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Study Information Science at Otago

    We live in an increasingly complex world with vast amounts of information created every day.

    Information scientists are vital to the capture, processing and communication of this information to help people and organisations operate effectively.

    Why study Information Science?

    Information Science sits at the intersection of technology, people and organisations. It is a broad discipline that combines solid technical foundations with an understanding of the ways in which organisations use information.

    Information scientists analyse, develop, integrate, test and evaluate information systems. They also gather, prepare, model and interpret data to support informed decision- making in organisations. Information systems are omnipresent – every organisation depends on usable and reliable information systems.

    Information Science is an exciting and rapidly changing discipline – it requires strong foundations and a life-long approach to learning.

    What subjects go well with Information Science?

    The concepts taught in Information Science are an excellent complement to other subjects, preparing you for the modern work done in these disciplines. Examples of well- suited subjects include: Accounting, Finance, Marketing, Management, Law, Psychology, Mathematics and any of the natural or applied sciences.

    Career opportunities

    People with Information Science skills are in high demand because of the vital role that information and information systems play in modern organisations. There are many and varied career opportunities in fields such as business management and analytics, science and data science, education, research, finance, health, manufacturing and automation, media production and user experience technology, music and entertainment, and engineering.

    The first year

    The Information Science programme is available in the Bachelor of Commerce (BCom), Bachelor of Science (BSc), Bachelor of Arts (BA) and the Bachelor of Arts and Science (BASc) degrees.
    During the first year of your Information Science degree you will study COMP 101 and one of COMP 161 or 162:

    COMP 101 Foundations of Information Systems

    In this course, you will learn about the fundamentals of our information and computer science disciplines, which include topics like computability, data analysis, information storage and processing, and database management techniques. There are no prerequisites for this course, but a basic mathematical understanding will be needed – you might want to consider MATH 151 before or alongside COMP 101.

    COMP 161 Computer Programming

    An introduction to computer programming suitable for beginners with little or no prior experience. Introduces the Java programming language, basic object oriented concepts and simple graphical applications.

    COMP 162 Foundations of Computer Science

    An introduction to computer programming suitable for beginners with some prior experience. Builds on and extends basic Java and object oriented programming. Introduces broader programming concepts and other languages.

    (Students are exempt from COMP 161 if they have gained entry to COMP 162 by passing COMP 151 with a grade of at least B or via an Advanced Placement Test.)

    Teaching style

    Your classes will consist of lectures, tutorials and practical laboratories. In the third year you will work on a team project with an industry partner. We have award-winning teaching staff who are recognised experts in their fields and who are considering technological, ethical, professional, societal and behavioural factors of our discipline.

    Information systems are complex in terms of scale and changing dynamics, so our teaching focuses on practical skills and complex problem solving usually found in real-world tasks. Through practical lab work, our teaching will prepare you for the ever-changing world of Information and Communication Technology.

    You may also be interested in

    Recommended high school subjects for undergraduate study

    There are no formal prerequisites for studying Information Science. You do not need to have studied digital technologies at school. However, it is advantageous if you are interested in and have taken background subjects in Digital Technology, Science, Mathematics, Accounting or English.

    Choose a study option

    Whether you're embarking on your academic journey with our comprehensive undergraduate programmes or aiming to reach new heights through our advanced postgraduate offerings, Otago is here to support your aspirations.

    Undergraduate qualifications

    For new and current students studying towards a Bachelor's or other first degree. Explore undergraduate qualifications at Otago, designed to build a strong foundation in your chosen field, preparing you for a successful career or further study.

    Note: this subject can also be studied as a minor.

    Ready to apply?

    Take the first step towards your future in this subject.

    Further study opportunities

    Whether you are looking to bridge your undergraduate studies to advanced knowledge or aiming to specialise in a specific field, Otago offers a range of graduate and postgraduate options to suit your aspirations.

    Programme details

    Compare programmes for this subject.

    LevelPapersPoints
    100-level COMP 101 Foundations of Information Systems 18
    COMP 161 Computer Programming or COMP 162 Foundations of Computer Science 18
    Note: Students are exempt from COMP 161 if they have gained entry to COMP 162 by passing COMP 151 with a grade of at least B or via an Advanced Placement Test. 
    200-level COSC 202 Software Development 18
    COSC 203 Web, Databases, and Networks 18
    INFO 203 Human-Computer Interaction and User Experience 18
    INFO 204 Introduction to Data Science 18
    300-level COSC 345 Software Engineering 18
    INFO 302 Information Systems Strategy and Governance 18
    Two further papers from 300-level INFO papers, COSC 344, COSC 349 36
    Plus 180 further points (it is recommended that BSNS 112 or STAT 110 be included); must include 36 points at 200-level or above. 180
    Up to 90 points may be taken from outside Arts  
    Total 360

    LevelPapersPoints
    100-level COMP 101 Foundations of Information Systems 18
    COMP 161 Computer Programming or COMP 162 Foundations of Computer Science 18
    BSNS 111 Business and Society, BSNS 112 Interpreting Business Data, BSNS 113 Economic Principles and Policy, BSNS 114 Financial Decision Making, BSNS 115 Accounting and Information Systems – must normally be taken in first year of study. 90
    Note: Students are exempt from COMP 161 if they have gained entry to COMP 162 by passing COMP 151 with a grade of at least B or via an Advanced Placement Test. 
    200-level COSC 202 Software Development 18
    COSC 203 Web, Databases, and Networks 18
    INFO 203 Human-Computer Interaction and User Experience 18
    INFO 204 Introduction to Data Science 18
    300-level COSC 345 Software Engineering 18
    INFO 302 Information Systems Strategy and Governance 18
    Two further papers from 300-level INFO papers, COSC 344, COSC 349 36
    Plus 90 further points; must include 36 points at 200-level or above. May be taken from outside Commerce. 90
      Every programme must include BSNS 111-115. At least three of these papers must be passed before enrolling in any 200-level Commerce paper, and all must normally be passed before enrolling in any 300-level Commerce paper. For single-degree BCom students, all five must be attempted in the first year of study or equivalent.

    STAT 110 or STAT 115 will be accepted as an alternative to BSNS 112 as a required paper or as part of the major subject requirements or as a prerequisite when:
    (a) the paper has been passed before the student has enrolled for a BCom degree; or
    (b) a student is enrolling for both a BCom and another degree for which STAT 110 or STAT 115 is required.

    Any student who completed PTWY 111 before enrolling in the BCom degree shall be exempt from the requirement to complete BSNS 113. Any student who has completed PTWY 112 before enrolling in the BCom degree shall be exempt from the requirement to complete BSNS 114.

    A candidate completing the requirements for the degree of Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Laws is able to satisfy the CPA/CAANZ accreditation requirements by substituting:
    a) LAWS 202, LAWS 203, LAWS 204, LAWS 301 and LAWS 407 in place of BLAW 211 and BLAW 212
    b) LAWS 416 in place of ACTP 312.
     
    Total   360

    LevelPapersPoints
    100-level COMP 101 Foundations of Information Systems 18
    COMP 161 Computer Programming or COMP 162 Foundations of Computer Science 18
    Note: Students are exempt from COMP 161 if they have gained entry to COMP 162 by passing COMP 151 with a grade of at least B or via an Advanced Placement Test. 
    200-level COSC 202 Software Development 18
    COSC 203 Web, Databases, and Networks 18
    INFO 203 Human-Computer Interaction and User Experience 18
    INFO 204 Introduction to Data Science 18
    300-level COSC 345 Software Engineering 18
    INFO 302 Information Systems Strategy and Governance 18
    Two further papers from 300-level INFO papers, COSC 344, COSC 349 36
    Plus 180 further points (it is recommended that BSNS 112 or STAT 110 be included); must include 36 points at 200-level or above.

    Up to 90 points may be taken from outside Science.
    180
    Total 360

    A minor subject can be included in many of our undergraduate degrees. To earn a minor, you typically must complete a minimum of 90 points in that subject, with at least 18 points at the 300-level.

    Your minor can be a subject more commonly taken for a different degree. For example, a BCom majoring in Marketing can include Japanese as a minor subject. To include this subject as a minor in your application, first find a major subject through our Subject Search or Study Match.

    You can check what’s required to receive the minor accreditation in the programme details below.

    Available as a minor subject for a Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Music (MusB), Bachelor of Performing Arts (BPA), Bachelor of Theology (BTheol), Bachelor of Science (BSc), Bachelor of Commerce (BCom), Bachelor of Entrepreneurship (BEntr), Bachelor of Health Science (BHealSc), Bachelor of Arts and Commerce (BACom), Bachelor of Arts and Science (BASc) or Bachelor of Commerce and Science (BComSc) degree

    LevelPapersPoints
    100-level

    COMP 101 Foundations of Information Systems

    One further 100-level COMP paper

    18

    18

    200-levelAny two 200-level papers from INFO or COMP36
    300-level

    Any 300-level INFO paper or SENG 301 Software Project Management

    From 2018 the 300-level requirements will be: Any 300-level INFO paper

    18
    Total 90

    Papers

    View a list of all related papers below.

    INFO papers

    Paper Code Year Title Points Teaching period
    INFO130 2025 Fundamentals and practice of spreadsheets 18 points Semester 1, 1st Non standard period (10 November 2025 - 13 December 2025)
    INFO203 2025 Human-Computer Interaction and User Experience 18 points Semester 1
    INFO204 2025 Introduction to Data Science 18 points Semester 2
    INFO250 2025 Special Topic 18 points Not offered in 2025, expected to be offered in 2026
    INFO302 2025 Information Systems Strategy and Governance 18 points Semester 1
    INFO304 2025 Advanced Data Science 18 points Semester 2
    INFO305 2025 Advanced Human-Computer Interaction and Interactive Systems 18 points Not offered in 2025
    INFO310 2025 Software Project Management 18 points Semester 1
    INFO350 2025 Topics in Information Science 18 points Semester 1, Semester 2
    INFO351 2025 Special Topic 18 points Not offered in 2025
    INFO352 2025 Special Topic 18 points Not offered in 2025
    INFO353 2025 Special Topic 18 points Not offered in 2025
    INFO390 2025 Research Topics 18 points Not offered in 2025
    INFO407 2025 Agent-based Software Technologies 20 points Semester 2
    INFO408 2025 Management of Large-Scale Data 20 points Semester 1
    INFO410 2025 Interactive and Immersive Systems 20 points Not offered in 2025
    INFO411 2025 Machine Learning and Data Mining 20 points Semester 2
    INFO420 2025 Statistical Techniques for Data Science 20 points Semester 2
    INFO424 2025 Adaptive Business Intelligence 20 points Semester 1
    INFO451 2025 Special Topic 20 points Not offered in 2025
    INFO452 2025 Special Topic 20 points Not offered in 2025
    INFO470 2025 Advanced Topics in Information Science 20 points Semester 1, Semester 2
    INFO490 2025 Dissertation 40 points Full Year
    INFO501 2025 Applied Project 40 points 1st Non standard period (24 February 2025 - 13 February 2026), 2nd Non standard period (14 July 2025 - 3 July 2026)
    INFO580 2025 Research Project 40 points 1st Non standard period (24 February 2025 - 13 February 2026), 2nd Non standard period (14 July 2025 - 3 July 2026), 3rd Non standard period (14 July 2025 - 3 July 2026)

    More information

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