Courses Currently Approved

Course Catalog (All Courses Currently Approved for the Minor)

This listing shows all courses that are approved toward the IT Minor, whether or not they are being offered now. A list that is limited to the courses being offered now is available by selecting "Courses Currently Offered" under the "Courses" Menu item above.

This list does NOT include courses that have been discontinued or replaced . See the separate listing of those courses.They count toward the minor as long as they were taken while there were approved.

*The column headed "Offered Now?" refers to courses for which students may currently register. When the schedule for a coming semester is announced, this column is changed to include those courses; before that time, it refers to the courses being offered in the current semester.

Course Nbrsort descending Course Name Description Notes Offered Now? * Requirement(s)
UNIVRSTY 290C Computer Competency Certification

The Computer Competency Certification (CCC) is designed as an academic information and communication technology and digital literacy certification. It teaches and evaluates participants' understanding of computer structure, implementation, and culture. Consisting of 12 modules with topics ranging from computer hardware to production software to digital citizenry; CCC gives each participant a foundation for computing in their academic, personal and professional lives. This course also fulfills the foundation requirement of the IT Minor.

Intended for beginner and intermediate computer users. For more information go here: https://www.umass.edu/itprogram/ccc Yes Foundation
ACCOUNTG 311 Accounting Information Systems

Examines representing, capturing, and reporting of information about events relevant to the operations of a business organization.  The course also uses various data analytics approaches to analyze the efficiency, effectiveness, and control of business processes.  Controls over business operations are examined from a number of different perspectives including COSO and CoBIT.

Open to Accounting majors only. Prerequisites: OIM 210 & ACCOUNTG 331 Yes Elective
ANTHRO 212 Special Topics- Science, Technology and Society

This course explores scientific and technical systems that permeate our lives. By way of facial recognition, IQ tests, vaccine protocols, hydroelectric dams, and other systems, we will focus on the all-too-human questions embedded in processes of scientific innovation and technological development. Together, we will address the following: What makes something a scientific fact? Who benefits and who is harmed by emerging platforms? How do social, political, and economic inequities shape technology and vice-versa? Can we engineer alternate futures?

Formerly ANTHRO 297ST Yes Broadened Inquiry
ANTHRO 281 Stats in Anthropology using R

The course will introduce you to basic statistical concepts and methods, including the construction of scientific research design and hypothesis testing. You will gain experience and knowledge in data organization, descriptive and inferential statistics, and graphical output of data. Statistical methods include t-test, ANOVA, bivariate regression, and correlation. All analyses and graphical output will be performed in the R Statistical Computing Environment.

Prerequisite: completion of R1 requirement. This course fulfills a gen ed R2 requirement. 60 seats total; The first 30 seats are reserved for Anthropology majors, and the rest are open for others. No Technical
ART 264 Digital Design

Digital media is a key creative tool for artists and designers. Lectures, readings, and tutorials introduce students to contemporary design practice, including: digital typography, page design and layout, vector based graphics, and design for the screen. Design projects range from purely textual, single and multi-page document design, to problems that require the successful integration of typography, image, and basic interaction. Students explore how context and form affect meaning and message through the creation of conceptual solutions. Assignments and exercises assist in developing fluency in creative problem-solving and visual communications using desktop publishing and computer graphics software.

Very limited seats for non-art major IT Minors without the pre-req. Email instructor for permission. Yes Elective
ART 271 Introduction to Computing in Fine Arts

Historical overview of the development of computer art and the significant events leading to the development of the field. Projects include hands-on experience with computer imaging for use in the creation of fine art. Prerequisite: completion of foundation courses or consent of instructor. *IT Minors may request a course override from the IT Program Office, 413-545-6242 or via our Contact Form.

--- No Elective
ART 275 Digital Media: Still Image

This course explores the creative possibilities of digital image creation and manipulation.  Through demonstrations, creative technical assignments, students explore the digital workflow in independent projects involving sustained inquiry into self selected theme.

Open to Undergraduate Art, BFA-Art, BFA-Art-Ed, BFA-Design and BS-Architecture majors only. Prerequisite: Art 104, 110, 120, or 131 Or permission of the instructor. Yes Elective
ART 345 Digital Media: Still Image

This course explores, through demonstrations and technical assignments, the creative possiblities of digital image creation and manipulation using primarily Photoshop, and the printmaking technique of Photopolymer Gravure processes.

Open to BA-ART, BFA-ART, and BDIC students only. Pre Requisite: Completion of Art Foundations courses (ART 110,120,131, and 142) No Elective
ART 361 Sculpture 4-Sculpture in Context

Digital to Physical is a studio art course that explores various forms of computer-aided design and fabrication as a means of expanding and enhancing existing art making practices. Throughout the semester we will utilize Rhinoceros 5 as a platform to explore designing in two and three dimensions. We will also experiment with several additional software titles for capture and output. Junior level courses developed around a conceptual framework and contextual response.  Topics rotate and are based on student interest, faculty expertise and facility availability and capabilities.

This course presumes significant achievement in studio art / design courses as a prerequisite for enrollment. Students should have completed one of the following: ART 261, Sculpture 1 or Intro to Computing in the Arts or obtain permission of instructor. No Elective
ART 374 Computer Animation I

Principles and applications of computer animation using Autodesk Maya software in film, video, music, and technology. Introduction to 2D and 3D animation programs. Skills acquired in preparation for production in second semester.  Prerequisites: ART 271 and 297Q. Should be followed by Art 384 Computer Animation II 

--- No Elective
ART 375 Moving Image

This course explores digital video and sound within the context of contemporary art practices.  Students learn basic skills and concepts used in experimental digital video production through small-scale projects

Open to Undergraduates with majors in Art, BFA-Art, and BFA-Art Education only. Prerequisites: ART 104, 110, or 120 No Elective
ART 384 Computer Animation II

The second of a two semester sequence.  Animation techniques using digital tools as applied to film, video, music and technology.  Animation software (Maya) and professional compositing programs are used.  Development and design of personal work is stressed.  Emphasis is on creativity and professionalism.

Open to Undergraduates with majors in Art, BFA-Art, and BFA-Art Education only. Prerequisites: ART 374 and ART 385 (formerly 397MM) No Elective
ART 385 Media/Motion Graphics

Motion graphic artists produce not only film titles but also a wide array of work that requires movement to effectively communicate and enhance visual information. Today's designer has the ability to combine sound, video, animation, photographs, illustration, motion capture systems and other visuals using a variety of computer software.

This course is the exploration of Media and Motion Graphics expanding on basics of available software packages (Adobe Premiere and After Effects) for creation of experimental and applied motion graphics. Some prior knowledge of graphic design, image composition as well as sound and visual editing will be helpful to enrolled students. Art 274 as a prerequisite or instructor approval is needed.

This is a production studio/lab course. As such, the emphasis will be on the creation of work.

Art 274 as a prerequisite or instructor approval is needed. This course had previously been ART 397MM. No Elective
BCT 320 Intro to CAD in construction/Archit

This course provides an introduction into construction-related Computer-Aided-Design (CAD) tools.  By using industry-standard software in exercises and projects, students gain the capability to model construction projects and create industry-standard architectural drawings. BCT and Architecture Majors Only. 

Was BCT 220 BCT and Architecture Majors Only Yes Elective
BCT 420 Designing with 3D CAD and BIM

Presents advanced topics in architectural CAD in a problem-based environment: 3D modeling, parametric building design, building information models (BIMs), material takeoff, energy-efficient planning, rendering and presentation.

Prerequisites: BCT 320 Prerequisites: BCT 320 or similar introductory CAD experience (by instructor permission). Students are encouraged to bring their own laptops to class and install required software. (see syllabus for details) Yes Elective
BIOLOGY 572 Neurobiology

Biology of nerve cells and cellular interactions in nervous systems. Lectures integrate structural, functional, molecular, and developmental approaches. Topics include neuronal anatomy and physiology, neural induction and pattern formation, development of neuronal connections, membrane potentials and neuronal signals, synapses, sensory systems, control of movement, systems neuroscience and neural plasticity. With Biology 494LI, this course satisfies the Integrative Experience requirement for BS-Biol majors.

Open to Psychology, Biology, and Science-Biology majors only. Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in BIOLOGY 285 (or BIOCHEM 275) and PSYCH 330 (or BIOLOGY 372) Yes Elective
CICS 108 Foundations of Data Science

The field of Data Science encompasses methods, processes, and systems that enable the extraction of useful knowledge from data. Foundations of Data Science introduces core data science concepts including computational and inferential thinking, along with core data science skills including computer programming and statistical methods. The course presents these topics in the context of hands-on analysis of real-world data sets, including economic data, document collections, geographical data, and social networks. The course also explores social issues surrounding data analysis such as privacy and design.

Students needing special permission to enroll must request permission via the CICS online override form.

Previously run as COMPSCI 190F.

Open to first year students in majors OTHER THAN Computer Science and Math & Statistics. Prerequisite: Completion of the R1 General Education Requirement (or a score of 20 or higher on the Math Placement Exam, Part A) or one of the following courses: Math 101 & 102, Math 104, 127, 128, 131, or 132. CROSS-LISTED WITH STATISTC 190F. CS MAJORS AND MATH & STATS MAJORS ARE NOT ELIGIBLE. THIS COURSE IS INTENDED FOR FRESHMEN AND STUDENTS WITHOUT AN UNDERGRADUATE-LEVEL PROGRAMMING OR STATISTICS COURSE. ENROLLMENT MAY BE LIMITED TO FRESHMEN. STUDENTS NEEDING SPECIAL PERMISSION TO ENROLL MUST REQUEST OVERRIDES VIA THE ON-LINE FORM: https://www.cics.umass.edu/overrides No Technical
CICS 110 Introduction to Programming

The world is rich in data and our ability to process, manipulate, analyze, and visualize that data is growing in power. This course discusses how to understand and solve real-world problems using modern programming techniques. Concepts and techniques covered include the representation of data, fundamentals of programming including data types, expressions, objects, methods, program design, program testing and debugging, state representation, accessing, processing, and manipulating data, generating visualizations of data, interpreting results, and introductory data analytics using data to make predictions that help solve important problems in the world around us. Use of a laptop computer is required. (Gen. Ed. R2)

Open to freshman and sophomore Computer Science, Informatics, Math, and Physics students.

Prerequisite: Completion of the R1 General Education Requirement (or a score of 20 or higher on the Math Placement Exam, Part A) or one of the following courses: Math 101 & 102, Math 104, 127, 128, 131 or 132.

STUDENTS NEEDING SPECIAL PERMISSION MUST REQUEST OVERRIDES VIA THE ON-LINE FORM:  https://www.cics.umass.edu/overrides.

It is recommended that non-CICS majors take CS 119.

AFTER ELIGIBLE CS/INFORM MAJORS HAVE ENROLLED, WILL OPEN TO FRESHMEN, SOPHOMORE, AND JUNIOR NON-CS/INFORM MAJORS, IF AVAILABLE SEATS. FRESHMEN, SOPHOMORE, AND JUNIOR NON-CS/INFORM MAJORS SHOULD WAIT FOR THE ELIGIBILITY RESTRICTION TO BE REMOVED TO SELF-ENROLL OR ADD TO THE WAITLIST AND SHOULD NOT REQUEST AN OVERRIDE. STUDENTS NEEDING SPECIAL PERMISSION MUST REQUEST OVERRIDES VIA THE ON-LINE FORM Yes Technical
CICS 127 Introduction to Public Interest Technology

Today's world is complex and tech-driven.  How do we use the tools of information technology to solve problems in a socially responsible way, i.e. in a way that both empowers us and promotes the well-being of the communities in which we live?  In this course, we describe the socio-technical world and pragmatic strategies for promoting personal and social responsibility.  We explore the questions:  What is the public interest in a socio-technical world?  What strategies can we use to promote social responsibility in the public sector, private sector and general public?  What can each of us do to make the world a better place?

Formerly CICS 290P

Open to undergraduate students. STUDENTS NEEDING SPECIAL PERMISSION MUST REQUEST OVERRIDES VIA THE ON-LINE FORM: https://www.cics.umass.edu/overrides. No Broadened Inquiry
CICS 160 Object-Oriented Programming

This course introduces foundational abstract data types and algorithms. The main focus is on the use of data structures in designing and developing programs to solve problems in a variety of domains. Specific topics include lists, sets, dictionaries, graphs, stacks and queues, searching, and sorting. There will be weekly programming assignments, programming and written exercises in lab sections, regular quizzes, and a cumulative final exam. Use of a personal laptop in class is required.

Open to freshman and sophomore Informatics and Computer Science students.

Prerequisite: CICS 110 with a grade of C or better.

USE OF PERSONAL LAPTOP IN CLASS IS REQUIRED.  STUDENTS NEEDING SPECIAL PERMISSION MUST REQUEST OVERRIDES VIA THE ON-LINE FORM:  https://www.cics.umass.edu/overrides.

Note: This is course replaces INFO 190T and CS 186

AFTER ELIGIBLE CS/INFORM MAJORS HAVE ENROLLED, WILL OPEN TO FRESHMEN, SOPHOMORE, AND JUNIOR NON-CS/INFORM MAJORS, IF AVAILABLE SEATS. FRESHMEN, SOPHOMORE, AND JUNIOR NON-CS/INFORM MAJORS SHOULD WAIT FOR THE ELIGIBILITY RESTRICTION TO BE REMOVED TO SELF-ENROLL OR ADD TO THE WAITLIST AND SHOULD NOT REQUEST AN OVERRIDE. STUDENTS NEEDING SPECIAL PERMISSION MUST REQUEST OVERRIDES VIA THE ON-LINE FORM. Yes Technical
CICS 208 Defending Democracy in a Digital World

 

 

Crosslisted with COMM 208 and SPP 208; it is the same course. Students may not take the course more than once. Yes Broadened Inquiry
CICS 210 Data Structures

 

This course replaces CS 187.

Prerequisite: CICS 160 with a grade of C or better. Fulfills R2: Analytical Reasoning Requirement AFTER ELIGIBLE CS/INFORM MAJORS HAVE ENROLLED, WILL OPEN TO FRESHMEN, SOPHOMORE, AND JUNIOR NON-CS/INFORM MAJORS, IF AVAILABLE SEATS. FRESHMEN, SOPHOMORE, AND JUNIOR NON-CS/INFORM MAJORS SHOULD WAIT FOR THE ELIGIBILITY RESTRICTION TO BE REMOVED TO SELF-ENROLL OR ADD TO THE WAITLIST AND SHOULD NOT REQUEST AN OVERRIDE. STUDENTS NEEDING SPECIAL PERMISSION MUST REQUEST OVERRIDES VIA THE ON-LINE FORM Yes Technical
CICS-COMM-SPP 208 Defending Democracy in a Digital World

 

 

Fulfills an SB gen ed requirement No Broadened Inquiry
CLASSICS 393A Technology in the Ancient World

Survey of the development of technology and culture during antiquity, utilizing archaeological and historical evidence. This course explores the various ways in which technology form and innovation reflects and shapes ancient communities’ responses to their environment. By considering evidence for manufacturing and production, this class explores issues of artisan status, resource procurement and production environments. Significant portions of the class are dedicated to experimental reconstruction of ancient production methods and techniques.

Yes Broadened Inquiry
COMM 121 Intro to Media and Culture

Even skeptics among us believe that in the U.S. and around the world, media make a difference in our democracy and our everyday lives.  This course takes that belief to heart, asking about the social and cultural role of mass media in advanced, post-industrial Western societies (primarily in the U.S.). We consider how media and their surrounding economic and institutional framework affect cultural, political and ideological processes. We consider a range of media forms in historical context to understand how today's media systems came to be. We examine how scholars have understood media power and influence and, finally, we turn to sites of agency-how media makers and users produce and change media form, content and meaning.

This course is open to Freshmen, Sophomores, and Juniors only. Yes Broadened Inquiry
COMM 208 Defending Democracy in a Digital World

 

 

Crosslisted with CICS 208 and SPP 208; It is the same course. Students cannot take the course more than once. Yes Broadened Inquiry
COMM 332 Convergent Media and Activism

This course explores the relationship between digital media, politics, and democracy, examining the social and technical history of online activist projects in different societies around the world.

Was COMM 397AB. No Broadened Inquiry
COMM 334 Media History and Communication Policy

Focus on technological developments that have influenced the growth and development of our electronic modes of communication such as radio, television, telephones, videocassette recorders, satellites, cable TV, electronic mail, robotics, and computers. 

Registration limited to COMM majors on SPIRE. Non-majors may be added to waitlist by emailing the IT Office at itprogram@provost.umass.edu No Broadened Inquiry
COMM 397M ST-New Media Tech & Soc Change

Course addresses the main debates and perspectives on the economic and social transformation associated with the spread of new media technologies, from various forms of collaborative and social media, to mobile phones and wireless broadband delivery systems.  

--- No Broadened Inquiry, or Elective
COMM 409 Communication, Technology and Work

This course will examine the different ways that communication and digital technologies are shaping notions of work and labor. We will engage with ongoing debates on topics such as the sharing economy (e.g. Uber/Lyft driving), microwork (e.g. Amazon Mechanical Turk), microcelebrity (e.g. YouTube stars and Instagram influencers), tech entrepreneurship both in Silicon Valley and other parts of the world, as well as the work that goes into making popular consumer technologies like the iPhone. By the end of the course, you should have a critical understanding of the economic and social forces underlying shifts in digital labor, communication, technology, and work. The coursework includes digital assignments, reading responses, and a research paper.

Formerly listed as COMM 497DL

Open to Senior and Junior Communication majors only. All other majors by permission of the instructor, savle@umass.edu, indicate that you are an IT Minor. No Broadened Inquiry
COMM 409 Comm, Tech & Work

This course will examine the different ways that communication and digital technologies are shaping notions of work and labor. We will engage with ongoing debates on topics such as the sharing economy (e.g., Uber/Lyft driving), microwork (e.g., Amazon Mechanical Turk), microcelebrity (e.g. YouTube stars and Instagram influencers), tech entrepreneurship both in Silicon Valley and other parts of the world, as well as the work that goes into making popular consumer technologies like the iPhone. By the end of the course, you should have a critical understanding of the economic and social forces underlying shifts in digital labor, communication, technology, and work. The coursework includes digital assignments, reading responses, and a research paper.

Formerly COMM 497DL

Open to Senior and Junior Communication majors only. All other majors by permission of the instructor, savle@umass.edu. No Broadened Inquiry
COMM 494SI Future of the Information Society

Media portray images of the future in a number of ways. Sometimes the representations tend to be utopian, sometimes dystopian, and often, the messages imply that a utopian or dystopian future is dependent upon the decisions main characters make.  In this course, we’ll use images from film, tv, theater, radio, and literature to explore ideas of “memes” (the smallest units of the connotative image) that are present in so many media forms that they begin to influence consistent media themes.  

Was COMM 497UA No Broadened Inquiry
COMM 497DB Special Topics- Survey of Digital Behavioral Data

Our digital, social and civic life is increasingly powered by data. What we read, watch and buy is shaped by customization algorithms that are built based on a trove of digital behavioral data (e.g., Facebook likes and YouTube viewing history). This class will provide a broad picture of how our internet behavior is being tracked and analyzed for user psychology and public opinion as well as the implication of data mining on privacy and civic engagement. The course includes workshops in technical skills for social media data mining and visualization.

Open to Senior and Junior Communication majors only. No Broadened Inquiry
Comm 497T ST-Advanced Issues in Information Technologies and Society

This course examines law, economy, and the social aspects of advanced communications technologies; with special emphasis on how the Internet has challenged dominant ways of thinking about the media.  We will focus on key issues of privacy, ownership, access, international balance, and cultural accountability in the use of newer technologies.   

--- No Broadened Inquiry
COMM 499C Honors Thesis Seminar

This is the first course in a two-semester, eight-credit Communication Honors Capstone sequence on Media and the Family.  The first semester (Comm 499C), will examine a broad range of theories and methods that have been used to study various aspects of the relationship between media and the family, and each student will develop a proposal to conduct an original research project on some relevant topic.  The second semester (Comm 499D) will be devoted to the implementation of individual research projects, and will culminate in an archivable Honors Thesis and public presentation at a research conference.  Comm 499C satisfies the Integrative Experience requirement for BA-Comm majors.  Instructor Consent Required . Senior COMM majors and all Senior Honors and IT  students are eligible to apply.For IT students, there are opportunities to help develop a western MA platform for spoiler alert

( http://www.foodspoileralert.com/howitworks/), to participate in an online mapping project on food waste and recovery, among other options. 

Students are required to take both semesters of this 8 credit course, but only 3 credits will count towards the IT minor. No Elective
COMP-LIT 236 Digital Culture I

Develop an understanding of digital culture, what its primary goals are, and what metaphors are useful in describing it. There are three units: a survey of digital culture and learn how to understand digital artworks and electronic literature, second, unit focuses on virtual reality technology as it has been represented in fiction and used by artists, lastly. the topic of cyborgs, and the merging of the human and the machine.

Serves as Gen Ed I Yes Broadened Inquiry
COMPSCI 391L S-Computer Crime Law: Technologies of Investigation and Privacy

A study, analysis, and discussion of the legal issues related to crimes involving computers and networks, including topical actions by dissidents and governments. We will also study the technologies of forensic investigation, intelligence gathering, privacy enhancement, and censorship resistance. Our main legal topics will include recent and important case law, statutes, and constitutional clauses concerning authorization, access, search and seizure, wiretaps, the right to privacy, and FISA. Our technology topics will include methods of investigation and resistance in the context of the Internet and Cellular networks. Students are assumed to have no background in legal concepts. Students will be required to complete substantial legal readings, complete significant written analysis of rulings, learn about technologies in detail, and participate in lively class discussion. This course counts as a CS Elective toward the BS/BA CS majors.

Prerequistie: COMPSCI 230 and ENGLWRIT 112 with a grade of 'C' or better; or the completion of the 'CW' General Education requirement. No Broadened Inquiry
COMPSCI 105 Computer Literacy

Broad introduction to hardware and software aspects of microcomputers. Four application areas: word processing, spreadsheets, databases, and telecommunications (access to the Internet). Prerequisites: reasonable high school math skills. Typing ability an important asset. Not for Computer Science Majors.  *CMPSCI majors see IT Advisor about waiver

Waived for CMPSCI Majors No Foundation
COMPSCI 119 Intro to Programming (Python)

A complete introduction to computer programming using the Python language. Topics include coverage of all the supported data types and program code structures, functions (up through lambda expressions and recursion), reasoning about and debugging existing code, implementation of custom libraries, selection of data structures, and the fundamentals of object-oriented programming. Students will create, debug, and run Python 3 programs that explore each of these topics in turn, from simple loops up through the processing of large data sets, and eventually to the creation of professional-quality libraries to synthesize graphics, audio, and other binary file types.  No prior programming experience expected. Not open to CICS majors.

This Intro to Programming course is intended for non-CICS majors.

Open to freshmen and sophomores in any major EXCEPT Computer Science. CS MAJORS ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR THIS COURSE. AFTER SOPHOMORES AND FRESHMEN REGISTER, 119 WILL OPEN TO JUNIORS. NON-CS JUNIORS SHOULD WAIT FOR THE ELIGIBILITY RESTRICTION TO BE REMOVED TO SELF-ENROLL OR ADD TO THE WAITLIST AND SHOULD NOT REQUEST AN OVERRIDE. STUDENTS NEEDING SPECIAL PERMISSION MUST REQUEST OVERRIDES VIA THE ON-LINE FORM: https://www.cics.umass.edu/overrides. Yes Technical
COMPSCI 120 Problem Solving with the Internet

Basic skills needed to use the Internet.  Web browsers, search strategies, basic Web page design, client-side and server-side programming, and cryptography.  Malware and viruses, e-mail management and etiquette.  Web-site management through UNIX commands, ftp file transfers, telnet sessions. Relevant and timely social, technical, and political topics.  Not intended for Computer Science majors. Programming experience not required. Prerequisites: some hands-on experience with PCs or MACs or UNIX.

--- No Technical
COMPSCI 121 Introduction to Problem Solving w/ Computers (Java)

An introductory course in problem solving in computing, using the programming language Java. Focuses on the fundamental concepts of problem solving and on computer imple-mentation. Satisfactory completion is a prerequisite for all higher-level computer science courses. Use of computer required. Prerequisite: high school algebra and basic math skills. Find override information and the CICS Override Form herePlease, be sure to indicate that you are an IT Minor.

Open to Sophomores and Freshmen only. Prerequisite: Completion of the R1 General Education Requirement (or a score of 20 or higher on the Math Placement Exam, Part A) or one of the following courses: Math 101 & 102, Math 104, 127, 128, 131 or 132. INTENDED FOR CS AND INFORM MAJORS OR THOSE APPLYING TO THESE MAJORS. It is recommended that non-CICS students take COMPSCI 119 to gain programming experience. No Technical
COMPSCI 145 Representing, Storing & Retrieving Info.

The use of data in computer systems.  Formats for representing text, sound, images, ets. as strings of bits.  Basic information theory, use and limitations of file compression.  PreRequisite: R1

Was CMPSCI 145A(195A) No Technical
COMPSCI 186 Using Data Structures

This course introduces foundational abstract data types and algorithms. The main focus is on the use of data structures in designing and developing programs to solve problems in a variety of domains. Specific topics include lists, sets, maps, graphs, stacks, queues, searching, and sorting. (Gen Ed R2) Prerequisites: COMPSCI 121 (or equivalent experience) and Basic Math Skills (R1). This course is not a substitute for COMPSCI 187. If unsure of whether this course or COMPSCI 187 is more appropriate, contact instructor.

Prerequisite: COMPSCI 121 with a grade of C or better and completion of the R1 Gen Ed (Basic Math Skills). R2: Analytical Reasoning Requirement No Technical
COMPSCI 187 Prog W/Data Structrs

Advanced programming techniques in the Java language and elementary techniques of software engineering: documentation, coding style, basic testing principles, and informal reasoning about correctness. The notion of an abstract data structure and various important data structures: stacks, queues, linked lists, tree-based structures, and hash tables. Use of object-oriented language constructs for encapsulation of data objects.

--- No Technical
COMPSCI 290NW A Networked World

The course will cover technical, social, policy, economic and legal foundations for today's networks, including the Internet.  We'll dive into how the Internet - arguably the largest and most complex human-engineered system ever – works.  

No Broadened Inquiry or Technical (or Elective)
COMPSCI 325 Introduction to Human-Computer Interaction

In this course we examine the important problems in Usability, Human Computer Interaction, User Interfaces, and Human Centered Computing.  We will examine elements of HCI history, understanding human capabilities, HCI design, several methods for prototyping user interfaces, and new applications and paradigms in human computer interaction.

Open to juniors and seniors in Computer Science or Informatics. Prerequisites: COMPSCI 187 (or CICS 210) with a grade of C or better OR INFO 248 and COMPSCI 186 (or 187 or CICS 160/INFO 190T) with a grade of C or better. STUDENTS NEEDING SPECIAL PERMISSION MUST REQUEST OVERRIDES VIA THE ON-LINE FORM: https://www.cics.umass.edu/overrides. Yes Elective
COMPSCI 391L S-Computer Crime Law

In this course, students will study and discuss legal issues related to crimes involving computers and networks. Our main topics will include recent and important case law, statutes, and constitutional clauses concerning authorization, access, vice crimes, search and seizure, wiretaps, the right to privacy, FISA, and jurisdiction. Students are assumed to be familiar with general computing concepts and applications, but the instructor will provide an introduction to legal concepts.

CMPSCI 230 is a firm prerequisite. CMPSCI majors who are pursuing the IT Minor must take at least 2 courses toward the minor outside of their school. No Broadened Inquiry
COMPSCI 397F Introduction to Data Science

Data Science is the study of how we can transform raw observations (data) into meaningful information. The products of Data Science, such as models, reports, graphs and charts convey information in a concise way so that informed decisions can be made and new hypotheses can be formulated at an increasing rate. Data Science involves three main areas of focus: computer science, statistics, and knowledge of the domain under study. In this course we provide an introduction into the concepts, tools and techniques to perform the following steps in the data science process:

  1. data acquisition, preparation
  2. data exploration
  3. data modeling
  4. data visualization

To register for this course, fill out the CICS online override form.

This course is designed for Informatics students following the data science track, as well as students from other disciplines who want to gain experience applying data science concepts to the analysis of real-world data sets. This course is NOT intended for Computer Science majors and does not count as an elective towards the CS major.Programming experience and knowledge of basic statistics is helpful but not required. No Broadened Inquiry
E&C-ENG 122 Introduction to Programming for ECE

 

 

For ENGIN majors only. Winter/Summer sessions open to other majors with instructor permission. No Technical
E&C-ENG 150 Making Better Decisions by Humans and AI

This course covers decision making under uncertainty, focusing on topics such as evolutionary psychology, human biases, probabilistic thinking, risk taking, artificial intelligence, AI biases and algorithmic oppression.  The skills learned in this class can aide students in decision making at both personal and societal levels. They can help students recognize cognitive and algorithmic biases and comprehend the social implications of these biases. Examples from everyday decisions, business/finance, economics/policy making, sports, and AI decision making are discussed. (Gen. Ed. SB, DU)

Formerly E&C-ENG 190D

Currently being offered in winter and summer sessions only. No Broadened Inquiry
E&C-Eng 242 Data Structures and Algorithms

A data structures course using the Java programming language. Basic mathematical, logical, and programming concepts relevant to description and manipulation of information structures such as arrays, lists, trees, graphs, and files; the underlying principles of algorithm design and analysis applied to sorting and searching problems. Prerequisite: grade of C or better in E&C-ENG 122, 201 or equivalent.

--- No Technical
ECON 337 Economics in the Age of Big Data

Liars' Economics will introduce students to skeptical and effective consumption and production of information in the era of big data.  Students will learn how to spot and avoid statistical pitfalls, irrational decisions, fake news, information out of context, and blind faith.  The course will draw from historical examples and current events and from contemporary debates in economics and political economy. Students will practice interpreting, visualizing, and writing about big data.

Formerly ECON 397LE

Prerequisite: ECON 103 (or RES-ECON 102) and ECON 104 Yes Broadened Inquiry
ECON 452 Econometrics

This course provides an introduction to Econometrics. Econometrics applies economic theory and the tools of descriptive and inferential statistics to economic data to answer a wide variety of interesting questions. Econometrics theory and tools can be used to: describe the characteristics of a population; create hypotheses and test the predictions of a theoretical model; and estimate the statistical relationship between two variables.  This course will introduce you to the theoretical foundations and empirical applications of multiple regression analysis. Because a key concern of modern econometric practice is the estimation of causal relationships between variables, the course will place special emphasis on threats to the validity of causal inferences. The course will also introduce you to STATA, a powerful and widely used statistical software package.

For Econ, ResEcon and STPEC majors only. Prerequisites: One of the following: (Math 127, 131, Econ 151, 152) AND one of the following: (Res-Econ 211, 212, Statistics 240, 501, 515) Yes Elective
ECON 336 Economics of Science, Technology, and Innovation

This course provides an economist?s introduction to the study of scientific, inventive and technological activities.  The overarching focus is on understanding the microeconomic foundations of the knowledge production function and the determinants of innovation and technical change. We will begin with a brief historical overview of institutions supporting science and innovation and an introduction to the economic analysis of knowledge and ideas.  Other topics include: incentive mechanisms such as prizes and intellectual property (patents), diffusion of ideas and technology, models of cumulative innovation, private and public funding for R&D, scientific and university-industry collaboration, diversity and career choices among STEAM workers, and innovation in emerging economies. The course will emphasize gaining real world knowledge about these issues and motivate economic concepts covered in a variety of ways, such as through publicly available datasets, news articles, group debates, case studies, and guest speakers.

 

 

This course had previously been ECON 397ST Open to students with ECON, RES-ECON, or STPEC as their primary major. Prerequisites: ECON 104 and either ECON 203 or RES-ECON 202 Open only to Econ/STPEC/ResEc primary majors until after juniors enroll, then open to all. Yes Broadened Inquiry
ECON 397ST ST-Econ/Sci Tech & Innovation

This course provides an economist's introduction to the study of scientific, inventive and technological activities. The overarching focus is on understanding the microeconomics foundations of knowledge production function and the determinants of innovation and technical change.

Prerequisites: ECON 104 and either ECON 203 or RES-ECON 202 Open only to Econ/STPEC/ResEc primary majors until after juniors enroll, then open to all. IT Minors, please contact instructor. No Broadened Inquiry
EDUC 376 Digital Tools & Apps for 21st Century Students

 

 

Yes Elective
EDUC 390F Teaching and Learning With Technology

Course examines the potential that computer-based technologies have for making instruction more efficient, effective, and engaging in classrooms at all education levels.  Students learn to apply basic instructional design principles to create lesson plans and other instructional materials. 

Formerly EDUC 593A. No Elective
EDUC 592A Online Tools for Learning & Instruction

This course is designed to teach students to utilize open educational and public domain resources to create, edit, and deliver content for learning and instruction.  This course will introduce students to various web-based technologies for learning and teaching.  

No Foundation
EDUC 595A Educational Video Production

This course focuses on the planning, production, and analysis of educational videos.  Students will engage in all video production processes with a special focus on online video editing production.

--- No Elective
ENGLISH 391S Doing Digital: Critical Skills, Literacies, and Methods

This class is an introduction for students who want to build basic digital proficiencies and a stronger technical foundation while also remaining attentive to broader social, ethical, and political issues. Students can expect to learn how to use and analyze a variety of digital tools, programs, and platforms, including but not limited to: HTML and website customizing, interactive storytelling, visualizing research objectives, Photoshop, GIF creation and analysis, and basic programming. This class is required for the Digital Humanities and New Media Specialization in English at UMass. It is designed for students with a humanities background, and students from the other Five Colleges are encouraged to enroll.

You must have fulfilled your CW Gen. Ed. requirement to enroll in this course. No Broadened Inquiry or Technical (or Elective)
ENGLISH 302 Studies in Textuality and New Media
An introduction to digital culture, visual images, audio content, archives, and new media.  Critical approaches include a focus on formal analysis, historical perspective, reception and audience, and cultural theory.
 
You must have fulfilled your CW Gen. Ed. requirement to enroll in this course. Yes Broadened Inquiry
ENGLISH 382 Professional Writing & Technical Communication III

 The course has three complementary aims: 1) to allow you to develop a specialized interest or skill, 2) to prepare you to enter the professional realm of technical writing and information design, and 3) to enable and assist you in developing strategies for lifelong learning. 

Prerequisite: ENGLISH 380 No Broadened Inquiry
ENGLISH 391C Intro to Web Design (Advanced Software)

This course offers a beginner-level introduction to web design. It is aimed at English and humanities majors, though students from any major are welcome in the course. Students learn to create web pages from scratch using HTML and CSS. The major project for the course is to create a web portfolio that you can use when applying for jobs or internships.

English 379 is listed as a prerequisite, and students who have taken the prereq will have first chance to enroll in 391C. That said, I am willing to waive the course requirement for students who meet the GPA requirement and understand the format and expectations for the course (participation and attendance). 
 
  • There are two sections listed in Spire; both typically work from a common schedule and curriculum.
  • Interested students should contact me (jlsolber@english.umass.edu) with waitlist and pre-req waiver requests.
  • Please include your GPA and year (soph, junior, senior) in your email request.
Professor Solberg will waive the Engl 379 prereq for IT Minors who are interested in the course and who understand that regular attendance and participation are expected. Must have at least a 3.0 GPA. IT Minors who want to be added should contact the professor directly by email. No Elective
ENGLISH 391D Writing and Emerging Technologies

In this course we will explore modes of writing in and for digital environments. Students will develop skills that are relevant for a variety of writing-intensive professions, including publishing, content strategy, technical writing, marketing, and non-profit advocacy work. Students can expect to gain hands-on experience with software or platforms commonly used for digital or print publishing (e.g., WordPress or Adobe InDesign/Illustrator). This workshop-style course meets in a computer classroom; regular attendance is required. This course counts toward the following specializations in English: PWTC, SPOW, NMDH.

Prerequisite (may be waived with instructor approval): completion of English 200 and two of the following period survey courses-English 201, 202, 221, 268 or 269.

 

 
Professor Solberg will waive the prereq for IT Minors who are interested in the course and who understand that regular attendance and participation are expected. IT Minors who want to be added should email her directly at jlsolber@english.umass.edu, please indicate that you are an IT Minor. No Broadened Inquiry
ENGLISH 397GS Introduction to Video Game Studies

This course introduces the now-established methods and theoretical debates that comprise the  interdisciplinary academic discipline of “video game studies.” It prioritizes analyses of the  formal, historical, cultural, and sociopolitical dimensions of games as these aspects have  been discussed by game scholars including Ian Bogost, Nick Dyer-Witheford, Mary  Flanagan, Jane McGonigal, Lisa Nakamura, and Katie Salen. The course will better prepare students to think and write critically about topics ranging from the fan-fiction of the Halo  franchise and the geo-politics of Resident Evil 5 to the widespread appeal of The Sims as a  form of individual and group therapy. We will also study game genres like First-Person  Shooters, Role-playing Games, and Simulation Games as we investigate key concepts in  video game studies, such as theories of play, rules, cheating, modding and hacking culture, live-streaming, choice, ethics, and machinima. Students will complete weekly written  reflections, a video game genre presentation, and a final animated video project that offers a  savvy analysis of video games as culture.

No Broadened Inquiry
ENGLISH 491DS Data Science/Humanities

Outcomes. You will learn 1) the python programming language, 2) how to design simple algorithms, and 3) how to apply data science to the humanities.

The skill set you learn in this course is portable to business, law, journalism, teaching, and public service. UMass offers a number of introductions to data science, but this course focuses on practical applications in literature, language, history, art, architecture, film, music, dance, society, and politics.
We start from scratch: you do not need to know how to program, and high-school-level math is sufficient. (No calculus!) You will design and implement a final project with a faculty member or graduate student in any HFA department. You can work alone or in teams. Grades are based on basic proficiency in python, a good grasp of simple algorithms, and the success of your final project.
No Elective
ENGLISH 494CI Codes, Ciphers, Hackers and Crackers
This course offers a practical introduction to and reviews the history of codes and ciphers, from medieval allegories to the Vernam Cipher. In order to break codes, it examines the structures of the English language, as well as the distributive characteristics of words and phonemes. Students will examine the relationship between a system and its component elements. Starting with the relationship between letters and cipher types, we will move to the relationship between users and networks, writers and literary markets, and to the larger cultural issues of hackers (and crackers) and The System. This course offers students the opportunity to reflect on and integrate their learning and experience from General Education courses and their major by asking them to integrate the content of the course with their academic knowledge and experiences.  It satisfies the Integrative Experience requirement for BA-Engl students.
Prerequisite: A grade of C or better in English 200 or E200 exemption. No Broadened Inquiry
ENGLISH 494DI Dystopian Games, Comics, Media
In this class, we will study video games, postmodern cultural theory, and (tangentially) comic books as we ask questions about the persistence of dystopian narratives in print and digital visual culture. For example, what do dystopian narratives in comics, video games, and new media productions have in common? What makes "dark," "moody," and outright apocalyptic narratives like The Walking Dead, Half-Life 2, Left 4 Dead, Sweet Tooth and the web series Down Twisted popular in this current historical moment? Can postmodern cultural theory help us better understand some of the social and political ramifications of dystopian culture? Further, can the theory make more clear how such stories envision the perils of the future in ways that inadvertently comment on our current times? Is it possible that the cautionary tales of dystopian narratives might, if heeded, make the world a better place? We will compare different game genres in order to make arguments about the types of anxieties, fears, and dreams that get articulated in RPG games like Fallout 3, shooters like BioShock, war games like Metal Gear Solid 4, and in third person action games like Grand Theft Auto IV. Important note: This class will follow a team-based discussion format, meaning all students will be asked to play a leading role in class discussions and will be required to work closely on digital projects and select other assignments with members of a team. Access to an Xbox 360 or Playstation 3 is not required but it is strongly preferred. Each team of five students will need at least one gaming console to share.  Satisfies the Integrative Experience requirement for BA-Engl majors.
Primarily for English majors, some non-majors who are IT Minors may be admitted if there is room. Contact the instructor. No Broadened Inquiry
English 497G Game Design Fundamentals

This course looks at how to effectively start to develop games, from concept through documentation, prototyping and play testing. We will look at the games we grew up with, the games we play today, the games that do not, on the surface seem like games, and consider how to develop a variety of games through at least the paper prototyping stage. This course will involve considerable hands-on work and both independent and collaborative work to develop viable game documentation and prototypes.

No Technical
FINANCE 304 Financial Modeling

Application of financial models in the business environment. The use of computer-based spreadsheet and simulation packages in business analysis.

Open to junior and senior Finance students in the Isenberg School of Management. Prerequisite: FINANCE 301 Yes Elective
GEOGRAPH 352 Computer Mapping

Mapping  projects through the use of software mapping packages.

Students select their own final projects.

Additional fees are associated with this section. Yes Elective
GEOGRAPH 468 GIS and Spatial Analysis

This course introduces fundamental concepts and methods of geographic information system.  Emphasis on developing skills using GIS to solve typical spatial problems in the geosciences and environmental sciences.

 

Prerequisite: NRC 585 or GEOGRAPH 593G Additional fees are associated with this section. No Elective
GEOGRAPH 592M S-Computer Mapping

Mapping projects through the use of software mapping packages. Students select their own final projects.

Additional fees are associated with this section. Yes Elective
HIST 222 Data
 

 

Serves as an HS Gen Ed requirement. No Broadened Inquiry
HISTORY 180 The History of Science and Technology in the Western World, Part I

Focus on the birth of Western science in the rational cosmology of the ancient Greeks, on its transmission to medieval Europe, and its eventual overturning in the Scientific Revolution of the 16th and 17th centuries. (Gen.Ed. HS)

Yes Broadened Inquiry
HISTORY 181 History Western Sci & Technology II

This sequel to History 180 surveys Western science and technology in their cultural context from the Scientific Revolution to the Cold War. The course introduces students to key scientific ideas of the modern age through the lens of social, political, and intellectual history. Important themes include the social organization of science, the creation scientific spaces and sites for the production of scientific knowledge, and the role of technology in both science and the basic infrastructure of modern life. Course topics will vary widely, including subjects such as the Copernican view of the universe, Darwinian evolution in science and society, the quantum revolution in 20th century physics, and the Space Race. Readings will consist of primary and secondary sources; short research and response papers will be assigned. No prerequisites, although previous exposure to a course in modern European or American history is helpful.

Gen Ed (HS) No Broadened Inquiry
HISTORY 397ST Science, Technology, and War in 20th Century US and Europe

This course will examine the nexus of science, technology, and war in the 20th century United States and Europe. This course will cover topics such as the development and use of chemical and biological warfare; scientific, political, medical, and philosophical implications of nuclear technology; the Manhattan Project and Big Science; Nazi science; Soviet agriculture; Cold War technology and the Space Race; missile technology; and psychological research and the military. As a unifying theme we will consider the impact of technological determinism and the centrality of science and technology in wartime politics and practice. Readings will consist of primary and secondary sources as well as historical and contemporary films. Requirements will include writing several short papers as well as a longer historiographical essay.

No Broadened Inquiry
HISTORY 493B Digital History

This course on digital history examines both the theoretical and practical impact of new media and technology on history, especially in the field of Public History. We will examine how digital media has  influenced (and is still influencing) how we research, write, present history. We will draw on theoretical readings as well as analyze the potential benefits and drawbacks of online resources, such as websites, blogs, wikis, and podcasts. A major component of the course will be a semester-long project that will require students to develop a digital historical resource and construct a home page for it. The semester project is an opportunity to experiment with new technologies and to overcome any anxieties students might have regarding the use of new media.

--- No Broadened Inquiry
HT-MGT 387 Information Technology and Social Media in Hospitality and Tourism Management

This course examines the strategic use of technology in modern hospitality and tourism organizations including the utilization of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) and social media as a marketing and management tool. The application and use of both business intelligence and hospitality business analytics is also explored.

For overrides please email Muzzo Uysa, Department Chair & Professor in the Hospitality & Tourism Management Department, at muysal@isenberg.umass.edu. Please tell him that you are an IT Minor. Yes Elective
INFO 101 Introduction to Informatics

An introduction to the main concepts of Informatics.  There are several "Big Ideas" in computing, including but not limited to abstraction, data and information, algorithms, programming, and analysis of both computational problems and computational artifacts.  This class provides an introduction to those ideas and considers some of the ways that those computing principles might be used to solve real world problems.  Computer-based assignments are an integral part of this course but no programming knowledge or prior programming experience is expected or required. Not for CS majors.

Open to undergraduate students NOT majoring in Computer Science. CS MAJORS ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR THIS COURSE. FOUNDATIONS COURSE FOR THE INFORMATICS MAJOR. STUDENTS NEEDING SPECIAL PERMISSION MUST REQUEST OVERRIDES VIA THE ON-LINE FORM: https://www.cics.umass.edu/overrides. Yes Foundation
INFO 190D Using Data Structures

This course introduces foundational abstract data types and algorithms. The main focus is on the use of data structures in designing and developing programs to solve problems in a variety of domains. Specific topics include lists, sets, maps, graphs, stacks, queues, searching, and sorting. (Gen Ed R2)

Prerequisite: COMPSCI 121 with a grade of C or better and completion of the R1 Gen Ed (Basic Math Skills). Course Attribute- R2: Analytical Reasoning Requirement Same as COMPSCI 187, but for Informatics Students. No Technical
INFO 190IN Introduction to Informatics

An introduction to the main concepts of Informatics.  There are several "Big Ideas" in computing, including but not limited to abstraction, data and information, algorithms, programming, and analysis of both computational problems and computational artifacts.  This class provides an introduction to those ideas and considers some of the ways that those computing principles might be used to solve real world problems.  Computer-based assignments are an integral part of this course but no programming knowledge or prior programming experience is expected or required. Not for CMPSCI majors.

Was COMPSCI 190IN No Foundation
INFO 203 A Networked World
The course will cover the technical foundations of today s communication networks, particularly the Internet. It will also address key social, policy, economic and legal aspects of these networks, their use (and abuse), and their regulation. This course covers computer science topics, but all material will be presented in a way that is accessible to an educated audience with or without a strong technical background. Not intended for Computer Science majors students interested in a majors-level treatment of this material should see COMPSCI 453. 3 credits.
Open to INFORM majors.
CS Majors are not eligible for this course. After INFORM Majors register, INFO 203 will open to all non-CS Undergraduates. Students needing special permission must request overrides via the on-line form (indicate that you are and IT Minor): https://www.cics.umass.edu/overrides. The override form is available .at some point during the registration period. Yes Broadened Inquiry or Technical (or Elective)
INFO 248 Introduction to Data Science

The terms data science and big data appear in the news media and in everyday conversations. Moreover, we are told that we live in the age of information , where almost every business venture and scientific research initiative collect a massive amount of data which may contain valuable information. This course is an introduction to the concepts and skills involved with the collection, management, analysis, and presentation of data sets and the data products that result from the work of data scientists. Privacy, algorithmic bias and ethical issues are discussed. Students will work with data from the financial, epidemiological, educational, and other domains. The course provides many case studies and examples of real-world data that students work with using various tools including the R programming language as well as the structured query language (SQL). This course does not satisfy requirements for the CS major.

Prerequisites: a grade of C or better in the following courses: COMPSCI 121 and either PSYCH 240, OIM 240, STATISTC 240, RES-ECON 212, SOCIOL 212, or STATISTC 515. STUDENTS NEEDING SPECIAL PERMISSION MUST REQUEST OVERRIDES VIA THE ON-LINE FORM: https://www.cics.umass.edu/overrides. Yes Broadened Inquiry or Technical (or Elective)
INFO 397F ST- Intro to Data Science

The terms "data science" and "big data" appear in the news media and in everyday conversations. Moreover, we are told that we live in the "age of information", where almost every business venture and scientific research initiative collect a massive amount of data which may contain valuable information. This course is an introduction to the concepts and skills involved with the collection, management, analysis, and presentation of large data sets and the data products that result from the work of data scientists. Privacy and ethical issues are discussed. Students will work with data from the financial, epidemiological, educational, and other domains. The course provides many case studies and examples of real-world data that students work with using the R programming language as well as the structured query language (SQL). This course does not satisfy requirements for the CS major.

 

No longer running, is now INFO 248. No Broadened Inquiry or Technical (or Elective)
JOURNAL 333 Introduction to Visual Storytelling

In introduction to Visual Storytelling, students will become better producers and consumers of visual media. Students will develop a deeper visual literacy by studying topics like visual ethics, aesthetics, agency, and the currents of the modern visual journalism ecosystem. By reporting their own video, photography and data visualization projects, students will learn how to control exposure with a DSLR camera, how to capture quality video and how to use different editing and production software.

Was Journal 397P - -Intro to Digital Photojournalism This course serves as an AT general education requirement. Open to Senior, Junior, and Sophomore Journalism majors only. IT Minors may seek instructor permission to be added to the wait list. Yes Elective
JOURNAL 334 S- Reporting for Radio & Podcasting

In this course, students dive into the fundamentals of audio journalism and begin to develop their own storytelling styles and voices. Along the way, they learn the technical side of audio while building confidence in creating stories for the ear (a much different process than writing for the eye). And it all starts and ends with reporting and writing ? for both broadcast radio stories and longform podcasts. Throughout this course, students navigate the entire life cycle of audio stories, including developing and pitching story ideas, writing and revising scripts, producing and editing audio files and exchanging constructive peer feedback. This is a hands-on, professional practice course in which students both learn about the theory and fundamentals of audio journalism and practice the skills they learn by creating a variety of audio clips.

Formerly JOURNAL 393N

Formerly JOURN 393N Yes Elective
JOURNAL 340 ST-Multimedia Journalism

Almost all journalism job descriptions these days require some level of multimedia experience.  In this class students will continue to develop their online writing skills through blogging while at the same time learning how to create packages and tell stories with audio and video. This class will focus on ways to merge the traditional methods of storytelling and present them on the Web.  Students will learn what makes for good Web presentations and will be introduced to tools to help them with editing photos, video and audio. Students will enhance their skills in what makes for a good web link and a good web headline and will discuss the business and ethical implications of publishing online.

 

Formerly JOURN 397G No Elective
JOURNAL 343 Data-Driven Storytelling

How can journalists use data to find stories? How can they tell stories through data? This hands-on course provides students with the knowledge and skills necessary to begin gathering, analyzing and visualizing interactive, data-driven stories. Students will work in small groups to tackle questions pertaining to ethical data sourcing, data analysis and making data meaningful for the public. They will also produce their own exciting and thought-provoking digital news stories. Prior experience with advanced statistics, web design or computer programming is neither assumed nor necessary, and course content will adapt to students' collective skills. However, a willingness to experiment, learn new technologies and embrace iteration in a cooperative environment is a must.

Prerequisite: JOURNAL 300 Formerly JOURN 397DJ No Elective
JOURNAL 391R S-Travel Writing & Photojournalsim
This course requires a group trip to Sicily during spring break in March.  Students will learn about travel writing and cultural reporting.  Photography will be taught by an experienced photographer, including digital photography using Photoshop.  A photo essay and a travel article are required along with several readings.  Students are required to eat weird food with a smile.  Sign-up in fall semester is required.
No Elective
JOURNAL 393N Reporting for Podcasting and Radio

Course introduces students to writing and reporting for radio or podcasting. Students will practice pitching stories, arranging and conducting interviews, as well as writing and mixing radio scripts.  

Journalism Majors Only No Elective
JOURNAL 394MI Media, Technology and Culture

This course aims to provide students with a framework for critically examining the intersections between media messages, the digital revolution and the wider sociocultural environment. That journalism has been profoundly impacted by the development of Web 2.0 applications is nowadays axiomatic. However, the precise ways in which such “new media” phenomena as Facebook & Twitter, the personal blog and the smart phone have transformed news gathering, packaging and dissemination still need to be researched and understood. Students will reflect critically on the manner in which their communication (e.g., their use of language, imagery and technology) creates and, in turn, is determined by, the social and cultural world(s) in which they live. Investigating their meaning-making processes in this way should translate into an increased awareness of the causes and consequences of their storytelling choices. The course readings will deal with such issues as identity formation, social and cultural diversity, linguistic and technological determinism, ritual, perception and subjectivity, and cultural competency.

Open to Senior and Junior JOURNAL majors only. Fulfills IE requirement Formerly JOURN 494MI No Broadened Inquiry
JOURNAL 435 Web Design for Journalists

Students will learn basic web design, HTML and CSS skills, and by the end of the semester they will be able to build a basic website, including how to incorporate JavaScript plugins. The course will also cover online ethics, mobile strategy, search engine optimization, and the role of social media in successfully publishing journalism work online.

Journalism Majors Only, was Journal 394W No Elective
LEGAL 291S Global Cyberlaw

Recent controversies about government surveillance, illegal downloading of music and movies, and the growth of mobile phone use and apps represent only  a few of many novel questions of the global online legal environment. Cyberspace has no national boundaries and this complicates how nations and states can exercise control over the Internet.  Who governs the internet is a fundamental question that we address at the outset of the course. This matters to all of us as we are all actors online, and which law applies to our conduct makes a difference.  All types of online activities take place without regard who governs them and, as a result-some are legal and some are not.  In this course, we will explore a broad range of topics in this fast-moving area. We will discuss issues related to free speech, pornography and obscenity and warrantless searches and seizures in the global setting - can perfectly legal conduct in one country be wrongful in another? We will look at which  behaviors in cyberspace  have become criminalized. We will sample some of the on-going controversies in the area of intellectual property law. We will also explore the current debate on  online gambling, internet taxes, as well as new problems raised by the spread of wireless technologies.  We will consider several issues that touch on ecommerce and how technology facilitates online dispute resolution. Finally, we will look at how each of these global legal issues forces all of us to have an understanding of the ethical issues from an international perspective, and, how governments are addressing these issues with Internet reform initiatives  that are taking place around the world.

Offered online. No Broadened Inquiry
LEGAL 368 Alternative Dispute Resolution

This course explores the historical origins of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) in immigrant, religious, and indigenous communities in the U.S. and its development over the past 300 years.  Why have advocates in the legal, commercial, labor, educational, and community sectors promoted its use?  What has their impact been on the various forms of ADR?  Whose interests are served by ADR?  A critical analysis of mediation, arbitration, negotiation, and online dispute resolution in comparison to the judicial system include attention to how issues of power imbalances and identity impact ADR.  We will also briefly explore international dispute resolution and consider its similarities and differences to ADR in this country.

No Broadened Inquiry
LEGAL 391CC S - Computers, Copyright & Criminal Law

 

 
This course examines how traditional ideas of crime, punishment, and justice square with the expansion of copyright law in an age of computers. It looks at how copyright expansion affects creators, consumers, and anyone who wants to communicate virtually. It examines computer law and its interfaces with copyright and criminal law through the lens of high-profile incidents, including the music industry's file sharing lawsuits, WikiLeaks, the Aaron Swartz case, and other current topics. Students will read primary sources such as judicial opinions, as well as commentary from a wide variety of media.

 

No Broadened Inquiry
LEGAL 491S Law and the World Wide Web

Explore a broad range of topics related to constitutional law as well as controversies in the area of intellectual property law, and explore the current debate on cryptography, online gambling, internet taxes, as well as new problems raised by the spread of wireless technologies. Finally, students will consider several issues that touch on ecommerce and online dispute resolution. 

--- No Broadened Inquiry, or Elective
LINGUIST 409 Formal Methods in Linguistics

Introduction to some basic mathematical concepts and techniques central to linguistic theory. Set theory, logic and formal systems, modern algebra, automata theory, and model theory. Applications to syntax, phonology, semantics. No prior mathematics assumed.

Pre-requisite: LING 201 and a programming course (CS 119, CICS 110, or STATS 108) Yes Technical
LINGUIST 429H Computational Linguistics: Use and Meaning

This course is an introduction to computational linguistics, the study of natural language from a computational perspective. Computational linguistics encompasses both applied (engineering) and theoretical (cognitive) issues, and in this course you will be introduced to both. You will learn how to write programs to automatically process and analyze linguistic structure in language corpora. You will learn how formal language models (grammars) can be implemented computationally and used to represent linguistic structure at various levels. You will use these formal language models to automatically analyze (assign structure to) linguistic data and to model linguistic knowledge, and you will see how these models can be trained using language corpora. A major focus of the course will be on statistical techniques, especially Bayesian inference and maximum likelihood learning. PREREQUISITE: LING 409.

 

Formerly LING 492B
When a course is approved as Technical or Broadened Inquiry (or Elective), this means the course can be applied to only ONE of these requirements, whichever best fits the student's needs. No Broadened Inquiry or Technical (or Elective)
LINGUIST 592B S - Speech Processing

Course topics: fundamentals of Fourier theory and its application to speech signals, parameterization of the speech signal for automatic and human speech recognition, state space models for speech recognition and connections to human language parsing, fundamentals of machine learning applied to supervised learning of sound categories.

No Technical
M&I-ENG 272 Fundamentals of Data Visualization

The world is becoming increasingly data rich, and our abilities to make good decisions rest on our capacity to analyze and convey data in meaningful ways.  Engineers are increasingly expected to use large quantities of information as they design and evaluate systems. Unfortunately, human beings are limited in our perceptual and cognitive abilities, making it difficult for us to use these large amounts of data. Data visualization holds promise as one mechanism for making sense of and presenting large amounts of data in a way that reduces information overload, and supports comprehension, memory, and decision-making. This course will prepare you to become visualization designers by providing you with design strategies, hands-on experience developing visualizations in R Studio, and approaches to evaluate the effectiveness of the visualizations you create. You will also become effective visualization consumers, equipped with the knowledge to assess the credibility of visualizations, detect misrepresentations of data, and reason about various explanations for the data.

Formerly M&I-ENG 397DH

 

Limited seats available for non-honors students. Email the professor to request being added to the waiting list. Yes Technical
MARKETING 450 Direct Marketing

Introduces principles and strategies for direct marketing and database marketing; direct marketing through the use of lists, catalogs, direct mail, print and broadcast media, telemarketing, and the Internet.  Prerequisites: MARKETNG 300 or 301

--- No Elective
MARKETING 455 Internet Marketing

Explores the internet's impact on the marketing discipline and the effective use of this technology; the internet's effect on marketing strategy, consumer behavior, advertising, retailing, and distribution. Prerequisite: MARKETNG 300 or 301

--- Yes Elective
MARKETNG 491F Topics in Social Media, Technology, and Culture This course has been approved as a broadened inquiry course, but appears to be closed for Spring 2015. Students who are already enrolled in the course will be able to count it as an elective for the IT Minor. No Broadened Inquiry
MARKETNG 497C ST- Technology-Enabled Marketing and Analytics

Technology is at the center of many valuable marketing tools and practices. For example, marketers commonly use social media, such as Twitter, Youtube, Facebook, and Instagram; and with various technologies, new approaches and principles have emerged,
such as permission marketing and inbound marketing. New types, and increased amounts, of data associated with consumer use of technologies has made marketing analytics vital to effective decision making and performance diagnostics and evaluation (e.g., ROI). It is extremely important for marketers to understand how to effectively use these technologies, leverage new approaches and principles, and understand how to analyze and leverage associated data.

No Broadened Inquiry or Technical (or Elective)
MARKETNG 497T ST-Text Mining& Analytics/MKTG
This is a hands-on course taught by a leading scholar and scientist who makes accessible and clear the highly sophisticated field of text mining and analytics for a) detecting and revealing hard-to-see patterns in unstructured textual data, such as social media conversations and online brand content, b) uncovering powerful market insights concerning customer sentiments/emotion, trends, segments and other aspects related to customer contexts, and c) identifying and monitoring online brand-communication strategies. The skills developed in this course can be used in a variety of ways, such as revealing what people really think or feel in social media posts, blogs, newspapers, or any source where content is comprised of text, and then using that insight to market effectively to consumers.

Successful completion of this course will enhance one's personal brand, skill set, and value in a world where leading organizations will pay greatly for individuals who have overlapping skills in marketing, intelligence/insight, and computer science. This course provides critical training in these three areas, and is a gateway to working with other forms of unstructured data, such as audio, images and videos. The most critical skill for success in this course is a strong interest in, and curiosity about, the course content.

Prerequisite: MARKETNG 301 Students who are unable to enroll/register for this course through Spire, may request permission to enroll by contacting the Marketing Department Office Manager, Cheryl Brissette, cbrissette@isenberg.umass.edu No Broadened Inquiry or Technical (or Elective)
MARKETNG 497T Special Topics- Text Mining & Analytics for Marketing and Business Practice

Language is the main and most fundamental form of human communication. Through language we are able to communicate and express different kinds of needs, attitudes, feelings and intentions. One of the main data sources from language is text data such as e-news, company reports, emails, online communities, social media conversations and customer reviews. Text data is growing exponentially offering organizations unprecedented resources to monitor customer experience feedback and brand communications (Forbes 2016). However, there are three main characteristics that make challenging the analysis of text: It’s unstructured, it has high volume and it varies across time.This has resulted in the development of an emerging class of research methods using text mining, the process of structuring large volumes of text data to discover explicit and implicit meanings. Text mining methods are currently applied on a wide range of business contexts such as automated sentiment detection from social media, speech recognition in call centers and customer’s keyword search patterns (Forrester 2016).In this course, students will learn how to use this type of data for marketing research and how to develop analytics solutions in the areas of customer experience, sentiment analysis, marketing communications and segmentation. In particular, we will focus on developing innovative text analytic solutions for marketing problems, implement them through a text mining model and evaluate them by assessing their accuracy.The specific objectives of this course are *Understanding how textual data can be used for market research and gaining consumer insight * Introducing the text mining process, its main stages and components *Providing hands on training on using text analytics tools and software.

No Broadened Inquiry or Technical (or Elective)
MICROBIO 590B Bioinformatics Lab

This computer laboratory course is designed to help students construct a working library of bioinformatic tools and resources.  The flow of the course will move from traditional DNA and protein sequence analysis techniques to the opportunities afforded by large-scale genomic and gene expression data.  During the laboratory students will become familiar with UNIX-based operating systems, write computer programs to manipulate biological data and use relational databases.  While there is no formal prerequisites, some level of familiarity with molecular biology is recommended.  

--- No Elective
MUSIC 586 MIDI Studio Techniques

Introduction to MIDI and computer music synthesis. Prerequisite: consent of instructor.

--- No Elective
NRC 577 Ecosystem Modeling and Simulation

Systems modeling and analysis used to understand the complexities of natural systems. System representations, modeling, experimentation, optimization, and policy modeling. Computer modeling using Stella and GIS

Was WFCON 577 No Elective
NRC 585 Intro to Geographic Information Systems
The goals of this course are to teach you basic GIS concepts such as spatial data sources and structures, projections and coordinate systems, geospatial analysis, cartographic modeling, and the integration of remote sensing and GIS. 
Open to graduate students in ECO, SUSTAIN SCIENCE, GEOLOGY, or GEOGRAPHY and seniors and juniors in NRC, BCT, ENVIRSCI, GEOLOGY, or GEOGRAPHY Yes Elective
NRC497MS / PPA497MS Applications in "Open Source Science" and Innovation: A Flipped, Service Learning, "Makerspace" Course

See http://eco.umass.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/NRC497-697MS_AND-PPA497-... for a description.

No Elective
NURSING 235 Introduction to Healthcare Informatics

This survey course will provide a state-of-the-art overview of the role of information technology in healthcare with emphasis on essential content and applications in healthcare informatics.

--- Was Nursing 290B No Elective
OIM 210 Introduction to Business Information Systems

Computer simulation presented for carrying out trial-and-error experiments on computer approximations of real, management systems. The goal is to 1) validate a new idea quickly, 2) diagnose potential product design problems, 3) optimize performance of complex systems, and 4) learn about something complex. 

Seats are prioritized for ISOM students. To be added to the waitlist, fill out this Override Form.

Yes Foundation
OIM 297A Special Topics- Introduction to Business Analytics

This course provides an introduction to Business Intelligence and Analytics,including the processes, methodologies, infrastructure, and current practices used to transform business data into useful information and support business decision making. Business Intelligence requires foundation knowlede in data models and data retrieval, thus this course will review logical datamodels for both relational database systems and data warehouses.Students will learn to extract and manipulate data from these systems using Structured Query Language (SQL). This course covers visualization, reporting, and dashboard design with experiential learning using leading industry applications, including Excel PivotTables, SAP Business Warehouse, SAP Business Objects Analysis, Microsoft Access,and,Tableau.

For OIM Majors only. No Technical
OIM 321 Business Process Simulation

Computer simulation presented for carrying out trial-and-error experiments on computer approximations of real, management systems. The goal is to 1) validate a new idea quickly, 2) diagnose potential product design problems, 3) optimize performance of complex systems, and 4) learn about something complex. The Arena environment, based on the SIMAN language, used to build models and video game-like animations.

For OIM Majors only. Yes Technical
OIM 321 Business Process Simulation

Computer simulation presented for carrying out trial-and-error experiments on computer approximations of real, management systems. The goal is to 1) validate a new idea quickly, 2) diagnose potential product design problems, 3) optimize performance of complex systems, and 4) learn about something complex. The Arena environment, based on the SIMAN language, used to build models and video game-like animations.

Please use the OIM Course Override form on the URL below: https://www.isenberg.umass.edu/programs/undergraduate/on-campus/advising No Technical
OIM 350 Business Intelligence and Analytics

This course provides an introduction to business intelligence and analytics, including the processes, methodologies, infrastructure, and current practices used to transform business data into useful information and support business decision-making. Business Intelligence requires foundation knowledge in data models and data retrieval, thus this course will review logical data models for both relational database systems and data warehouses. Students will learn to extract and manipulate data from these systems using Structured Query Language (SQL). This course also covers visualization, reporting, and dashboard design with experiential learning using leading industry applications.

 

For Isenberg Majors only. Yes Technical
OIM 390STB Artificial Intelligence in Business

 

 

Seats are prioritized for ISOM majors. To be added to the waitlist, fill out this Override Form.

Yes Elective
OIM 451 Information & Project Management

Provides an introduction to project management, focusing on the integration of business operations and information management, and techniques to effectively manage the implementation of such projects.

For Isenberg Majors only. Yes Elective
OIM 452 Business Processes and Enterprise Systems

This course exposes undergraduate students to core business processes and how these processes are implemented with enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems in organizational settings. The key business processes covered include procurement (materials management), fulfillment (sales), and production (manufacturing). (Was SCH-MGMT 552, Was FINOPMGT 397E)

For Isenberg Majors only. Yes Elective
OIM 453 Advanced Business Analytics

This course covers topics in Advanced Business Intelligence and Analytics, including the processes, methodologies, infrastructure, and current practices used to transform business data into useful information and support business decision making. Business Intelligence requires foundation knowledge in data storage and retrieval, thus this course provides content on conceptual data models for both database management systems and data warehouses. Students will learn to extract and manipulate data from these systems. Data mining, visualization, and statistical analysis along with reporting options such as management dashboards and balanced scorecards will be covered. Technologies utilized in the course include SAP Predictive Analysis Suite, Tableau, SPSS, and RapidMiner. OIM 240 Business Data Analysis is a prerequisite for this course.

For OIM Majors only. No Technical
OIM 454 Advanced Business Analytics

This course covers topics in Advanced Business Analytics, including managerial data mining, texting mining, and web mining, and more advanced data retrieval and manipulation. Models from statistics and artificial intelligence (e.g., regression, clustering, neural nets, classification, association rule modeling, etc.) will be applied to real data sets. In this managerially focused course, students will learn about when and how to use techniques and how to interpret output. Students will also learn how to extract and manipulate data using languages such as R. Experiential exercises with data mining, text mining, and statistical analysis will be assigned using leading industry applications. Prerequisites: OIM 350  and either OIM 240, STATISTC 240, RES-ECON 211, or RES-ECON 212.

For Isenberg Majors only. Yes Technical
PHIL 110 Introduction to Logic

Introduction to Symbolic Logic. Two logical systems are examined:  Sentential Logic and Predicate Logic. Work is equally divided between translating English sentences into symbolic notation, and constructing formal derivations.  (Gen.Ed. R2)

Yes Foundation
PHIL 175 Intro To Philosophy of Technology

 

 

No Broadened Inquiry
POLISCI 391PN S- Political Network Analysis

The study of networks in political science, the social sciences and beyond has grown rapidly in recent years.  This course is a comprehensive introduction to methods for  analyzing  network  data.   We  will  cover  network  data  collection  and  management,  the formulation of network theory and hypotheses, network visualization and description;  and methods  for  the  statistical  analysis  of  networks.  The course will introduce multiple applications of political network analysis in the real world.

No Elective
POLISCI 391PN Seminar- Political Network Analysis

The study of networks in political science, the social sciences and beyond has grown rapidly in recent years.  This course is a comprehensive introduction to methods for analyzing  network  data.   We  will  cover  network  data  collection  and  management,  the formulation of network theory and hypotheses, network visualization and description;  and methods  for  the  statistical  analysis  of  networks.  The course will introduce multiple applications of political network analysis in the real world.

No Elective
POLSCI 394TI Technology, Power & Governance

The course examines power and uses of digital technologies in national, transnational and global governance. Topics include inequalities, transparency, civil society, state capacity, privacy, social movements, cyberwar and electoral politics. Satisfies the Integrative Experience requirement for BA-PolSci majors.

Open to Senior and Junior Political Science majors only. After the initial course enrollment ramping period this course will open to all political science majors. No Broadened Inquiry
PUBHLTH 390R Introduction to Data Science Using R

Data science is an exciting discipline that allows you to turn raw data into understanding, insight, and knowledge. The course will first focus on data visualization and data transformation, and then introduce other topics including exploratory data analysis and programing. This course will help students learn the most important tools in R to do data science. Students will gain hands-on experience through in-class coding activities and homework assignments.

There is no formal requirement for this course. We will do a lot in class coding, and thus you should bring a device that can run R and RStudio in class. No Technical
PUBHLTH 460 Telling Stories with Data: Statistics, Modeling, and Visualization

The aim of this course is to provide students with the skills necessary to tell interesting and useful stories in real-world encounters with data. Specifically, they will develop the statistical and programming expertise necessary to analyze datasets with complex relationships between variables. Students will gain hands-on experience summarizing, visualizing, modeling, and analyzing data. Students will learn how to build statistical models that can be used to describe and evaluate multidimensional relationships that exist in the real world. Specific methods covered will include linear, logistic, and Poisson regression. This course will introduce students to the R statistical computing language and by the end of the course will require substantial independent programming. To the extent possible, the course will draw on real data sets from biological and biomedical applications. This course is designed for students who are looking for a second course in applied statistics/biostatistics (e.g. beyond PUBHLTH 391B or STAT 240), or an accelerated introduction to statistics and modern statistical computing.

Was PUBHLTH 490ST- Prerequisites- One of any of the following introductory stats courses: PUBHLTH 223 (formerly PUBHLTH 391B); STATISTC 111, 240, 501, 515 or 516; Res-Econ 212; PSYCH 240. Yes Technical
PUBHLTH 667 Environmental & Occupational Toxicology II

This course is developed to meet an upcoming demand for a new generation of toxicologists. In this class students will learn about new methods and approaches and will perform a project based on next generation sequencing starting from tissues of exposed and control animals through bioinformatic analysis of molecular pathways that were affected by exposure and generation of toxicity assessment data.

No Technical
RES-ECON 414 Topics in Time Series and Forecasting

We will explore and develop a variety of univariate time-series techniques. We will show how to use these techniques to make forecasts for different economic variables. We will compare forecasts using univariate methods with forecasts obtained using econometric models.

Formerly RES-ECON 497A.

“Knowledge of Regression” is a requirement. No Elective
RES-ECON 112 Computing: Foundations to Frontiers

Provides introductory training and a fluency in the discipline, to help the student to apply IT to her or his own major or career.  Course develops understanding of contemporary computing tools, IT concepts, and higher-order skills like those needed to perform needs assessment and systems analysis and troubleshooting.  

Seats prioritized for RES-ECON students. Non-majors may request a seat by completing this form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdXxynj-Kpj5iLlrXjYzXlIYgQv0C9RDWG7X96RVmWj-AasuA/viewform?usp=sf_link.
 
Note: Summer version is open to all--no restrictions.
Yes Foundation
RES-ECON 312 Introduction to Econometrics

Basic concepts in econometric methods. Estimation of the general linear model with applications to theoretical economic models. Introduction to problems and methods to solve problems common in economic data. Nonlinear models, binary independent variables and binary dependent viable methods. Application of methods to real world data; emphasis is on application through use of econometric software. Students undertake research projects.

Students who are interested in the course but have not completed all of the prerequisites can email the course instructor to request permission to enroll.

Pre Requisites: (RES-ECON 112) and (either RES-ECON 202(305) or ECON 203) and (either RES-ECON 213 or FINOPMGT 250/OIM 250) No Elective
RES-ECON 315 Economics of Contemporary Information Technology
Economic analysis of the role that information plays in the economy, and study of the contemporary problems in information production, distribution and consumption that stem from the widespread adoption of new information technologies.  Will address both macro and micro implications of IT, and both efficiency and equity concerns at the local, national and international levels. Prerequisite: RES-ECON 102 or ECON 103.
 
Formerly RES-ECON 397A.

 

No Broadened Inquiry
SCH-MGMT 397B Internet Technology & e-Business

This is an information technology course for non-technical students. Some questions to be addressed are: How should one address the Internet latency problem when the speed of your delivery of content to your customers is at stake? How do firms secure their tangible and intangible assets that face ever mounting threats from cyber-attacks? What is happening behind the scenes in B2B marketplaces? How can businesses effectively exploit the power of search engine marketing (SEM) and mobile and location-based marketing?
Through class discussion and hands-on Web site design projects with local companies, students will have the opportunity to: (1) Understand Internet enabling technology and its impact on a firm’s business processes and strategies. Class discussions will focus on Internet security, e-commerce payments, search engine marketing, and B2B marketplaces, plus the positioning of Internet strategies in relation to a company’s overall business framework. (2) Act as consultants and provide e-Solutions to a local client by designing a prototypical Web site and developing a set of business strategies.

--- No Elective
SCH-MGMT 563 Contemporary Legal and Ethical Issues in Cyberspace

Examines the use of information technologies such as software, the Internet and e-mail.  Topics include: the history of intellectual property law, trademark law, e-commerce, privacy, obscentiy, defamation, information security, cyber crimes and ethics.

 

Replaces SCH-MGMT 397L No Broadened Inquiry
SCH-MGMT 597G ST-Internet Business

In this graduate-level technology course, we reverse the idiom about “not being able to see the forest for the trees” into an almost opposite approach of: “comprehending the trees in order to perceive the forest.” Readings focus on technology fundamentals such as Internet network architecture and limitations; e-Commerce implementation methodology, Internet Marketing, and the transforming impact of technology on B2B commerce, e-Commerce security and encryption (PKI), and the consequently inevitable security threats and defense mechanisms. Class discussions and student research work concentrate on the business implications of technology, presenting both opportunities and challenges.
More importantly, students will have the hands-on opportunity to design an effective Web site and provide comprehensive e-business recommendations for a small business, from marketing strategy to technology management.

No Elective
SOCIOL 351 Social Network Analysis

 

 

No Elective
SPORTMGT 392C S-Sport and Digital Media

This course will revolve around how various sport properties are leveraging new media and new technologies, specifically, the Internet and mobile technology.  Modules to be discussed include ecommerce, sponsorship, social networking and online communities, streaming video, user-enhanced content, and user-generated content.

Limited seats available for non-sports management students. Email the professor to request being added to the waiting list. Yes Broadened Inquiry
SPP 204 Statistical Models for Public Policy

 

 

Prerequisites: MATH 101 & 102 or one of the following: STATISTC 111, Math 104, 113, 114, 121, 127, 128, 131, 132, any 200-level or 300-level math course, or a score of 20 or higher on the Math Placement Test. Serves as a R2: Analytical Reasoning Requirement Yes Technical
SPP 208 Defending Democracy in a Digital World

 

 

Crosslisted with CICS 208 and COMM 208; it is the same course. Students may not take the class more than once. Yes Broadened Inquiry
SPP 540 Internet Governance and Information Policy

 

 

Prerequisite: COMM 121 or COMM 122 This class is open to seniors, Juniors may seek instructor permission. No Broadened Inquiry
SPP 690STP The Future of Govenment

 

 

Class is available to students with SENIOR status only. Email the instructor for permission to be added to the course, indicating you are an IT Minor. No Broadened Inquiry
STATISTC 108 Foundations of Data Science

The field of Data Science encompasses methods, processes, and systems that enable the extraction of useful knowledge from data. Foundations of Data Science introduces core data science concepts including computational and inferential thinking, along with core data science skills including computer programming and statistical methods. The course presents these topics in the context of hands-on analysis of real-world data sets, including economic data, document collections, geographical data, and social networks. The course also explores social issues surrounding data analysis such as privacy and design.

Open to first year students in majors OTHER THAN Computer Science and Math & Statistics. Prerequisite: Completion of the R1 General Education Requirement (or a score of 20 or higher on the Math Placement Exam, Part A) or one of the following courses: Math 101 & 102, Math 104, 127, 128, 131, or 132. Computer Science, Math, and Statistics majors are not eligible for this course. This course is intended for freshmen and students without an undergraduate-level programming or statistics course. Background in high school algebra is assumed. Enrollment may be limited to freshmen. (Formerly STATS 190F) No Technical
SUSTCOMM 597A Special Topics- Digital Technology for Design Representation

Introduction to the range of computer applications available for the environmental design professions. Site analysis techniques, computer aided design, and methods of data management on the computer.

This course is open to SUSTCOMM (Sustainable Community Development and LANDARCH (Landscape Architecture) majors only. No Elective
SUSTCOMM 281 Visual Communication: Design Principles & Digital Skills

The course will cover principles of graphic design, visualizing information, information graphics, and portfolio design. Course lectures will be complemented by digital skills workshops where students will become familiar with graphic design software (Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign). Through weekly exercises, students will build the skills necessary to complete a portfolio of creative work, or a visual book or project showcasing a body of research. For students interested in visual communication, data visualization, graphic design and portfolio design.

Formerly SUSTCOMM 297L

If there are available seats, but Spire won't let you register, email apion@umass.edu for permission to be added to the course. Please indicate you are an IT Minor. No Elective
THEATER 465 Advanced Construction Techniques (Autocad)

NOTE: This course is approved as an IT MInor elective ONLY when it is focused on AutoCAD and stage design; approval at the discretion of the IT Program Advisor, advising appointment recommended.

NOTE: This course is approved as an IT MInor elective ONLY when it is focused on AutoCAD and stage design; approval at the discretion of the IT Program Advisor, advising appointment recommended. Prerequisite is THEATER 160. No Elective
UWW 310 Experiential Reflection of the Technological World

 

 

No Broadened Inquiry