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Computer and information science^[1][2][3] (CIS; also known as information and computer science) is a field that emphasizes both computing and informatics, upholding the strong association between the fields of information sciences and computer sciences and treating computers as a tool rather than a field.

Information science has historical roots in fields such as library science and documentation, which predate the emergence of computer science as a distinct academic discipline. Its scope extends beyond computing to include the social, organizational, and technological aspects of information. Nevertheless, the two fields overlap in areas such as information retrieval, data management, and computational analysis, where computing technologies are used to organize, process, and analyze information. Information science is also distinct from information theory, a branch of applied mathematics concerned with the quantification, encoding, and transmission of information. While information theory provides mathematical foundations relevant to certain areas of information science, the latter encompasses a broader range of approaches to the study and management of information.

Computer science, in contrast, is less focused on information and its different states, but more, in a very broad sense, on the use of computers – both in theory and practice – to design and implement algorithms in order to aid the processing of information during the different states described above. It has strong foundations in the field of mathematics, as the very first recognised practitioners of the field were renowned mathematicians such as Alan Turing.

Information science and computing began to converge in the 1950s and 1960s, as information scientists started to realize the many ways computers would improve information storage and retrieval.

Due to the distinction between computers and computing, some of the research groups refer to computing or datalogy. The French refer to computer science as the term informatique. The term information and communications technology (ICT), refers to how humans communicate with using machines and computers, making a distinction from information and computer science, which is how computers use and gain information.

Informatics is also distinct from computer science, which encompasses the study of logic and low-level computing issues.

Universities may confer degrees with a major in computer and information science, not to be confused with a more specific Bachelor of Computer Science or respective graduate computer science degrees.

The QS World University Rankings is one of the most widely recognised and distinguished university comparisons. They ranked the top 10 universities for computer science and information systems in 2015.

They are:

• Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
• Stanford University
• University of Oxford
• Carnegie Mellon University
• Harvard University
• University of California, Berkeley (UCB)
• University of Cambridge
• The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
• Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH Zurich)
• Princeton University^[4]

A Computer Information Science degree gives students both network and computing knowledge which is needed to design, develop, and assist information systems which helps to solve business problems and to support business problems and to support business operations and decision making at a managerial level also.

Due to the nature of this field, many topics are also shared with computer science and information systems.

The discipline of Information and Computer Science spans a vast range of areas from basic computer science theory (algorithms and computational logic) to in depth analysis of data manipulation and use within technology.^[5]

Due to the wide variety of jobs that now involve computer and information science related tasks, it is difficult to provide a comprehensive list of possible jobs in this area, but some of the key areas are artificial intelligence, software engineering and computer networking and communication. Work in this area also tends to require sufficient understanding of mathematics and science.^[10] Moreover, jobs that having a CIS degree can lead to, include: systems analyst, network administrator, system architect, information systems developer, web programmer, or software developer.

The earning potential for CIS graduates is quite promising. A 2013 survey from the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) found that the average starting salary for graduates who earned a degree in a computer related field was $59,977, up 4.3% from the prior year. This is higher than other popular degrees such as business ($54,234), education ($40,480) and math and sciences ($42,724).^[11] Furthermore, Payscale ranked 129 college degrees based on their graduates earning potential with engineering, math, science, and technology fields dominating the ranking. With eight computer related degrees appearing among the top 30. With the lowest starting salary for these jobs being $49,900.^[12] A Rasmussen College article describes various jobs CIS graduates may obtain with software applications developers at the top making a median income of $98,260.^[13]

According to the National Careers Service an Information Scientist can expect to earn £24,000+ per year as a starting salary.^[14]