Minor in Digital Cultures and Methods

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The minor in Digital Cultures and Methods provides undergraduate students from across the University an opportunity to “explore what is gained and lost in the human experience as we find ourselves inundated with new technologies.” The multi-disciplinary minor focuses on the reciprocal relationship between technology and culture. Students will use cutting edge technologies to understand the human experience, and they will draw on the humanities to measure and critique the affordances of digital culture. The minor will consist of four core courses and two elective courses, covering topics such as introductions to tools and methods, digital citizenship, and professionalization in digital humanities.

Required Courses

DHUM 101: Introduction to Digital Humanities

In this course, students will be introduced to a variety of digital humanities tools and methodologies through a variety of foundational digital humanities texts and projects. Students will not only be asked to investigate the foundations of digital humanities as a field but also begin to develop practical skills using digital tools related to web development, archiving, editing, data mining, network analysis, and mapping. Students will be asked to develop a project tied to their own discipline using one or more of these tools or methods.

EECS 138: Introduction to Computing or EECS 168: Programming I

EECS 138: Algorithm development, basic computer organization, syntax and semantics of a high-level programming language, including testing and debugging. Concept of structure in data and programs, arrays, top-down design, subroutines and library programs. Abstract data types. System concepts such as compilation and files. Nature and scope of computer science. Not open to electrical engineering, computer engineering, computer science, and interdisciplinary computing majors. Prerequisite: MATH 101 or MATH 104, or meeting the requirements to enroll in MATH 115 or MATH 125 or MATH 145.

EECS 168: Problem solving using a high level programming language and object oriented software design. Fundamental stages of software development are discussed: problem specification, program design, implementation, testing, and documentation. Introduction to programming using an object oriented language: using classes, defining classes, and extending classes. Introduction to algorithms and data structures useful for problem solving: arrays, lists, files, searching, and sorting. Student will be responsible for designing, implementing, testing, and documenting independent programming projects. Professional ethics are defined and discussed in particular with respect to computer rights and responsibilities. Prerequisite: Corequisite: MATH 104 or MATH 125 or MATH 145.

DHUM300: Digital Citizenship

In this course, students will explore what it means to be a responsible and ethical digital citizen in our increasingly technological world. They will be asked to consider their position as both a consumer and producer of digital content. This course will examine topics such as digital footprints, digital literacy, and digital accessibility. Students will be able to critically analyze digital practices, identify ethical dilemmas, and assess their impact on individuals and communities within online environments.

DHUM 500: Capstone in Digital Humanities

This is a project-based course in which students will collaborate on a digital humanities project while cultivating their professional presence in the field. Throughout the semester, students will have the opportunity to contribute to a large-scale digital humanities project, either with a KU Faculty member, a Lawrence community member, or on a national project seeking local teams. Students will also be required to participate in digital humanities talks and workshops across the university as part of this course. Prerequisite: DHUM 101.

Elective Courses

Satisfied by two of the following:

AAAS 326: Social Media & African Popular Culture
CLSX 480: Classical Museum in Context
COMS 420: New Media, Politics, and Civic Life
HIST/MUSE 380: Introduction to Public History
ISP 355: Indigenous Film and Media
JMC 308: Ethics in a Wired World
LA&S 395: Critical Perspectives on AI and Digital Technologies
PHIL 375: Moral Issues in Computer Technology
WGSS 331: Sex and Gender in Digital Media

For more information about the minor, contact Dave Tell at davetell@ku.edu.