Informatics focuses on computational systems from a user’s perspective. Ivy Tech Informatics students learn how to transform complex information and data into everyday knowledge and actionable insights.
Wondering what a typical day in the classroom looks like? Here’s what you might do:
Learn how to analyze approaches to information processing.
Develop skills to design, implement, and evaluate the next generation of information technology tools.
Make a social impact through computing.
Gain a deep understanding of how people and technology connect.
Study important IT and information systems topics that you can transfer into a career in health sciences, criminal justice, accounting, or the social sciences.
Discover how technology can enhance communication and increase productivity.
No prior computer experience or knowledge is required.
You will study information sciences, human-computer interaction, information system analysis and design, telecommunications structure, and information architecture and management. You’ll graduate ready to use tech to tackle some of society’s toughest problems.
Transfer as a Junior
Graduates of the Associate of Science (AS) in Informatics also have the foundation needed to transfer to earn a bachelor’s degree if desired. The AS credits are typically accepted by public institutions in Indiana. Learn more about TSAP.
Career Options
Informatics professionals are problem-solvers who uncover insights to help people increase productivity, enhance communication, and solve interdisciplinary problems. They work across a variety of fields, helping make customer service transactions easier or analyzing data for a business. With the ever-growing use of technology, informatics professionals are in high demand.
Whether you want to design intuitive interfaces, research human behavior, or something in between, the world is your oyster when it comes to career options. Here’s what you could become:
Business Analyst
CRM Administrator
Data Scientist
Database Developer
E-commerce Specialist
Health Informatics Specialist
Human-Computer Interface Designer
Informatics Analyst
Information Architect
IT Consultant
Logistician
Product Manager
Programmer Analyst
Researcher
Salesforce Administrator
Software Developer
Solutions Architect
Supply Chain Analyst
Systems Administrator
Systems Analyst
Technical Writer
UX Designer
Degree Types Offered
Credential Type
Associate Degree – Career-Ready Degree
Associate Degree – Transferable Degree
Long-Term Certificate
– known as a Technical Certificate (TC)
Short-Term Certificates
– known as Certificates (CT)
Note: Program availability varies by location and not all program tracks are offered at each campus/location.
Associate Degree – Career-Ready Degree
The Associate of Applied Science in Informatics empowers students to use digital technology in the sphere of data, information, and knowledge to facilitate decision-making. Students will take courses in Informatics, HCI, Data Analytics, Business Intelligence, Cybersecurity, IT Support, and Networking, as well as acquire industry certification.
The Associate of Science in Informatics is perfect for students who wish to pursue a bachelor’s degree. You can save upward of $10,000 by completing your first two years at Ivy Tech and then transferring!
Talk to our transfer advocates for information about continuing your education after completing your associate degree at Ivy Tech. You are also encouraged to contact the university to which you plan to transfer. Note that admission is not guaranteed just by enrolling in the Informatics program. You will need to be admitted to the institution you intend to transfer to.
Required Courses
Associate degree graduates must complete a total of 60 credit hours:
Long-Term Certificate
known as a Technical Certificate (TC)
The Technical Certificate (TC) in Informatics will enable students to complete 30 credit hours in two or three semesters. Students will take varying courses in Informatics, HCI, Data Analytics, Business Intelligence, Cybersecurity, IT Support, and Networking and acquire industry certification.
Earn a Certificate on the Way to Your Associate Degree
A recommended path to either of the associate degrees in Informatics is to complete one or more of the three certificates offered by Ivy Tech while working toward the degree. The certificates are designed to provide gateways toward entry-level informatics careers, so you can begin working quickly. You may then choose to pursue a credential that requires more credits and time in order to learn more and move up in your professional career. You can apply the credits from your certificate to your higher-level credential at Ivy Tech to make the most of your time and tuition.
FREE through Next Level Jobs
Informatics TC is part of Indiana’s Next Level Jobs degree program, funded by the Workforce Ready Grant. You may be eligible for a free Informatics TC. You are eligible to be a part of Next Level Jobs at Ivy Tech if you fulfill all of the following requirements:
Are an Indiana resident
Have a high school diploma or GED/High School Equivalency
Have not previously received a certificate in a Next Level Jobs eligible program
Have not previously received an associate degree or higher (bachelors, masters, etc.)*
*Note: Students who are admitted to the Next Level Jobs program to pursue the Informatics TC are required to pay for and submit to a criminal background check, drug testing, and physical exam.
Required Courses
Graduates must complete a total of 30 credit hours:
Short-Term Certificates
known as Certificates (CT)
The Short-Term Certificate in Informatics will enable students to complete 20 credit hours in two semesters. Students will take varying courses in Informatics, HCI, Data Analytics, Business Intelligence, IT Support, and Networking and acquire CompTIA A+ certification.
Earn a Certificate on the Way to Your Associate Degree
If your goal is to earn an associate degree or long-term certificate in Informatics, you can earn this short-term certificate on your way. The certificate is designed to provide a gateway into entry-level informatics careers. That means you may be able to enter the workforce in your desired field even before you graduate, if your plan includes working while you’re in school.
FREE through Next Level Jobs
Informatics STC is part of Indiana’s Next Level Jobs degree program, funded by the Workforce Ready Grant. You may be eligible for a free Informatics short-term certificate. You are eligible to be a part of Next Level Jobs at Ivy Tech if you fulfill all of the following requirements:
Are an Indiana resident
Have a high school diploma or GED/High School Equivalency
Have not previously received a certificate in a Next Level Jobs eligible program
Have not previously received an associate degree or higher (bachelors, masters, etc.)*
*Note: Students who are admitted to the Next Level Jobs program to pursue the Informatics short-term certificate are required to pay for and submit to a criminal background check, drug testing, and physical exam.
Required Courses
Graduates must complete a total of 20 credit hours.
The emergence of Salesforce has brought a new dynamic to the workforce. This Salesforce Administrator Certificate (CT) provides our students an opportunity to acquire the required skills to be employable in any organization that utilizes Salesforce products and services.
Earn a Certificate on the Way to Your Associate Degree
A recommended path to either of the associate degrees in Informatics is to complete one or more of the three certificates offered by Ivy Tech while working toward the degree. The certificates are designed to provide gateways toward entry-level informatics careers, so you can begin working quickly. You may then choose to pursue a credential that requires more credits and time in order to learn more and move up in your professional career. You can apply the credits from your certificate to your higher-level credential at Ivy Tech to make the most of your time and tuition.
Required Courses
Graduates must complete a total of 22 credit hours.
A credential in Informatics prepares you to work in a wide variety of industries. Fancy yourself a critical thinker who loves solving problems? The Informatics program could be right for you.
Informatics careers often require:
Curiosity
Strong communication
Critical thinking
Analytical thinking
Comfortability with data
Organization
Interest in making a social impact
Ethical decision making
Technical skills
Project management skills
Sound Like You?
If you identify with the traits above, informatics may be the path for you! Take the next step to get started or speak with your local advisor to learn more.
All Informatics students will take prerequisite courses during their time at Ivy Tech, typically during the first semester. Students must demonstrate competency through appropriate assessment or earning a grade of “C” or better in at least one course from each of the following groupings:
See when specific courses will be offered by searching our course list in Schedule Builder. First, select the semester you’re looking for and then enter the name of the course in the search bar.
If you’re a current student, upcoming courses are easy to find in Schedule Builder in MyIvy.
Course Formats
Informatics courses are taught both in person and online.
Big Dreams? Go for Honors
If you're motivated and want a more robust, personalized academic experience, consider enhancing your associate degree in Informatics by pursuing an Honors pathway. Honors courses are fully virtual with opportunities to meet and network with honors students and faculty across the state. The coursework is designed to support a student’s spirit of inquiry and intellectual growth, as well as foster multicultural awareness and leadership. View eligibility requirements
Graduating with an Informatics degree with an Honors pathway can help you stand out as a high-achieving college student, boost your resume, and help you land an acceptance letter to a top four-year college or university.
The Ivy Tech application is free and easy—you don’t need a certain test score, GPA, or class rank to get started at Ivy Tech. Applying takes about 10-15 minutes and can be completed entirely online.
No Application Deadlines
Ivy Tech does not have a deadline for admission. Our 8-week class sessions start throughout the year—in January, March, June, August, and October—and there is no hard deadline for applying for any of the start dates. It's important, though, to apply early enough that you'll be able to complete all the degree planning, financial aid, and registration activities that need to happen before your first day. We recommend you apply about one month before you intend to start classes. See upcoming start dates
Steps to Apply
(1) Apply to Ivy Tech
If you’ve never applied to Ivy Tech Community College before (or if it’s been two years since you last attended classes here), your first step is to apply to Ivy Tech. You can apply online or in person. To apply in person, reach out toyour local admissions team and arrange a meeting. Or, stop by any campus on any Tuesday for Tuesdays@TheTech to receive personal assistance with applying and registering for classes.
After you submit your application, you'll be asked to upload documentation—such as SAT/ACT/PSAT scores or high school and college transcripts—that can assess your readiness for college-level coursework and help us make sure you are taking classes that are the right fit for you. How to upload assessment documents
If you don't have your scores or transcripts at your fingertips, don’t worry. Go ahead and submit your application. You can go back to upload assessment documents at any time until the end of the term for which you applied.
(3) Look for a Confirmation Email
Once your application is processed, you will receive a confirmation email at the email address provided on your application. Typically the email will arrive within 1-2 business days of submission, but during peak processing periods (April-June) could take up to 5-10 business days.
The email will contain instructions on how to register for classes, as well as important information regarding your Ivy Tech student portal (MyIvy account), tuition, payment options, and more.
(4) Create an Account in MyIvy
MyIvy is Ivy Tech's online student portal. Students use MyIvy to check e-mail, register for classes, pay tuition, manage financial aid, get the latest news and announcements, and much more. MyIvy also contains "QuickLinks" to the Ivy Tech websites and online tools you will use most often. Learn more about MyIvy
Before you can register for classes you will need to submit documentation or complete an assessment test. Your test scores can help us determine the best English and math starting classes for you. See the Test Score Course Placement Chart
If you submitted assessment documentation during the application process, your advisor will likely be able to work with those documents to determine course placement and you won't need to take any further steps. If you don't have any of those documents or the scores don't meet minimum thresholds, don’t worry! Your advisor will direct you to complete our freeKnowledge Assessment to help develop your customized learning path to better prepare you for courses.
(6) Register for Classes
Once you have completed the steps above, you may register for classes. Ivy Tech students register for courses using the Schedule Builder tool which can be accessed withinMyIvy. If you are a new, first-time Ivy Tech student, we recommend that you meet withyour advisor who will help you develop your Academic Completion Plan and help you sign up for courses that are the best fit for you.
For a complete list of registration steps, including detailed registration steps, deadlines, and information about holds, withdrawals, waitlists, and refunds, visit our Registration 101 page.
(7) Pay Your Tuition
After registering for your courses, your bill can be viewed in yourMyIvy account > Student Dashboard- > View/Pay Balance. Payments can also be made in your MyIvy account. For complete information about payments, including payment options, payment plans, how to make immediate payments, due dates, information about refunds, and more, visit our Payments page.
William (Bill) Ruben Program Chair, Faculty Advisor & Professor Computer Science, Informatics, Information Technology Support, Software Development wruben@ivytech.edu (574) 289-7001 ext. 7374
Angela Boembeke Department Chair & Professor School of Information Technology & Visual Communications aboembek@ivytech.edu (574) 289-7001 ext. 5409
William (Bill) Ruben Program Chair, Faculty Advisor & Professor Computer Science, Informatics, Information Technology Support, Software Development wruben@ivytech.edu (574) 289-7001 ext. 7374
Kevin O'Neill Department Chair & Professor School of Information Technology & Visual Communications koneill16@ivytech.edu 574-830-0375 ext 4413
Professor, Department Chair, and Statewide Lead Chair
Jason Johnson
Assistant Professor, Department Chair, and Statewide Vice Chair
Melanie Boesen
Professor
Lucy LaHurreau
Assistant Professor and Assistant Program Chair
Dr. Funmi Olorunda
Professor, Department Chair, and Statewide Lead Chair
Jason Johnson
Assistant Professor, Department Chair, and Statewide Vice Chair
Melanie Boesen
Professor
Lucy LaHurreau
Assistant Professor and Assistant Program Chair
Dr. Funmi Olorunda is the Statewide Lead Chair for the Informatics program. She is also the Professor and Department Chair at the Muncie campus. Dr. Olorunda earned her Master's in Information and Communication Sciences and EdD in Adult, Higher and Community Education at Ball State University. She has worked previously at ITT Technical Institute, Ball State University, and University of Ibadan College of Medicine.
Dr. Olorunda is also certified in AWS Academy Educator and CompTIA Project+. She has volunteered for Women in CyberSecurity and a member of American Association of University Women, Association of Institutional Research, Indiana Association for Institutional Research, International Society for Educational Biography, and Multimedia Educational Resource for Learning and Online Teaching. She is also the faculty advisor and coordinator for the Women in Technology at Ivy Tech.
Jason Johnson is the Statewide Vice Chair for the Informatics program. He is also the Assistant Professor and Department Chair at the Richmond campus. Jason earned his Bachelor's in Business Administration and Master's in Management at Indiana Wesleyan University. He has previously served in the United States Marine Corps and worked at Stride Rite and LeTourneau University.
Jason is also certified in CompTIA A+, CompTIA Network+, and CompTIA Security+. He has volunteered at local churches, Girl's Inc., and Junior Achievement. Jason has received the Navy Achievement Medal and Army Achievement Medal.
Melanie Boesen is the Professor at the Terre Haute campus. She earned her Associate's in Computer Information Systems at Ivy Tech Community College, Bachelor's in Business Education and Administrative Systems at Indiana State University, and Master's in Human Resource Development at Indiana State University.
Melanie is also certified in Microsoft Office Certifications. She received the Excellence in Teaching award from Ivy Tech Community College.
Lucy LaHurreau is the Assistant Professor and Assistant Program Chair at the Fort Wayne campus. She earned her Bachelor's in Business Administration and Information Management at Indiana Institute of Technology and her Master's in Cyber Forensics and Counter Terrorism at Purdue University Global. She has previously worked at Trine University.
She has also completed the Intel AI Instructor's Training, AWS Instructor's Training, and the NetAcad Instructor's Training. Lucy has also volunteered for Women & High Tech and Women in Cyber Security. She is a member of Association for Computing Machinery, Northeast Indiana chapter of the Information Systems Security Association, and American Health Information Management Association. She was also nominated twice for the Excellence in Teaching award at Ivy Tech Community College.
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Madison Advising Center
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Madison, IN 47250
Fax 812-265-4028
Zoom Video Calls Available by appointment only. Call 812-256-2580, ext. 4502 to make an appointment.
Advising Team Tricia Miracle 812-265-2580 ext. 4137 tmiracle2@ivytech.edu Text during business hours 812-510-3844 Virtual Drop-In Advising Hours: Wednesdays 9:00-1:00pm & Thursdays 2:00-5:30pm Zoom Link
Lisa Kelley 812-265-2580 ext. 4163 lkelley3@ivytech.edu Text during business hours 502-414-1597 Virtual Drop-In Advising Hours: Tuesdays 1:30pm-5pm & Thursdays 8:30am-12pm Zoom Link
Starting Oct. 28th Tuesdays: 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Fridays: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. All other days by appointment from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. **Special Saturday December 7 @ 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
1 Source: US Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. May 2022 State Occupational Employment and Wage estimates: Indiana.(2023). Lightcast™, lightcast.io. Occupational Overview for Indiana, 2023-2024
2 Associate degree cost is determined by tuition for an in-state, full-time student. Certificate and technical certificate costs are determined by tuition for an in-state, part-time student. Additional fees may be applied. Visit the Tuition & Fees page to learn more.
