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Dec 27, 2024
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2023-2024 Undergraduate and Graduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]
Informatics, MS
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The Master of Science in Informatics program focuses on the information technology aspect of enterprise computing, including the analytics, reporting, database management and other software solutions systems. The curriculum incorporates courses in informatics and computing and is designed so you can apply your degree at any level in, and across, any organization or area. The program emphasizes scholarly research and the application of the scientific method to computing and information technologies. Our aim is to guide students in the design, maintenance, and adaptation of information systems that solve problems pertinent to human needs.
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Admission and Prerequisites
In addition to the general application and admission requirements from the Graduate School, the MS Informatics program requires submission of a resume or CV and completion of undergraduate coursework (with a grade of C or better) in survey of calculus and statistics. (At UL Lafayette, these courses include MATH 250 and either STAT 325 or STAT 427G .) Substitutions for these admission prerequisite courses may be considered on a case-by-case basis by the program. Approval of any substitution must be conveyed by the Graduate Coordinator to the Dean of the Graduate School upon review of the application for admission.
Following admission to the MS Informatics program, students will register for courses upon the advice of the Graduate Coordinator. Throughout the entirety of a student’s study, the Graduate Coordinator shall provide comprehensive, long-range planning and advising for each semester’s registration.
The maximum course load for a graduate student in Informatics shall be twelve (12) graduate credit hours during a regular semester and nine (9) graduate credit hours during a summer session.
It is expected that full-time students will complete all requirements for the MS Informatics degree within two years.
Degree Requirements and Coursework
The MS Informatics degree requires completion of 33 graduate credit hours. Upon completion of 12 hours of graduate coursework in the program, students are required to declare (via the Graduate School Application for Candidacy) their intention to pursue the thesis track or non-thesis track for degree completion.
Curriculum
The required curriculum is dependent upon a student’s undergraduate degree preparation.
- Students with an undergraduate degree in a related field of study (e.g., informatics, computer science, computer engineering) are required to complete the following required coursework:
- 18 graduate credit hours of the identified required core courses
- 9 graduate credit hours of the identified concentration coursework
- Thesis Track (6 credit hours):
- Non-Thesis Track (6 credit hours):
- Students with an undergraduate degree in an unrelated field of study are required to complete the following required coursework:
- 3 graduate credit hours of the identified foundation courses
- 18 graduate credit hours of the identified required core courses
- 9 graduate credit hours of the identified concentration coursework
- Thesis Track (6 credit hours):
- Non-Thesis Track (6 credit hours):
Foundation Courses
Students pursuing the degree with an undergraduate degree in an unrelated field of study must take the following three (3) graduate credit hours of foundation courses:
Required Core Courses (18 Credit Hours)
All students must complete the following 18 credit hours of required core courses:
Concentrations
All concentrations are available to students pursuing the MS Informatics degree via the traditional semester or online delivery formats. Students who do not elect a concentration will be enrolled in the Generalist Concentration. Some courses may only be offered online.
Generalist Concentration (9 Credit Hours)
In addition to the 18 credit hours of required core courses and thesis or non-thesis requirements, the following coursework is required.
- Any 500-level course offered in Informatics and/or those offered in a related discipline outside of INFX (e.g. Biology, Business, Computer Science, Geology, Mathematics, Physics, Psychology) as approved by the Graduate Coordinator. A maximum of six (6) credit hours of required 500-level coursework may be taken in a discipline other than INFX.
Cybersecurity Concentration (9 Credit Hours)
In addition to the 18 credit hours of required core courses and thesis or non-thesis requirements, the following coursework is required.
Data Science (9 Credit Hours)
In addition to the 18 credit hours of required core courses and thesis or non-thesis requirements, the following coursework is required.
Health Informatics (9 Credit Hours)
In addition to the 18 credit hours of required core courses and thesis or non-thesis requirements, the following coursework is required.
Thesis Track
Students who pursue the thesis track are required to complete six (6) graduate credit hours of INFX 599 - Thesis Research and Thesis and a written thesis. The thesis track emphasizes research, and is probably the best choice for students who are planning to pursue a doctoral degree or career in research.
Students are encouraged to talk with faculty members and the Graduate Coordinator about research possibilities and thesis topics as soon as possible. In consultation with the Graduate Coordinator, students pursuing the thesis track will select the chairperson of their thesis committee and begin working toward this goal at any time. Official identification of the committee chair and committee members shall be done at the time of application for candidacy, which is upon completion of 12 graduate credit hours of program coursework.
Thesis track students must develop a written thesis proposal that will be orally defended to the Thesis Committee. The committee must approve (unanimously) the written proposal and oral defense at least one semester prior to the student’s thesis defense. The final written thesis must also be defended orally and approved by the Thesis Committee.
Non-Thesis Track
Students who pursue the non-thesis track are required to complete three (3) credit hours of INFX 595 - Master’s Project and three (3) credit hours of INFX 591 - Informatics Capstone to demonstrate a general comprehensive knowledge of the field of Informatics. The non-thesis option may be preferable for students planning a career applying research or working in the field.
Non-thesis track students must receive approval by the Graduate Coordinator for plans for the capstone course and Master’s project. Approval should occur as soon as possible after the student declares their intent to follow the non-thesis option (via the Graduate School Application for Candidacy) upon completion of 12 graduate credit hours in the program.
Internships
Non-thesis track students may choose to pursue an internship opportunity with an organization or business in partial fulfilment of the INFX 591 capstone course requirements.
Thesis-track students may choose to complete an internship and earn course credit.
Comprehensive Exam
In addition to demonstrating a general comprehensive knowledge of Informatics through successful completion of the thesis and thesis oral defense (for thesis-track students) or INFX 591 - Informatics Capstone (for non-thesis track students), each candidate must achieve a grade of A or B on a minimum of three (3), three (3) credit hour 500-level courses.
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