Bachelor of Information

The Bachelor of Information (BI) is a professional, two year, second-entry undergraduate degree program offered by the Faculty of Information. It consists of 11.0 credits. Students may apply as early as the second year of their undergraduate degree.

The BI considers the interactions between social worlds and information technologies, providing students with the conceptual tools and practical techniques necessary to understand and effect change in a data-intensive society. The program integrates design thinking, critical scholarship, and experiential learning to provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to design and critique complex technical, political, and cultural responses to new and enduring information practices.

The academic content of the BI is clustered around three interdependent content areas (9.0 credits): The first examines theories of information, power and culture; the second addresses how information practice is organized at many social and political scales; and the third concerns techniques of digital practice. The common curriculum also includes two integrative courses: Work Integrated Learning Practicum and Capstone Project which will allows students to fully consolidate their learning.

Admission Requirements:

The BI is a second-entry undergraduate program. Students will apply directly to the program after having completed at least the equivalent of two years of full-time study (10.0 credits) at the undergraduate level in any discipline with a GPA of at least a B- (2.70) prior to admission

Credits from these courses are assessed as part of the admissions process, high school transcripts are not considered. Credits are not transferred into the University of Toronto, they will only be assessed to ensure applicants meet the admission requirements.

​To be eligible for admission to the BI, applicants must submit:

  • Undergraduate Transcript (required)

Applicants must demonstrate completion of at least 10.0 FCE university-level courses, 4.0 FCE of which must be at the 200-level or higher. Candidates must demonstrate good academic standing and aptitude for transition to the BI program. For applicants in their second year of university study, at the time of application, in the spring of second year, only the first 1.5 years of academic standing will be available for initial assessment. Acceptance into the program will be conditional upon the candidate completing second year and achieving the required academic minimums.

  • A minimum average of 70%, or 2.70 GPA in the most recent 5.0 FCE completed.
  • At least 0.5 FCE with a grade of 70% or above in each of the following areas:
    • formal systems (example courses include Calculus, Statistics, Formal Logic, Coding, or other math or science focused courses),
    • socio-cultural systems (example courses include Media Studies, Cultural Studies, Sociology, or other humanities or social science courses), and
    • creative practice (example courses include Design, Creative Writing, Performance or other art or design focused courses).
  • Personal Statement (required)

A statement that will specifically address the applicant’s intent in entering the BI program, their expectations of the program, and the ways in which their academic and other experience has prepared them for it. The statement can be presented using the applicant's preferred choice of media (essay, short video, powerpoint presentation, website, etc.)The statement will help the admissions committee identify applicants with excellent communication skills, and to determine fit between the applicant’s expectations and the BI program itself.

  • Transcript Explanation Essay (optional)

Transcripts don’t always speak for themselves or tell the whole story. We invite you to submit a brief (250 words max) statement that helps us read your transcript. You might wish to explain any circumstances that may have led to sub-optimal academic performance or tell the story of a change in your academic direction. 

  • Proof of English Facility (if applicable)

All applicants educated outside Canada whose primary language is not English must demonstrate proficiency in the English language. Please see the requirements here: English Language Requirements - Future Students. University of Toronto | University of Toronto (utoronto.ca)

Second Degree Requirements

Students who have graduated with a degree from the University of Toronto or any other accredited university may apply for this program to begin a second degree. Before applying, students are encouraged to determine whether a second degree is actually required for their purposes; for example, a “make-up” year as a non-degree student may satisfy admission requirements if students are intending to pursue graduate school. Students are governed by the rules of the Faculty in place at the time they commence their second degree.

Completion Requirements:

The BI program consists of 11.0 full course equivalents (FCEs) over 5 consecutive terms (fall/winter/summer/fall/winter). These include:

• 5.0 credits in required lecture-based courses

INF301H1 Introduction to Information and Power
INF302H1 Integrative Approaches to Technology and Society
INF311H1 Information in the Cultural Imagination
INF312H1 Worlds Become Data
INF313H1 Computational Reasoning
INF314H1 Information, Memory, and Culture
INF315H1 Information Practice in Organizations
INF411H1 Information in the Global Economy
INF412H1 Data Analytics
INF413H1 Information Policy in Canadian and Global Contexts

• 3.0 credits in required studio-based courses

INF351H1 Information Design Studio I: How to Make a Computer. And Why.
INF352H1 Information Design Studio II: How to Design
INF353H1 Information Design Studio III: Designing Interactive Systems
INF451H1 Information Design Studio IV: Information Visualization
INF452H1 Information Design Studio V: Coding
INF453H1 Capstone Project

• 2.0 credits in lecture-based electives

• 1.0 credit Work Integrated Learning

INF401H1 From Classroom to Workplace
INF402H1 Work Integrated Learning Practicum


 

Bachelor of Information Courses

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