Why I Chose the Informatics Minor

Elizabeth Anderson

When it comes to choosing a minor, it can be difficult to decide which one is the best for you. One of the assets of being a part of such a big school is that we have complete access to fantastic educational options. Suddenly, you can minor in archaeology! Or food science! There are so many fun options, but at the end of the day, it is important to think about what will make you the most competitive candidate when you enter the turmoil of the real world.

So, what is informatics and why is it a great option for students in the College of Media? In simple terms, informatics is the study of various forms of media and how they interact with society (in the UK, informatics is synonymous to computer science!). You discuss things like various platforms and how they have modified the societies they are used in. The informatics minor is great because you have a giant number of classes you can choose from aside from the four core courses. The head of the informatics department truly did a great job of adding enough classes so that anyone can find multiple they are interested in. If the idea of CS scares you, don’t worry. There is only one CS requirement, and it truly was very straightforward. The department has so many people there to help you because they want you to succeed. 

The informatics minor is a great option for advertising students because it is at the intersection of computer science and social media. You get to learn about media platforms from an integrated point of view, while also studying the technology that created them and developed from them. A huge asset of the minor is that it teaches you to critically think about media from a completely new perspective. This makes you an asset in the advertising field because you know the ins and outs of technology and where advertising can best be applied. As it says on UIUC’s informatics page “The study of informatics will teach you to become a better creator and user of computing technology and to think critically about technology’s role in society.” If that's not convincing enough, I’ll tell you about my own experience with the informatics minor and advertising jobs. When interviewing for internships, people always are very interested in the minor. They are intrigued by the idea of information technology and are impressed by how well it ties into any advertising, marketing, or media job. I don’t think I would have gotten the internships I have had without that minor as a cherry on top of my resume.

So, if you’re looking for a minor, consider informatics! It truly is a great program. All the classes are interesting and applicable to advertising, and you can get it within two years (sophomores, I'm talking to you!). Don’t be afraid to step into the world of information technology and CS because having this knowledge will undoubtedly make you a tough competitor in the job-seeking world.