Syllabus

Digital Humanities: Methods and Practices (3 credits)

Spring 2024 DHUM 70002 | Wednesday, 4:15-6:15 p.m. – In-Person 

Instructor Information
Dr. Joseph Ugoretz (he/him)
Email: joe@smarthistory.org
Office hours:  by appt.

Classroom: CUNY Graduate Center, Room 6421

Course Description

During the Fall 2023 semester, students explored the landscape of the digital humanities, considering a range of ways to approach DH work and conceive of and propose potential DH projects. In the spring, we will put that thinking into action by refining and producing digital humanities projects. This praxis-oriented course will ask students to organize into teams or work solo and, by the end of the semester, produce a project prototype. Upon completion of the course, students will have gained hands-on experience in the conceptualizing, planning, production, and dissemination of a digital humanities project. Student work for this course will demonstrate a variety of technical, project management, and rhetorical skills. One of our goals is to produce well-conceived, long-term projects that have the potential to extend beyond the Spring 2024 semester. A range of advisors may be matched to support the needs of each individual project. Successful completion of the course will require a commitment to meeting mutually agreed-upon deadlines and benchmarks established at the outset of the semester.

The class will hold a public event at the end of the semester where students will launch their projects and receive feedback from the DH academic community.

Course Goals and Learning Objectives

In this course, students will:

  • Gain hands-on experience in the planning, production, and dissemination of a digital humanities project.
  • Work to produce all aspects of their chosen project, in teams or solo with collaborative consulting, including proposal, data management plans, prototype, and outreach.
  • Fulfill specific roles in accordance with their strengths and desires for learning and growth.
  • Justify key technical, scholarly, and interpersonal decisions especially as they relate to humanistic values.
  • Learn to acquire and develop new skills independently.

Requirements and Structure

Weekly Class Sessions

This is a praxis-based course, so most of our class sessions will be devoted to team meetings, project work, informal and formal presentations, and consultations. Weekly readings will be assigned on an as-needed basis. Students are expected to be working independently and collaboratively every week on their projects and project plans.

Individual Journals

Each student will keep an individual journal that should be used to catalogue weekly activities and progress, explore sticky questions, share personal reflections, and work through problems.  Students will regularly provide brief in-person reports on their journaled progress.

Project Requirements

  • Projects should relate to the digital humanities as explored through the Fall semester.
  • Project plans should address all aspects of the project life cycle, from development to deployment to testing to launch to sustainability.
  • Projects must be made publicly available and project code must be open source and accessible online.
  • All code must be logically organized and clearly documented.
  • A prototype of the project must be realized by the end of the semester.
  • Projects will be launched publicly at the final class of the year.

Project Report and Individual Reflection Paper

  • A final project white paper must be submitted at the end of the semester.
  • Each student in the class will also submit a reflection paper (3–5 pages) that details the experience of working on the project and how it fits into the arc of their professional development and interests.

Required Materials

  • Please bring a laptop computer to in-person class meetings.
  • No books are required for this course. Any assigned readings will be distributed as PDFs or via hyperlinks.

Grading Policy

Final grades are based on:

  • Creation of a DH project.
  • A white paper that explores the group’s processes and that situates the project within the wider field of DH.
  • Quality of public and in-class presentations and discussions.
  • Meeting deadlines, timely submission of assignments, and regular attendance.

The grade breakdown will be as follows:

  • Project grade: 40%
  • White Paper: 15%
  • Reflection Paper: 15%
  • Regular participation in class discussions and activities: 30%

Classroom Policies

  • Ensure regular attendance and punctual arrival.
  • Prepare adequately, which means completion of any readings and assignments.
  • Participate actively, including contributing to a mutual effort to make our seminar a friendly, supportive space where everyone feels comfortable speaking.
  • Strive to submit all assignments on time, including online writing.
  • Speak to the professor if you are concerned about any aspect of your performance, group dynamics, or are at risk of falling behind.

Covid-19

  • If you’re feeling ill, please stay home. This is a Graduate Center policy. Contact the instructor about the option of attending class remotely.
  • There is no indoor mask mandate at the CUNY Graduate Center, but there may be circumstances, such as recent Covid-19 infection or exposure, under which you are required to mask. You are always welcome to mask.
  • For more information on vaccination, testing, isolation and exposure, reporting, and the building access policy, please see this page.

Names and Pronouns

Class rosters are provided to the instructor with the student’s legal name. I will gladly honor your request to address you by a different name and gender pronouns of your choosing. Just let me know so I can update my records.

Academic Integrity

It is your duty to follow CUNY’s detailed policy on academic integrity and plagiarism, which can be read online at this link. Instances of academic dishonesty and plagiarism are taken seriously and may result in penalties such as a failing grade for the course. Consult with the professor and review the Graduate Center’s guide on plagiarism if you have any questions about plagiarism and/or academic integrity as it relates to this course.

Accommodating Disabilities

Qualified students with disabilities will be provided reasonable academic accommodations. Prior to granting disability accommodations in this course, the instructor should receive written verification of a student’s eligibility from the Graduate Center’s Disability Services Office, which is located in room 7301 at the GC and which can be reached by emailing disabilityservices@gc.cuny.edu. It is the student’s responsibility to initiate contact with the office and to follow the established procedures for having the accommodation notice sent to the instructor.

Counseling

The Wellness Center Student Counseling Services (Room 6422, wellness@gc.cuny.edu) supports matriculated GC students dealing with academic and life challenges. If you’re struggling with stress or other personal difficulties, consider making an appointment. Counseling is free, helpful, and confidential.

Acknowledgments

Thanks to Bret Maney, as well as Andie Silva, Lisa Rhody, Matt Gold, Kevin L. Ferguson, Amanda Hickman, Luke Waltzer, and Grant Wythoff for allowing me to adapt their previous iterations of this course syllabus.

Skip to toolbar