Frequently asked questions
Can I apply to the School of Information Sciences as a freshman?
No. As an underclassman, you will enroll in Pitt's School of Arts and Sciences. When you’ve earned 55 credits, you can transfer to SIS.
How do I apply to the School of Arts and Sciences as a pre-information science major?
Incoming freshmen should visit the University of Pittsburgh’s undergraduate admission site. On your application, you can select “pre-information science” as your intended field of study.
What is information science?
It is an interdisciplinary science that covers with the collection, classification, manipulation, storage, retrieval, and dissemination of information. Information scientists study the application and use of knowledge in organizations as well as interactions among people, organizations, and information systems (technology).
Information science focuses on understanding problems from the perspective of users and then applying information (and other) technology as needed. In other words, it tackles the problem first rather than the technology first.
What kind of job will I be able to get with an IS degree?
Our graduates have held the following jobs, among others:
System analyst and designer
Database manager
Network analyst
Account manager
Project data manager
Web site designer
Web report developer
Information architect
Information analyst
What types of companies will hire me if I have a degree in IS?
Small firms — Bob Smith Ford Inc., Diocese of Pittsburgh, Decision Lens Inc.
Multinational corporations — IBM Corp., FedEx, Exxon Mobil Corp.
Financial services — Mellon Financial Corp., Federated Investors
Healthcare organizations — UPMC, Johnson & Johnson Health Care Systems Inc.
Private industry — Marconi Corp., Hershey Entertainment & Resorts Co.
Government agencies — U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Air Force
Educational institutions — University of Pittsburgh, Walsh College
Manufacturing companies — Lockheed Martin Corp., United States Steel
Corp.
