Sn-doped $In_2O_3$ (ITO) thin films were prepared by radio frequency magnetron sputtering without intentional substrate heating on bare glass and $TiO_2$-deposited glass substrates to investigate the effect of a $TiO_2$ buffer layer on the electrical and optical properties of ITO films. The thicknesses of $TiO_2$ and ITO films were kept constant at 5 and 100 nm, respectively. As-deposited ITO single layer films show an optical transmittance of 75.9%, while $ITO/TiO_2$ bi-layered films show a lower transmittance of 76.1%. However, as-deposited $ITO/TiO_2$ films show a lower resistivity ($9.87{ imes}10^{-4}{Omega}cm$) than that of ITO single layer films. In addition, the work function of the ITO film is affected by the $TiO_2$ buffer layer, with the $ITO/TiO_2$ films having a higher work-function (5.0 eV) than that of the ITO single layer films. The experimental results indicate that a 5-nm-thick $TiO_2$ buffer layer on the $ITO/TiO_2$ films results in better performance than conventional ITO single layer films.