Towards a Design for an Undergraduate BA Digital Humanities Degree – some thoughts

This post is a thought experiment to try to think anew about what a digital humanities programme might look like at undergraduate level. At the moment, most universities consider a BA in Digital Humanities an unviable option, particularly due to the lack of knowledge by students about the field and the relatively recent coinage of the term. Some of these modules could easily be incorporated into an existing BA Media and Communications, especially as options for students. However, it is an interesting idea to explore, even as an imaginary, and balancing out the different demands for such a degree. This is a first draft really, so it is aimed to start a discussion, but I am interested to discover what I have forgotten, or others consider necessary to add, augment or replace in this proposal. 

This particular proposal for a Digital Humanities degree program has been designed to foster a dynamic and innovative education. The idea is that it balances the development of both "close reading" and "distant reading" skills. In this it is greatly influenced by the ideas of the founders of the University of Sussex, and the notion of "new maps of knowledge" proposed by Asa Briggs in the early 1960s. By intertwining close reading, which involves in-depth analysis of individual texts, with distant reading, focusing on broader patterns and trends across vast datasets, the aim is to cultivate a well-rounded set of cognitive capacities – being able to understand both the general and specific in cultural and social contexts. This approach empowers students to examine texts and cultural artifacts with a detailed analysis while also seeing the overarching landscape of the digital milieu, specifically transcending the disciplinary boundaries of traditional humanities.

In the digital era, an attention to what I have called elsewhere "critical digital humanities" are, I believe, key to include. This program integrates this aspect to ensure students critically assess the implications of digital technologies on culture, identity, ethics, and society. In a landscape overflowing with information, students engage with questions of media specificity, digital humanities theory, data-intensive approaches, digital privacy, ethical dilemmas, and the political and social repercussions of digital media. This holistic perspective allows them to embrace both the practical aspects of digital humanities—such as data analysis and archiving—and the critical reflections necessary to grapple with the profound changes digital technologies have brought to society and the cultural sector in particular.

This proposed curriculum is designed to prepare students for both further academic work at the master's level and for vocational roles in various sectors. Whether aspiring to advanced academic research in digital humanities or seeking a career in the media, the public sector, museums, archives, or other cultural realms, students should emerge with a multifaceted skill set. They can apply their close and distant reading abilities to dissect complex issues, generate innovative insights, and effectively communicate their findings. The graduates would be equipped to bridge the gap between technical skills and critical analysis, ensuring they contribute meaningfully to the future of digital culture and heritage in academia and the broader cultural sphere.

YEAR	SEMESTER 1	SEMESTER 2
1	1. Module: Introduction to Digital Humanities: Theory and Practice Description: This module introduces the foundational principles of digital humanities, examining its historical evolution and core principles alongside practical skills. Assessment: Reflective essay on the role of theory in shaping digital humanities practices (2000 words). 2. Module: Digital Media, Culture, and Society Description: This module explores the intersection of digital media with culture and society from a critical perspective, focusing on concepts such as digital identity, online communities, and the digital public sphere. Assessment: Critical analysis of a contemporary digital media issue (2000 words). 3. Module: Digital Ethics and Privacy Description: This module critiques the ethical and privacy dimensions of digital culture, analyzing privacy policies, data protection, AI/machine learning and digital rights. Assessment: Ethical analysis of digital privacy dilemmas (2000 words).	4. Module: Foundations of Data Analysis and Visualization Description: This module provides a theoretical framework for understanding data analysis and visualization, drawing on semiotics, data ethics, and critical data studies. Assessment: Practice analysis of data visualization techniques (2500 words). 5. Module: Theories of Digital Storytelling Description: Students explores theoretical perspectives on digital storytelling, examining narrative structures, digital narrative ethics, and the impact of digital technology on storytelling. Assessment: Theoretical and Practical analysis of digital storytelling in contemporary media (2500 words). 6. Module: Digital Curation and Preservation Description: This module explores the theoretical and practical aspects of digital curation and preservation, focusing on strategies for preserving digital heritage. Assessment: Critical analysis of digital curation strategies (2500 words).
1	NO OPTIONS	NO OPTIONS
2	1. Module: Digital Culture and Critical Approaches Description: This module deepens the exploration of digital culture, applying critical cultural theories to digital contexts. It will focus on key aspects of digital culture, including artificial intelligence, algorithms, digital identity, digital culture and digital media.  Assessment: Theoretical exploration of digital culture (2500 words). 2. Module: Digital Advocacy and Public Engagement Description: This module emphasizes the role of digital humanities in advocacy and public engagement, exploring strategies for communicating digital research to diverse audiences. Assessment: Public engagement project showcasing the application of digital humanities in public contexts (2500 words).	4. Module: Foundations of Digital Humanities Research Methods Description: Building research skills, this module applies critical perspectives to digital humanities research methods, emphasizing reflexivity, data ethics, and research design. Assessment: Theoretical exploration of ethical considerations in digital humanities research (2500 words).
2	CHOOSE ONE OPTION FROM:   3. Optional Module A: Approaches to Text Encoding and Analysis Description: Building on text encoding skills, this module focuses on theoretical aspects, including text encoding as a semiotic act, hermeneutics, and deconstruction. Some elements of programming (coding) will also be introduced.  Assessment: Practical analysis of text encoding in the digital humanities (2500 words). 4. Optional Module B: Theories of Digital Humanities Description: Building on foundational modules, this module focuses on critical approaches to digital humanities, including engagement with questions regarding distant reading, patterns, artificial intelligence, machine learning, algorithms and digital infrastructures.  Assessment: Essay (2500 words).	CHOOSE TWO OPTIONS FROM:  5. Optional Module A: Perspectives on Digital Archives and Curation Description: This module explores the theoretical underpinnings of digital archives, considering topics like cultural memory, ethics, and accessibility, digital ontologies and encoding strategies. Assessment: Theoretical examination of digital archive curation and its cultural implications (2500 words). 6. Optional Module B: Digital Media and Society Description: This undergraduate module offers a comprehensive exploration of the dynamic relationship between digital media and contemporary society. It delves into how digital technologies have transformed communication, culture, and social dynamics. Students will examine the impact of digital media on various aspects of society, including politics, identity, ethics, and the economy. Through a combination of lectures, discussions, and case studies, they will gain a deeper understanding of the ways digital media shape our world. Assessment: Critical analysis essay examining a digital media phenomenon, such as a social media trend, a digital activism campaign, or an emerging technology, and critically analyze its societal impact.  7. Optional Module C: Digital Humanities and the Environment Description: This module examines the intersection of digital humanities and environmental issues, exploring how digital technologies can be applied to address environmental challenges and document ecological changes. Assessment: Analysis of digital humanities applications in environmental research and advocacy (2500 words).  8. Optional Module D: AI, Machine Learning and Digital Humanities Description: This module examines the intersection of digital humanities and artificial intelligence, exploring how digital technologies can be applied to address digital challenges and help with creating, researching and exploring culture and the humanities. Assessment: Analysis of artificial intelligence and machine learning (2500 words).
3	1. Module: Ethics and Privacy in the Digital Age: Critical Frameworks Description: This module critically examines ethical and privacy issues in the digital realm, applying ethical theories and principles to digital contexts. This will include aspects of the political economy of the digital – and how these pressures shape digital infrastructures, regulatory structures and companies.  Assessment: Essay, applying ethical and political approaches to digital dilemmas (3000 words). 2. Module: Critical Approaches in Digital Research Description: This module emphasizes critical perspectives on digital research, including critical theory, political economy, cultural studies, postcolonial theory, feminist theory, and critical race theory. Assessment: Theoretical paper applying critical theories to a digital humanities research question (3000 words).	4. Module: The Digital, Power, and Ideology: Critical Analyses Description: Investigating the intersection of the digital, power, and ideology, this module critically applies theoretical frameworks to analyze, for example, digital platforms' influence on society through a political economy and cultural studies approach and the rise of artificial intelligence. Assessment: Critical analysis of the impact of the digital on power structures and ideological narratives (3000 words). 5. Module: Digital Humanities Dissertation Description: The culmination of the degree, this module allows students to undertake an independent research dissertation, emphasizing the application of theoretical frameworks within digital humanities/digital media and the use of research methods to shape the research design. Assessment: Dissertation (8000 words) applying critical theories to the chosen topic, contributing to the field of digital humanities/digital media.
3	CHOOSE ONE OPTION FROM:   3. Optional Module A: Building a Digital Humanities Project Description: This module explores developing the digital artefacts in a digital humanities project, including digital objects, images, diplomatic versions, TEI texts, databases, OCR and web/app design elements. Assessment: Practical project creating a digital portfolio applying digital humanities approaches to a project outcome (~2000 words + digital portfolio). 4. Optional Module B: Critical Code Studies Description: This module is designed to immerse students in the critical analysis of code as a cultural and intellectual artifact within the realm of digital humanities. It introduces the notion of "Critical Code Studies" (CCS), a discipline that approaches code as a form of human expression, a cultural product, and a textual object. Students will engage with various programming languages and software systems, gaining a deep understanding of the inherent socio-cultural, historical, and ethical dimensions of code. Assessment: Critical analysis of a selected piece of code, applying CCS methodologies (3000 words).	CHOOSE ONE OPTION FROM:   6. Optional Module A: Media Archaeology and Digital Humanities Description: This module explores into the interdisciplinary field of Media Archaeology, which investigates the historical and cultural significance of media forms, technologies, and communication channels. It explores how different media have shaped and been shaped by human societies throughout history. In the context of digital humanities, this module focuses on applying medium archaeology to digital media and technologies. Students will learn to unearth the cultural, social, and technological layers of digital media, from early computing to contemporary social platforms. Assessment: Essay in which students explore the historical and cultural dimensions of a digital medium of their choice, with a focus on digital humanities (3000 words).  7. Optional Module B: Cultural Studies and Digital Humanities Description: This module explores into the interdisciplinary field of cultural studies, which investigates the cultural meanings and practices of digital forms. It explores how digital media and content represent and influence cultural values, identities, and narratives. This includes investigating digital cultural practices, such as fan culture, online activism, and remix culture. Case studies on digital storytelling, memes, and online communities. Assessment: Essay in which students apply cultural studies approaches to digital media or digital humanities objects, practices or representations (3000 words).  8. Optional Module C: Programming for the Digital Humanities Description: This module is tailored for students interested in merging programming skills with the study of the digital humanities. It introduces the fundamental programming concepts and practical coding skills required for digital humanities research and projects. Students will explore how programming languages and computational methods can be applied to analyze, process, and visualize humanities data, such as texts, images, and cultural artifacts. The module emphasizes hands-on programming exercises and real-world applications in the context of the digital humanities. Assessment: Programming Assignments (70%): Students will complete a series of programming assignments that apply coding skills to humanities data (30% critical reflection essay, 1000 words).

David M. Berry, 2023