Information Science

Welcome to the Department of Information Science.

Love people? Love technology? You’ll fit in perfectly.

Information science is the study of the relationships between people, places and technology and how they are intertwined. Our data-driven, interdisciplinary approach—drawing on social science, computer science and the humanities—allows students to develop the conceptual understanding and practical skills needed to succeed in a future characterized by new ways of working, communicating and creating. A degree in information science enables students to imagine what technology makes possible, invent new ways to use technology and positively impact the world.

Housed within CU Boulder’s College of Communication, Media, Design and Information, our department is proud to cultivate an inclusive community of scholars who share a commitment to excellence and innovation in research and teaching. Our research program is exceptionally strong in human-computer interaction, data science and social and collaborative computing, and our faculty expertise covers a broad range of areas including information visualization, machine learning, technology ethics, health informatics education and learning and more. Students can pursue bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees, as well as minors in both information science and data science.

Undergraduate students can take advantage of our Bachelor’s Accelerated Master’s program (BAM) to seamlessly earn both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree. They have opportunities to work on real-world research projects with faculty and graduate students and can join our INFO Buffs club to find a friendly group of passionate peers with similar interests.

We welcome graduate students from a range of backgrounds, such as computer science, social science and quantitative research. Many of our graduate students participate in cutting-edge research labs and build community by joining the INFO Graduate Student Association.

The Department of Information Science is committed to exploring how the future of information, data and technology can embrace and embody principles of diversity, equity and inclusion. Our community, curriculum and research efforts are deeply informed by the DEI and inclusive excellence principles of our broader college. Our focus on seeing these goals realized in the technologies and information systems that permeate our lives is reflected in our work in this domain, including our department’s role in leading CMDI’s Center for Race, Media and Technology.

Read about our world-class faculty experts, admissions process and research labs to learn more.

INFO PhD Candidate talks at CU's 3MT Finalist Competition: 'That’s Not How I Remember it' Investigating How Collective Memory is Lost in Translation.

Photo Credit: Glenn J. Askawa

What is the best way to distill a multitude of information into just three minutes? That’s the question eleven graduate students will be wrestling with as part of the Graduate School’s ninth annual Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition. This event challenges each student to explain their thesis to the general public. They are then evaluated by a panel of judges. One of the esteemed competitors is Laurie Lawson, a doctoral candidate in information science who researches collective memory discrepancy in English and Arabic on Wikipedia and in AI.

“Condensing years of research on multilingual digital platforms, collective memory, and AI systems into a single, accessible narrative was one of the most challenging and rewarding exercises of my PhD. It required translating technical methods, cross-language analysis, and computational models into language that resonates with people outside my field. No jargon. No extra slides. Just clarity. Standing in front of an audience and explaining complex, multilingual computational research in a way that felt intuitive reminded me that strong communication is not about simplifying ideas. It is about structuring them thoughtfully. It is about anticipating ambiguity, aligning terminology, and ensuring that meaning travels accurately from speaker to listener.” - Laurie Lawson

Laurie Lawson (47:45 - 55:30) | Three Minute Thesis (3MT) Final Competition Video - 2026 - CU Boulder

Undergraduate Opportunities

Information Science is the study of the relationships between people, places and technology and how they are intertwined. A degree in Information Science enables students to imagine what technology makes possible, invent new ways to use technology and positively impact the world. Undergraduate students can take advantage of our Bachelor’s Accelerated Master’s program (BAM) to seamlessly earn both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree. They have opportunities to work on real-world research projects with faculty and graduate students and can join our clubs and research labs to find a friendly group of passionate peers with similar interests.

BS: Information Science

Minor: Information Science

Minor: Data Science

For Prospective Students

Undergraduate Advising

How to Apply

Graduate Opportunities

Graduates in Information Science can pursue diverse careers such as data analyst, information architect, UX designer, systems analyst, knowledge manager, or digital librarian. The degree also provides excellent preparation for careers in cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and information policy. With the growing importance of data in all sectors, information science professionals are in high demand across industries including technology, healthcare, finance, education, and government.

PhD: Information Science

MS: Information Science

BAM: Bachelor's-Accelerated Master's