What are the information sciences?
The field has so many applications that it would be hard to find a profession that is not touched by it in some way.
Institutions that make up our everyday lives, including hospitals, banks, supermarkets, manufacturers, entertainment companies, governments and corporations, employ information professionals.
The information sciences discipline focuses on the intersection of information, technology and people. The field requires a broad interdisciplinary approach to the individual elements that comprise information, including systems, users, delivery methods and the ethics of use and production, as well as the relationships between them and their relationships to other aspects of society and human endeavor.
The research and academic programs at information schools address the challenges and opportunities in managing both information and information systems, melding them to serve the needs of the individual, industry and society. Read the interdisciplinary overview for a closer look.
The digital divide
Currently, the United States, like the rest of the world, is experiencing what some call the digital divide. There is a disparity between the information haves and have nots. Every day, we are becoming more overwhelmed by the volume of information available to us, but we simply do not have enough professionals to help us make the best use of it. And not enough of those professionals reflect the face of society.
Studying at an iSchool
By studying at an iSchool, you not only obtain critical skills and knowledge, but you can gear your professional contributions toward the community of your choice.
- Do you want to help children to learn better? Create an online reading program.
- Do you want to help a not for profit organization better track the distribution of relief supplies? You can do that.
- Would you like to be a role model for potential students in a leading edge discipline? There is no better way to make a difference.
A growing demand
Think of it this way: the amount of information that is digitally available continues to grow each year, creating a growing demand for people who can manage the data and design the systems wisely. But it is not just about job security. It is about changing the world.
Explore the careers that information sciences graduates pursue, or learn about the international iSchools community.