Last spring, the Roy Rosenzweig Center for History and New Media (RRCHNM) launched—in collaboration with the Smithsonian Associates—a unique online program for a graduate certificate in digital public humanities.
Digital tools and resources are transforming the process of research, interpretation, and communication. This graduate certificate trains students in a wide range of digital tools that are in increasingly high demand in humanities careers. Students learn research and presentation skills, including text mining, topic modeling, data visualization, and mapping. They explore innovative ways to advance teaching and learning while developing skills in digital curation, writing, and content strategy.
The 15-credit program is designed for recent graduates and experienced humanities professionals, giving them the skills and credentials to advance in a variety of careers, including education, museum and archival work, librarianship, journalism, and publishing. As all required courses for the certificate are available entirely online, RRCHNM notes that it can easily be combined with George Mason University’s master’s degree program in history. Students have the ability to create a flexible academic schedule that fits their needs.
Nine of the program’s credits come from classwork: Introduction to Digital Humanities, Digital Public History, and Teaching and Learning History in the Digital Age. The classes are taught by members of the staff of RRCHNM, leading digital humanities scholars at the forefront of presenting and preserving history through digital media and technology.
The final six credits are earned through an internship with the Smithsonian Institution. The internship is designed to allow students to gain experience in applying their newly attained tools and skills to digital projects with
the Smithsonian. Internships are coordinated remotely, allowing students to work from any location.
The program combines theory and practice to develop students’ skills in digital curation, writing, and content strategy, enhancing their professional portfolios through digital course work. It offers the opportunity to network with fellow students, historians, and public history professionals from around the world, exploring innovative and effective ways to advance teaching and learning in the humanities through digital tools.
This article originally appeared in the 2016 edition of Cornerstone.
July 06, 2016
