Informatics

A Message from the Dean

Welcome to the College of Informatics website. And welcome to a new way of looking at the world: the informational perspective.
 
Informatics unites the disciplines that confront the concept of information head on. That’s journalism, that’s software engineering, that’s business intelligence, and more. It is most of what we do in the digital age.
 
Informatics is not just information technology. Yes, fast computation on massive data has changed our social and professional lives, and informatics is all about those earthshaking changes. But it goes beyond that. The informational perspective provides new ways of thinking about traditional disciplines.  Information flows in the global economy, information coded in our DNA, the dynamics of social networks, the digital humanities - there are many examples.
 
At Northern Kentucky University we wanted this new way of looking at the world to reshape the way we think, the way our students learn, and even the way we organize our institution. In 2005 we brought together three departments from traditional colleges (from Arts and Sciences, from Business, from Professional Studies) to create something new.  
 
On this website you will learn about our three departments and a variety of majors, minors, certificates and graduate programs. You will also see our outreach arm, the Center for Applied Informatics.
 
The college is now in the midst of Griffin Hall Year One, the first year we have been united under one roof. Griffin Hall is an astounding state of the art facility, bringing together students, faculty, and the community to think, to explore, and to create.  
 
Informatics is open, organic, and social.  It is rich in applications, yet has a deep theoretical core. No matter what your interest or your background, come join us as we explore the world from this new perspective.
 
 
-- Kevin Kirby, Ph.D.
   Dean, College of Informatics