The Master of Arts in Digital Humanities program at Loyola University’s Center for Textual Studies and Digital Humanities (CTSDH) combines theoretical and practical courses. Its aims are ultimately practical and professional, training new digital specialists for the growing knowledge and information economy and today’s research in humanities disciplines.
Because the nature of much Digital Humanities work is constructive and project-based, students in the MA program will be given hands-on training in the workshop or seminar-based classes, such as training in text editing and markup, programming, interface design, project management, and digital archive construction. The MA program also explores theoretical, critical, social, and ethical contexts for thinking about Digital Humanities research and applications, including issues of data ethics, design justice, archive theories, public humanities, and digital preservation. The Master of Arts in Digital Humanities program was designed with partner departments including Computer Science, English, and History for students with interdisciplinary interests. We encourage students with interests at the intersection of culture and technology to consider this degree, which allows one to elect courses from the various partner departments.
CURRICULUM
The MA in Digital Humanities requires coursework totaling 30 credit hours and the completion of a capstone project. Students take six (6) core seminars in addition to a faculty-led practicum and two electives within the field of their choosing. In a student’s final semesters they will work with faculty members to design and build their own digital research project.
Seminar topics range from an introduction to the methods and methodology of the field, to special topics in public history, design, research methods, textual criticism, human-computer interface, and web application development. Courses emphasize both discussion of the theories that shape and define the field of Digital Humanities as well as hands-on project building. Coursework is designed to provide technical skills to humanities students, as well as humanistic scholarly research methods to those with a technical or computer science background.
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
| Introduction to Digital Humanities Research | |
| Introduction to Computing | |
| Digital Humanities Design | |
| Introduction to Web Application Development | |
| Social and Ethical Issues in Computing | |
| Textual Criticism | |
| DIGH 500 | Digital Humanities Practicum | 3 |
| DIGH 501 | Digital Humanities Project | 3 |
| Total Hours | 30 |
Suggested Course Sequence
For full-time students; students taking the program part-time will work with the Graduate Program Director to plan their coursework.
Plan of Study Grid
| Year 1 |
|---|
| Fall |
|---|
| DIGH 400 |
Introduction to Digital Humanities Research |
3 |
| DIGH 401 |
Introduction to Computing |
3 |
| ENGL 413 |
Textual Criticism |
3 |
| | Hours | 9 |
| Spring |
|---|
| DIGH 402 |
Digital Humanities Design |
3 |
| COMP 417 |
Social and Ethical Issues in Computing |
3 |
|
3 |
| | Hours | 9 |
| Year 2 |
|---|
| Fall |
|---|
| DIGH 500 |
Digital Humanities Practicum |
3 |
| DIGH 403 |
Introduction to Web Application Development |
3 |
| | Hours | 6 |
| Spring |
|---|
| DIGH 501 |
Digital Humanities Project |
3 |
|
3 |
| | Hours | 6 |
| | Total Hours | 30 |
Evaluation
Each student will produce a capstone project in one of their final courses (DIGH 501 Digital Humanities Project under the direction of an advisor; the capstonewill demonstrate knowledge and skills gained in coursework and will address one or more key problems in digital humanities research or applications.
Graduate & Professional Standards and Regulations
Students in graduate and professional programs can find their Academic Policies in Graduate and Professional Academic Standards and Regulations under their school. Any additional University Policies supersede school policies.
Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the MA in Digital Humanities, graduates will be able to:
