REQUIREMENTS

Core courses + electives

  • Introduction to Digital Studies in the Arts and Humanities | 3 core credits

  • Praxis Elective | 3 credits

  • Digital Studies Colloquium | 1 credit

  • Other Electives | 6 credits

Program requirements are subject to change.

ELECTIVE COURSES | 9 CREDITS

CORE COURSES | 6 CREDITS

Elective Courses | 6 credits

Elective courses may be selected from within the student’s home department and/or across the College of Arts and Humanities or (potentially) elsewhere in the university, pending permission from the student’s home department. Appropriate electives (which may include Independent Studies) will emphasize digital methodologies and/or the study of digital media and culture. Please schedule an advising appointment to discuss elective options with the Certificate Director.

Praxis Courses | 3 credits

At least 3 of the 9 required Elective credits must be approved by the Director as Praxis electives. Praxis courses (which may include Independent Studies) are those that feature significant hands-on exposure to some set of digital tools or techniques and/or applied digital project work. Please schedule an advising appointment to discuss Praxis options with the Certificate Director.

A maximum of 6 Certificate credits (and 3 core credits) may be earned at the 400-level.

Introduction to Digital Studies in the Arts and Humanities | 3 credits

MITH610 This course (to be cross-listed in the instructor’s home department) is designed to introduce students to current topics and critical issues in this diverse, complex, and rapidly changing field, with a special emphasis on approaches to Digital Studies as practiced by faculty and other experts here at UMD. The course will combine an overview of key topics and methodologies with hands-on workshops, critical discussion, guest speakers (both from campus and elsewhere via virtual technology), and site visits to relevant facilities (again both on campus as well as area institutions such as the Folger Library or National Gallery). . Examples of topical areas to be covered include Data Mining the Social Web, Reimagining the Archive, Digital Aesthetics/Digital Play, and Global Digital Identities. Evaluation will be based on weekly hands-on exercises, class participation, presentations, and a series of written prompts.

Digital Studies in the Arts and Humanities Colloquium | 1 credit (repeated 3 times)

MITH729 Repeated enrollment in the Colloquium will ensure intellectual continuity and community throughout the student’s time in the Certificate program. The facilitator will organize periodic meetings–usually around a semester- or year-long theme–devoted to discussing shared readings, hands-on experimentation of a new tool or technique, meetings with visiting speakers, and the presentation of student work. Once during his or her time in residency in the Colloquium, each student will be required to present on a paper or project demonstrating a substantial degree of engagement with methods, tools, controversies, or theoretical issues in the digital arts and humanities (this paper or project may be drawn from work completed for one of the elective requirements below). While planning and scheduling will center upon students enrolled in the Certificate, it will be open to any interested faculty, staff member, or student.