BA Information Science at University of Wisconsin-Madison

Programme overview

Information Science students study concepts and examine issues at the nexus of people, data, information, and computing. They gain the knowledge and skills to create data-driven technologies and to make them work for real communities. Information Science focuses on the ethical, cultural, and social factors in design and use of information technology-based and data-driven systems.

Faculty: College of Letters & Science | Department: Information | Duration: 120 credits | Study mode: full-time | Location: Madison, WI, United States

What you will study

The degree requires 120 credits in total. Courses listed in the requirements include L I S 201 The Information Society; L I S 202 Informational Divides and Differences in a Multicultural Society; L I S 220 Digital Footprints: Privacy and Technology; L I S 461 Data and Algorithms: Ethics and Policy; L I S 500 Code and Power; L I S 351 Introduction to Digital Information.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Applies to College of Letters & Science, not specific to this major: Students must have a 2.000 GPA on coursework counting in the major, and a 2.000 GPA on any upper-level work in the major completed prior to declaration. No specific coursework must be completed to declare. For students below a 2.000 GPA, please contact [email protected] to discuss options and a path to declaring the Information Science major. It is recommended that students declare the major as early as possible to plan for required coursework. First semester students without a calculated GPA are eligible to declare. For instructions on declaring the Information Science major, please see the Information Science webpage.

Tuition is charged per credit, so the total depends on the modules you register for each year. Current fees are listed in the official fee schedule.

First-year entry terms: Fall (Early Action and Regular Decision) and Spring. Transfer entry terms: Fall (Priority and Regular Decision) and Spring.

First-year Fall Early Action: application deadline November 1, materials deadline November 9, decision on or before January 31. Fall Regular Decision: application deadline January 15, materials deadline January 22, decision on or before March 31. Spring Regular Decision: application deadline October 1, materials deadline October 15, decision on or before December 31. First-year fall and spring applications open August 1. Early Action is non-binding.

Transfer Fall Priority: application deadline February 1, materials deadline February 16, decision on or before March 31. Fall Regular: application deadline March 1, materials deadline March 15, decision on or before April 30. Spring Regular: application deadline October 1, materials deadline October 15, decision on or before December 31. Fall transfer applications open December 1; spring transfer applications open August 1.

Apply via the Common Application or the Universities of Wisconsin Application. The application fee is $80 US and is non-refundable; fee waivers are available for applicants with financial hardship. ACT and SAT scores are optional for students applying for admission through the spring 2028 term (application deadline October 1, 2027).

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