
  • Research Assistant
  • Graduate Student
  • And many more!

Graduates go on to work at organizations such as Apple, Credit Suisse, Progress Energy, SAS, CISCO, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Department of Homeland Security, Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina, Aetna, Lulu Enterprises, and the United States Census Bureau, to name just a few.

According to the United States Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics, the 30 fastest-growing occupations from now until 2016 include a number of information science occupations. The field of network systems and data communications is listed as the number one fastest growing occupation in the nation. Occupations like computer software engineers, systems software developers and database administrators are included on the list that require a bachelor's degree are included on the list as well.

Some of the exciting, emerging and growing fields of information science that students may wish to explore include:

  • Social Networking (Facebook, Twitter, etc.)
  • Open Culture: Open Source Software, Open Access
  • Intelligence: market intelligence, business and competitive intelligence
  • Search Engine Marketing or Search Engine Optimization
  • Cyber and Internet Security
  • Data Forensics: e-discovery, data recovery
  • Scientific Informatics

What is Information Science? 

Information science is the study of cognitive, social, technological and organizational roles of information in all its forms.

It rests on three foundational pillars:

  • Content: the substance of the information being created, communicated, stored, and/or transformed
  • People: those who interact with the content—they may be creators of information, recipients of information, or intermediaries in the communication process
  • Technology: used to support the creation, communication, storage or transformation of the content

 

What our graduates and students are saying ...

"The level of close interaction I was able to enjoy not only with my peers, but also with the outstanding professors, allowed me to feel like part of a family and not a major. Having access to and familiarity with the Dean and other staff is a college student’s dream, especially at a large public institution like UNC. The relationships I built will continue well into the future. The breadth and relevance of the coursework ensures that I will now be able to work and excel in almost any field. The SILS program makes every student’s success a priority and it truly made my Carolina experience." 
     - Mia Barnes, BSIS '09, Management and Program Analyst, FBI, Operational Technology Division, Forensics Support

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 "SILS taught me how to understand and work with information systems by learning to think critically about information processes that are effecting organizations today."
    - Jimmy Nguyen, BSIS '09, Technical Analyst, Information Technology Investment Banking Prime Services, Credit Suisse

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  "I think the BSIS program is excellent because it provides a comprehensive look at many different subject areas, while allowing for in-depth study into the topic of your personal choice. This way, you get to learn about and experience different methods for handling information and the technology behind these methods. I also think that the BSIS program provides an unparalleled faculty-student mentoring experience. Because of the small class sizes, I feel as though I get to know  each teacher personally as well as increase my learning exponentially because of their leadership in the field."
    - Ashlee Edwards, BSIS '11

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"I liked it so much I stayed for the doctoral program!"
    - Julia Kampov-Polevoi, BSIS '08, current doctoral student 

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“During my internship with CBS 42, I was hired as the Marketing Department’s Writer/Producer. As a writer, I retrieved information from various electronic sources such as government documents, large databases and the Internet. It was important to know how to effectively search for information. As a producer, I transferred video and images from one database to another.
…my dream is to serve as an information analyst for a television station. Knowing how to effectively analyze information is a very important trait for media professionals and I feel that I used many of the tactics that are taught in information science courses to make my internship a success.”                       
     - Crystal Essex, BSIS '08

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"SILS gave me technical experience, but more importantly it helped me find out how to quickly find appropriate information and answers to problems, such that I can pick up a new technology easily." 
     - Garnett Matney, BSIS '09, Technical Analyst, Information Technology Investment Banking Prime Services, Credit Suisse

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