A Canadian first

People, information and technology will come together in September, 2006 when Dalhousie launches the Bachelor of Informatics (B.Inf) degree, the first of its kind in Canada. With an innovative curriculum and co-op terms, this program will prepare students from diverse backgrounds for careers with unlimited possibilities.

Where the jobs are

The Bachelor of Informatics, designed with input from the corporate and public sectors, will fill a major gap in the IT workforce, which requires people with strong technical skills and a broad knowledge of other fields. Employers recognize the important role of creative problem solving, innovation, teamwork, and communications skills. Informatics is all that; it is the study of how people transform technology, and how technology transforms us.

"Companies need technically-capable people who work well in teams, take initiative, and are creative problem-solvers and leaders. The students...will be the leaders of the technology industries of tomorrow," said Kelly Lyons, PhD, Centre for Advanced Studies, IBM Toronto Lab.

"Dalhousie will produce students that have major qualifications to offer industry and government," agreed Milton Halem, Information Scientist Emeritus, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center.

Students set their own course

Bachelor of Informatics students will study technical subjects like interface design, database management, research methods and privacy and security, but the program also features a broad educational scope. Learning goals include problem-solving, creativity, brainstorming, critical thinking, project management, conflict resolution, and negotiation. Activities include lectures, labs and tutorials but also group projects, mentoring, journaling and field trips. Enrollment is limited to facilitate personal interactions within the teaching groups, and efforts have been made to ensure that classes reflect the gender balance and cultural diversity of the modern workplace.

Bachelor of Informatics graduates will also be specialists. The program currently offers majors in three areas: Health Informatics, Software Systems, and BioInformatics. In addition, partners from a variety of backgrounds are working to develop an even broader list of majors.

Collaboration is key

Professors from different departments will teach Bachelor of Informatics courses as a team, and they will place strong emphasis on the big concepts that link Arts, Computer Science, Humanities, Health Professions, Mathematics and the Sciences. Professor Ernst Grundke of Computer Science likens new degree to the DISP program in Science and the King's Foundation Year Program in the Arts. "The good news is that it's not just a first-year program. We continue this approach through all four years," he says.

Students can use Informatics as a solid first year grounding for another field of study, or can transfer easily into it after year one. The co-op education component will help them finance their education while gaining valuable work experience. Dalhousie is offering an additional $1,000 scholarship to the first five women and five men who enter the first year of the program.

For more information, visit  http://informatics.dal.ca