The Graduate Certificate in Digital Studies is a degree-affiliated certificate for credit that will be noted on the student’s academic transcript. The certificate must be pursued in conjunction with a graduate degree program. Coursework completed to earn the certificate may be counted toward degree requirements. All graduate students at the University of Chicago are eligible to pursue the Graduate Certificate in Digital Studies.
If you are taking courses with an eye to obtaining this certificate or are planning to do so, please inform the Digital Studies program staff at digitalstudies@uchicago.edu so we can add you to our mailing list and keep track of your progress.
Requirements
In order to earn the Graduate Certificate in Digital Studies, students must take four courses and give a presentation of their digitally informed research in the Digital Humanities Forum or in a University of Chicago workshop or a University-sponsored conference. Courses must be taken for a letter grade and students must attain a grade of B- or better in all certificate coursework.
1. One course on computer programming: DIGS 30001, “Introduction to Computer Programming with Python,” which is offered annually in the Autumn Quarter. This course, or an equivalent course in computer programming, is a prerequisite for other Digital Studies courses. Students who have previously passed a college-level computer programming course with a grade of B or higher may petition the Director of Digital Studies for an exemption from taking DIGS 30001, in which case they would take an additional course from the list under number 4 below.
2. One course on data analysis: DIGS 30002, “Data Analysis I: Introduction to Statistics,” which is offered annually in the Autumn Quarter. This course, or an equivalent course in statistics, is a prerequisite for DIGS 30004 and DIGS 30005. Students who have previously passed a college-level statistics course with a grade of B or higher may petition the Director of Digital Studies for an exemption from taking DIGS 30002, in which case they would take an additional course from the list under number 4 below.
3. One course on data management: DIGS 30003, “Data Management for the Humanities,” which is offered annually in the Autumn Quarter.
4. One of the following courses:
- DIGS 30004, “Data Analysis II: Data Visualization and Machine Learning” (Winter)
- DIGS 30005, “Data Publication for the Humanities” (Spring)
- DIGS 30006, “Data Analysis III: Deep Learning” (Spring)
- DIGS 30007, “Introduction to Digital Humanities” (Winter)
- DIGS 30021, “Digital Archaeology” (Spring)
- DIGS 30031, “Digital Texts I” (Winter)
- DIGS 30032, “Digital Texts II” (Spring)
Please note:
- DIGS 30004, DIGS 30005, DIGS 30006, and DIGS 30007 each have as a prerequisite DIGS 30001 or an equivalent introduction to computer programming.
- DIGS 30004 and DIGS 30006 also have as a prerequisite DIGS 30002 or an equivalent introduction to statistics.
- DIGS 30007 also has as a prerequisite DIGS 30003.
Presentation Requirement
In addition to completing the four courses specified above, students who wish to receive the Graduate Certificate in Digital Studies must also present their digitally informed research in the Digital Humanities Forum or in a University workshop or a University-sponsored conference. This research may be related to a course paper or to the student’s thesis or dissertation work.
The presentation must be observed by a member of the Digital Studies faculty board or by the Director of Digital Studies, the Associate Director of Curriculum and Instruction, the Associate Director of Research and Publications, or the Associate Director of Technology in order for the student to receive credit for it. The student must inform the Associate Director of Curriculum and Instruction concerning the date, time, location, and title of the presentation at least three weeks in advance so that this can be arranged.
Certificate Documentation
After a student has successfully completed all the requirements for the Graduate Certificate in Digital Studies, the Associate Director of Curriculum and Instruction will communicate this fact to the Registrar and to the relevant Dean of Students and it will be noted on the student’s academic transcript.
For more information, contact digitalstudies@uchicago.edu.