• Introduction
• Prospective and Current I.S. Students
• CCIS Undergraduate In General
• CCIS Graduate In General
• B.S.I.S. Quarter System Archive

Introduction: Information, Computers, and People

The interaction between information, computers, and people is the focus of a new education and research initiative underway in the College of Computer and Information Science at Northeastern University. The presence of computers in every aspect of modern life amounts to a fundamental social change that has led to the creation of a new academic discipline: one that emphasizes how information technology is used and how it is changing our world.

Information science is the study of how information is acquired, organized, communicated and used by both people and computers. Why are many computer systems difficult to use? Why do many large information systems fail to meet the needs of the organizations they are designed to help? How can we realize the social benefits of information technology, while avoiding the potential negative side-effects? To answer these questions and develop effective solutions requires both technical expertise and an understanding of the cognitive and cultural environment in which computers and people interact.

Like architects who design the buildings where people live and work, information scientists are able to analyze the goals and needs of clients, and design information systems that are technically sound, meet the client's needs, are enjoyable to use, and conform to the laws and policies of society.

Information for Prospective and Current I.S. Students

Our Philosophy

Read a published paper discussing the need for new alternatives in computing education and Northeastern's response to meet this need.

Undergraduate Studies

The College currently offers a Bachelor of Science degree in Information Science (B.S.I.S), which combines concepts and skills from computer science, behavioral/social science, and system design in an integrated curriculum. Required coursework covers: information architecture; information system design and development; programming and software design; database design; systems and networks; information resource management; social informatics; quantitative and qualitative research methods; and human-computer interaction. A large variety of elective courses in information and computer science, business, and the behavioral and social sciences complement the core curriculum. In a 2-semester senior capstone project, students utilize their experience in the Cooperative Education program to apply what they have learned in the classroom to a real-world situation.

A list of the Information Science course requirements can be found by linking to the Undergraduate Programs page.

A 12-page booklet suitable for printing includes a discussion of the goals of the program, how it differs from degrees in computer science and management information systems, and a complete description of the curriculum.

• booklet.doc (MSWord)
• booklet.pdf (Adobe Acrobat)

Arts and Sciences Core Curriculum Information

Documentation of the Arts and Science Core categories and a complete course list can be found here.

Course Descriptions

Descriptions of all undergraduate courses in the College of Computer and Information Science can be found here.

Graduate Studies

The College, through its existing graduate programs in computer science, offers M.S. and Ph.D. studies in a number of information science areas, including human-computer interaction, information retrieval, machine learning, natural language processing, database systems, and information assurance. A Ph.D. program in Information Science is planned for a future date.

CCIS Undergraduate Studies in general

Complete information about all undergraduate programs in the College of Computer and Information Science can be found here.

CCIS Graduate Studies in general

Complete information about all graduate programs in the College of Computer and Information Science can be found here.

B.S.I.S. Quarter System archive

Archival information on the Quarter System B.S.I.S. program can be found here.