Undergraduate Programs
Shape the future of information.
Find out how our undergraduate programs in game design and development, games and behavior, and information science are right for you:
The University of Arizona College of Information Science stands at the forefront of undergraduate education in the fields of information science, data science and visualization, artificial intelligence, game design and development, games and behavior, esports, immersive technologies, extended and virtual reality, computational arts and more.
We are dedicated to your success, delivering a world-class, cross-disciplinary education—through a dynamic range of courses (including featured courses), events like the iShowcase, internships and other professional development, student clubs and other involvement opportunities and more—that empowers you with the skills and knowledge you need to drive the digital revolution.
OUR BACHELOR'S DEGREES
In the top 25-ranked BSGDD, offered on campus and online (beginning Fall 2025), you'll master cutting-edge skills and gain hands-on experience in the world of game design and development, including conceptualization, market analysis, technical design and usability. Whether aiming to revolutionize entertainment, transform educational methods, innovate in training or pioneer new applications in healthcare, you'll be ready to excel in a wide variety of in-demand careers.
Not just about gaming, the on-campus BA GB delves into the profound impact of gamification on society, where you'll be immersed in the fundamentals of multimedia, storytelling, sound technologies and more, unlocking new realms of creativity without the need for an extensive knowledge in computer programming.
In the top 20-ranked, STEM-designated BSIS, offered on campus, you'll be equipped with the versatile, cross-disciplinary skills you need to solve society’s most critical information challenges. Choose one of two emphasis areas, Data Science or Interactive and Immersive Technologies, to gain the hands-one computational, mathematical and technological foundation you need to analyze and extend the digital world.
In the STEM-designated, on-campus BA IS&A, you'll be immersed in the fusion of technology and creativity that is computational arts—exploring the magic of creative coding and digital storytelling, the intricacies of human-computer interaction, the interactive realms of virtual reality and the subtleties of user experience, preparing you for a dynamic career in one of our fastest growing industries.
Offered on campus and online, the STEM-designated BA IS&ES prepares you for a transformative future at the intersection of technology and society, immersing you in an interdisciplinary curriculum that explores digital media and media theory, digital engagement and storytelling, online behavior, internet studies, social media and networks, digital life and its impact on human behavior, content creation and more.
COMPARE UNDERGRADUATE DEGREES
Regardless of which degree students pursue, all undergraduate majors in the College of Information Science have three goals (or student competencies) in addition to additional degree-specific program goals:
- Students will be able to perform the four fundamental tasks of research: design, data collection, analysis and presentation of results.
- Students will be able to effectively work with diverse groups and people.
- Students will be able to recognize and analyze ethical and policy concerns raised by new technologies and craft effective solutions for real-world cases.
Each College of Information Science degree requires 120 units to graduate and a minor or double major.
View or download comparison matrix in PDF format.
| Bachelor of Science in Game Design & Development | Bachelor of Arts in Games & Behavior | Bachelor of Science in Information Science | Bachelor of Arts in Information Science & Arts | Bachelor of Arts in Information Science & eSociety | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Areas of Study |
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| Campus | Main | Main | Main | Main | Main Online |
| Required Emphasis Area? | No | No | Yes: Data Science or Interactive & Immersive Technologies | No | No |
| STEM-Designated? | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Math Requirement | Higher (Elements of Calculus) | Lower (Exploring Data) | Higher (Elements of Calculus) | Lower (Exploring Data) | Lower (Exploring Data) |
| Second Language Requirement | 2 semesters | 4 semesters | 2 semesters | 4 semesters | 4 semesters |
| Accelerated Master’s Program Option | No | No | Yes: MS in Information Science | No | Yes: MA in Library & Information Science |
| Career Possibilities Include: |
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| Average Salary* | $95,000* | $65,000-$93,000* | $93,000* | $82,000* | $82,000* |
* Average salary data for degree graduates according to Built In, PayScale aand Zippia, January 2024. Subject to change and not a guarantee of starting salary or average salary once established in career.
OUR UNDERGRADUATE MINORS
eSPORTS
Gain a general understanding of esports industries, gaming communities and the social issues related to gaming for sport, including recent gaming trends in society. Offered on campus and online.
GAMES & BEHAVIOR
Gain an understanding of game design and related social and societal factors, including important design principles and human behavior in games, without needing extensive knowledge of programming. Offered on campus and online.
GAME DESIGN & DEVELOPMENT
Gain an introduction to programming, design and game development fundamentals, learning to develop games both for entertainment, applications and other purposes. Offered on campus and online.
INFORMATION SCIENCE & eSOCIETY
An ideal add-on for virtually any U of A major, this minor provides insight into issues in contemporary digital society from a variety of vantage points. Offered on campus and online.
INFORMATION SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY & THE ARTS
Learn about all facets of information, from deriving information to managing information to extracting meaning from information. Offered on main campus.
LIBRARY & INFORMATION SCIENCE
Gain an understanding for work related to libraries, archives, special collections, material preservation, health information management and more. Available on campus and online.
OUR UNDERGRADUATE CERTIFICATES
Although undergraduate academic certificates are not professional certifications, they signal to employers that students have dedicated the time and energy necessary to build fluency with concepts explored in the certificates.
CERTIFICATE IN DATA SCIENCE & VISUALIZATION
Develop the skills and confidence to tackle real-world data problems using modern programming languages.
CERTIFICATE IN GAMES & SIMULATION
Develop the skills necessary to create virtual interactive environments that span devices and platforms.
CERTIFICATE IN NATURAL LANGUAGE PROCESSING
Develop skills to each computers to use language by extracting knowledge from text and using that knowledge in meaningful ways.
UNDERGRADUATE HONORS
Graduate with honors from any of our undergraduate degrees and complete independent research with our renowned faculty. Learn more about being a Universrity of Arizona honors student:
Ready to shape the future of information?
Learn more about our undergraduate programs by contacting us at infosci-ugrad@arizona.edu or review the admissions process and begin your application now: