April 7, 2025
Information, systems, and networks are frequently used in institutions, organizations, and businesses to create innovative solutions to complex problems, and students at SCI are ready to make their mark on the field. Karlynn Riccitelli (SCI ’26) and Aidan Brophy (SCI ’26) have gained valuable expertise in their experience with the minor in information science (IS), offered by SCI’s Department of Informatics and Networked Systems (DINS). Launched in the Fall 2023 term, the program provides students with foundational skills and knowledge useful in many professions across sectors.
The 15-credit minor teaches undergraduate students how to understand information, analyze, transmit, and secure information in context, and use it in decision-making. The minor is open to students from all undergraduate degree programs at the University, allowing students to apply technical skills to any field. In the Fall 2023-24 term, students from 18 different majors successfully completed the IS minor. Majors included mathematics, psychology, business, history, theater, and more, showcasing the diversity of fields information science can be applied to.
Daqing He, professor and chair of DINS, emphasized the importance of information science and encouraged students to pursue the minor, regardless of their previous academic background.
"Using data or systems isn't just limited to STEM fields," said Daqing He, professor and chair of DINS.
“Just because your chosen field is in something other than technology, it doesn’t mean that you won’t need to be able to collect, organize and analyze data that could be scattered over the networks and information systems, with the goal of understanding how such data can be helpful to individuals or society,” said He. “Using data or systems isn’t just limited to STEM fields. Imagine if an English major took this minor and then went to work as a journalist for a media outlet – they would be able analyze data to verify claims of companies or governments. If you’re in sales, you will not only need to analyze revenue reports, but most likely need to collect and analyze sales trends. Instead of learning on the job, as many people of earlier generations had to do, you could take the IS minor while here at Pitt and be ready on day one!”
Riccitelli, a digital narrative and interactive design (DNID) major, has found the IS minor useful in her particular area of interest, user experience design (UX).
“The ease of incorporating the program into my class schedule and the way the courses cater to my interests are both extremely big positives of my IS minor experience,” said Riccitelli. “Because of the large variety of courses that can count towards it, there are many different interests that can be cultivated through the minor. I’m able to take courses that focus on UX design, and that gives me a new perspective on my work in other classes as well.”
With such a large variety of course options for students to choose from, the IS minor can be tailored to anyone’s interests and preferences, notes Brophy, another DNID major.
“I appreciate just how many options you have with the four elective courses,” said Brophy. “I’m working on the game design concentration, since that will dovetail nicely with my major, but I’m impressed with just how many different paths you can take to complete the minor. If anything, at least half the courses I’m taking for the minor are courses I either took already or would have taken of my own volition because they would help build up a professional skillset befitting of a DNID major.”
Brophy also emphasized how his professors have enhanced his experience in the program.
“Professor David Tipper for Computation in Information Science and Professor Brandon Hedges for Human Centered Systems bring their own personal and professional experience to the table and work it into the course content in ways that make the material that much more engaging,” said Brophy. “Hearing about Professor Hedges' work with a particular company or technology and how course concepts apply to VR development, or about Professor Tipper's work with NASA really keeps me interested. That's not to mention the extra credit offered in Human Centered Systems for participating in Pitt's annual game jam, Games 4 Social Impact!”
Students can take courses that align with their own interests while advancing their career readiness. The technical expertise offered by the IS minor is highly sought after by employers and valuable in the job market.
“The IS minor will allow me to be more marketable to future employers,” said Riccitelli. “I believe that knowledge is power, and the more I know about information systems, the more I will be able to offer in my career. Having a solid understanding of IS will also benefit me by building on my skillset within my DNID major. The classes I take through the minor will add to the foundation I’ve been building.”
The IS minor is accessible to students of all majors, backgrounds, and pursuits. Interested in finding out more or starting your journey in the IS minor program? Learn more here.