Information Studies Minor

About the Minor

Information impacts every aspect of the human experience, from artificial intelligence and global information networks to misinformation and conspiracy theories. Purdue students, across every profession – from science and engineering to business and liberal arts – will benefit from pursuing an Information Studies minor. Our students will need to understand how to succeed in an increasingly complex information environment. This minor focuses on the ethical, societal, historical, and cultural importance of information, applications of tools and methods to analyze and visualize data, and how information is used in professional and academic contexts. The Information Studies minor encompasses the interwoven skills and abilities needed to locate, evaluate, synthesize, use, manage, and disseminate information and data, which are vital for workplace and lifelong success across disciplines. 

Some topics students will encounter in this minor include data ethics and privacy, mis/dis/malinformation and the politics of information, online culture and social media, intellectual property, informed research methods, and the information implications of technological advancement.  

Requirements for the Minor (15 credits)

Core Courses (6 credits)

Selective Courses (9 credits)

Program-Level Learning Outcomes

Students who complete this minor will be able to 

• Navigate the information environment to make evidence-based decisions in professional and academic contexts 
• Examine the role of information in its ethical, societal, historical, and cultural context to address real-world situations
• Determine the significance of information-focused opportunities and challenges such as intellectual property, mis/disinformation, artificial intelligence, security, and privacy  
• Apply various approaches to research using data, including techniques from data management, data science, digital humanities, and other methods 
• Reflect in an informed and critical manner on information infrastructures and practices 

Pre-Requisite Information

For pre-requisite information, log in to mypurdue.purdue.edu and click here.

Disclaimer

The student is ultimately responsible for knowing and completing all degree requirements. Consultation with an advisor may result in an altered plan customized for an individual student. The myPurduePlan powered by DegreeWorks is the knowledge source for specific requirements and completion.

Comparative information about Purdue University and other U.S. educational institutions is also available through the College Navigator tool, provided by the National Center for Education Statistics, and through the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.