Why hire our students?

Because they characterize the leadership, diversity, curiosity, boldness and versatility needed to both succeed in a rapidly changing field and make an impact on our world. Graduates of the Information Science program at Cornell University can be found in all areas of the information economy:

  • innovators who study, develop and manage information systems used in industries all over the world
  • design-leaders who build the interfaces that connect people through technology 
  • front- and back-end developers who turn rough sketches into real, implemented solutions
  • researchers who investigate how information is collected and used, the legal and ethical questions surrounding information, and what big data reveals about our human interactions

What our students learn?

Undergraduates – Specialization of study varies depending on which college undergraduates students enter Information Science. Students entering through the College of Engineering study the design and management of complex information systems, and have gone on to land jobs as developers and software engineers. Alternatively, students entering through the College of Arts & Sciences and the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) focus more on the design and use of information systems in a social context, landing jobs as UX researchers and designers, digital health professionalsJavascript engineers, usability analysts, data scientists, and web developers. Additionally, each summer, our undergraduate students intern at leading tech companies around the U.S., getting critical hands-on experience in industry. Learn more about our students and alumni.

Masters students – Cornell students in the Master of Professional Studies (MPS) in Information Science program are equipped with a breadth of essential technical and team-centered skills to excel in industry. The MPS project is a major component of the program in which students partner with leading companies like Google, Microsoft Research and Verizon to research, design, and build functioning solutions for real-world implementation. Our diverse students have accepted jobs as web developers, business technology analysts, enterprise architects, UX designers, software engineers, and data scientists. Learn more about our students and alumni.

PhDs – The focus of the Information Science Ph.D. program is on technological systems and their use, the ways that people use technology, and how that use affects us. The field's interdisciplinary research combines multiple methodologies, including mathematical analysis, computer modeling, software system design, experimental studies, critical social evaluations, and much more. PhD graduates have accepted positions in industry as UX researchers, and in academia as professors and post-doctoral researchers. Learn more about our PhD students and alumni.

How to Connect

Cornell Career Services – Check in first with Cornell University's Career Services and its resources for employers, including information on hiring current students and alumni, and on-campus contacts who can connect you with our students.

Job Postings - Post your open company positions to the Handshake platform at cornell.joinhandshake.com.

Recruiting Visits - Staff a table at one of Cornell’s big career fairs held in September and February, or host an info session or tech talk. 

Sponsor an MPS Project - Lead a small team of our master's students as they design a solution for your company. In the past, our students have developed information systems, open-source, interactive platforms, educational games, and undertaken research for partnering companies and non-profits such as Microsoft Research, Google, MITRE, Cornell University, the United Way and many more. If you are interested in proposing a project, contact us at is-mps-projects@cornell.edu.

Student associations – Information Science flourishes with a robust network of student associations across programs and across departments, each eager to connect you with our student leaders. Student associations, like the Information Science Student Association (ISSA) and Women in Computing at Cornell (WICC), each host employer visits, information sessions, and tech talks. Be sure to also check in with our graduate student organizations.