Computerworld Magazine recognizes School of Informatics graduate program as one of the top 10 programs in the nation

IU’s School of Informatics was the first of its kind in 2000. In the eight years since its inception on campus, it is now being recognized as one of the finest the country has to offer.

The IU School of Informatics graduate program was among the top 10 schools recognized in a featured article in Computerworld Magazine. The magazine announced in its August 2008 issue its “Top IT Schools to Watch 2008.” The choices were made based on how well the schools were keeping up with the newest IT trends, as well as maintaining a curriculum to reflect changing technologies, according to an IU press release.

“It means a lot, especially the category of the article, which is schools to watch, which is exactly where we want to be,” said Robert Schnabel, dean of the School of Informatics. “There’s been a buzz nationally in the IT community about IU. We’ve taken a bigger approach, a broader creative approach. We belong on that list, and I’m glad we’re on that list.”

The School of Informatics received recognition specifically for giving students hands-on training and the combination of different fields within IT, according to the press release.

“Two of the things that are most important at either level are internships or projects that work with companies,” Schnabel said. “Then we have a lot of cases where students have internship experiences with companies at some time of the year.”

IU School of Informatics graduate student Eugene Chang can attest to the benefits of real-world experience and a passionate faculty. Chang is entering his second year of a two-year Masters program in Human-Computer Interaction Design. He interned during the summer for Microsoft in Seattle.

Chang said the thing that attracted him most to IU’s program was its heavy emphasis on design, something he said is rarely found in other programs. He said that other programs spin off other degrees such as a library science degree, whereas IU’s Human-Computer Interaction Design program was built purely as a design program.

“I could tie my love for technology and computers in an interest with people as a whole,” Chang said.

Chang was also drawn to IU’s graduate program because of the personal attention he received from IU’s School of Informatics faculty.

“Not only is the program focused on academic success but personal success as well,” Chang said. “It’s that community that I have come to grow and love.”

Although faculty and students alike are proud of the recognition they have received, they say it is not the time to relax.

“You don’t want to let your head get too big,” said Martin Siegel, professor of informatics. “There’s still a lot of work to be done, and in order to stay on that list, the school has to keep working. You can never sit back and relax or else you’ll be eaten up by the people coming behind you.”