Beginning in fall 2023, students who declare the Digital Humanities minor will take three required courses and three electives (at least one of which must be upper-division). In addition to the gateway and capstone courses (ENG 250 and 470), students will now complete an intermediate course on Humanities Research Data Management (DSCI/LIB 350M).

Why is the minor changing?

The newly required course, cross-listed between the Data Science program and the Library, was designed in direct response to student demand. Since the DH minor launched in 2019, four cohorts of students have taken the capstone course, and the faculty have been listening to what they had to say about the experience! We heard from graduates that they valued the opportunity for project-based learning and the opportunity to pursue their own research interests. We also realized that they needed more hands-on preparation gathering, managing, storing, preserving, analyzing, and publishing digital materials before undertaking self-directed scholarly work. The new course is designed to ensure that everyone enters ENG 470 with a strong foundation in these fundamental skills, and will therefore be offered in winter terms as preparation for the spring capstone.

Curious what to expect? Check out the course website.

Planning for a smooth transition

• Students who declared the minor before September 2023 may complete their minor under the old requirements (2 core courses, 4 electives) but are strongly encouraged to take the new sequence in order to have the best possible learning experience in their capstone seminar.
• In academic year 2024-25, Humanities Research Data Management will become a prerequisite for ENG 470. Students completing the minor under the old requirements should plan to take the capstone in spring 2024, while it still has the old prerequisites (ENG 250, junior or senior standing, and completion of two approved electives towards the minor).
• While Humanities Research Data Management is being finalized in the catalog this year, it will be offered as DSCI/LIB 400M in academic year 2023-24. The content is the same, and students who take the course in winter 2024 will see it count automatically towards their minor requirements.
• Questions? Any DH minor can set up an office hours appointment with the Director of the Minor to create or update an individual plan of study and to review options for fulfilling the program requirements.