CERTIFICATE IN DIGITAL HUMANITES AND DATA STUDIES
Digital Humanities (generally associated with those disciplines in the traditional humanities) and Data Studies (generally associated with those disciplines in the social sciences) demonstrate the ways digital media and tools are used to create and share new forms of knowledge. Toward this end, digital and computing skills are fused with traditional humanities skills: critical thinking, analysis, synthesis, narrative, creation/making. This is a powerful combination for any undergraduate who wants a career that builds on both strengths.
The undergraduate certificate in Digital Humanities and Data Studies consists of four academic courses of 3 credits each, plus a 3-credit internship, for a total of 15 credits. Of these, two courses must be from computing and data science and two must be from other disciplines. Two internship opportunities are available: IDIS 3881: Liberal Arts Internship or an internship in the student’s major area of study.
Faculty may participate in the certificate in one of two ways:
- By proposing a course/courses for inclusion
- By applying to be Affiliated DH Faculty.
For the latter, the faculty member agrees to support students pursuing the DH certificate as follows where feasible:
- Permitting the student to complete a digital project in lieu of a traditional paper or project.
- Overseeing an Independent Study that involves a DH project or the investigation of a DH issue related to the discipline.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Upon successful completion of the certificate, students will:
- Understand how advances in computer processing led to the development of the digital humanities and data studies in fields traditionally thought of as part of the arts and sciences
- Consider the major issues in the digital humanities and data studies today.
- Understand the theoretical and structural principles underlying digital projects. These include information design and retrieval, user design, and information structures.
- Acquire skills in digital tools in order to engage in such techniques as:
- website design and publishing
- Data Curation, digitization, and archiving
- text analysis
- data mining
- coding
- data visualization
- modeling and simulation
- geospatial analysis and mapping
- multi-media storytelling
- information design
- network analysis
- interface design
- text mark-up
- Electronic research, digital publishing
- Experience working collaboratively on real-world projects
- Develop materials that can be used in an employment portfolio.
ASSESSMENT: Each course will require the creation of a digital student project, which can be used for an employment portfolio. The type of project will depend on the course and the discipline. Each course must therefore contain a list of the tools and skill sets students will acquire. As these tools are constantly changing, emphasis will be placed on the core principles that underlie all digital humanities and data studies projects. The digital component of each course should comprise at least 15% of the final course grade.
Among the measures for program success will be:
- Student course evaluations, which will include questions specifically addressing the learning objectives of the program
- Numbers of internships participated in by students
- Job placements of certificate recipients
- Additional courses added to the program in order to satisfy increasing demand.
CONTACT: Dr. Mary Balkun, mary.balkun@shu.edu