The minor program in social informatics (SI) is offered by a consortium of the Departments of Mathematics and Computer Science, Communication and Journalism, Engineering, Government, Philosophy, Psychology, and Sociology.

Social Informatics refers to the interdisciplinary study of the design, uses, and consequences of information and communication technologies (ICT) that takes into account their interaction with institutional and cultural contexts. Social Informatics research examines the roles of technologies in social and organizational change and the social shaping of ICT. SI work can be labeled as studies of the social impacts of computing, the social analysis of computing, studies of computermediated communication, and information policy. SI research and SI courses are organized within diverse fields, including information systems, telecommunications, journalism, information science, and political science. SI researchers study the processes, policies and consequences of ICT design, development, and use. One key goal of the field is to shape ICTs and policies relevant to them in order to enhance human communication and lead to more acceptable technological developments at organizational and social levels.

Curriculum requirements for the minor are satisfied by successfully completing a total of at least 20 credits of coursework in social informatics.

Required Core Component, 8 Credits

All students must take:

• CMPSC 120 Programming for the WWW
• CMPSC 123 Social and Technical Aspects of Computer Systems

Designated Course Component, 12 Credits

At least three courses from the following list, with no less than 12 credits:

• CJN 297 New Media and New Markets
• CJN 421 Media Seminar in Digital Games
• CJN 491 Special Topics/eCommunities
• ENVE 325 Geographical Information Systems
• GVT 403 Introduction to eGovernance
• PHIL 212 Formal Logic
• PSYCH 347 Cyberpsychology
• SOC 264 Technology and Society