Academic Minors & Scholars Program
These exciting academic minors and scholars program sponsored by INFO and are offered to UMD undergraduate students. The scholars program is offered at the College Park campus.
Science, Technology, Ethics and Policy (STEP) Minor
The Science, Technology, Ethics, and Policy (STEP) Minor is an interdisciplinary program sponsored by the School of Public Policy, the College of Information, and the A. James Clark School of Engineering. Students in the minor explore the ways that scientific practice and technological development are embedded in social, cultural, humanistic, and political systems. Students will develop tools for anticipating potential social, ethical, and political problems and employ these insights for emerging science and technology governing strategies; and investigate how culture, politics, economics, law, professional training, funding, and employment settings affect the pursuit of science and the development of technology. This minor is available to UMD College Park or UMD Shady Grove students. Courses are delivered online.
The Information Risk Management, Ethics, and Privacy Minor
The 5-course (15 credits) undergraduate minor in Risk Management, Ethics, and Privacy is designed to prepare students to evaluate major information and big data privacy and security issues that businesses and individuals are faced with. The curriculum will examine risks companies face while collecting, storing, and managing information and their existing customers’ and stakeholders’ data. The coursework will focus on practical strategies to mitigate risks and explore the ways emerging technologies benefit in the context of risk management, ethics, and privacy. Must be a UMD College Park (UMCP) student. Courses are available at the UMCP campus or online.
Data Justice Scholars at College Park
The Data Justice (DJ) Scholars program at College Park is one of several College Park Scholars two-year living–learning programs for academically talented students. Scholars curriculum introduces first- and second-year undergraduate students to meaningful learning that sharpens skills in critical thinking. In DJ Scholars, students gain advanced skills in data analysis, biases, algorithims, AI-driven systems, and machine learning models. Scholars students live together in the Cambridge Community residence halls (although not required) and enjoy living, socializing and studying together.