Continuing Education Program 'Digital Humanities'

The humanities increasingly rely on digital research methods. But what does that actually mean? And how does it work in the humanities?

In addition to an increasing number of new methods, the digital humanities has emerged as an independent field of study that uses digital tools to analyse diverse subject matter, but also reflects on the function and value of these new methods for the humanities.

The continuing education program “Digitality and digital methods in the humanities” introduces the basic features of research with digital methods through a three-column based program. The acquisition of additional digital knowledge and skills is beneficial for a career in academia and in non-university professions.

There are two different options in this continuing education offer. After acquiring a basic knowledge of methods and tools in Column 1 ‘Methods and knowledge’ students can choose either Column 2 A ‘Reflecting on digitality in the humanities’ or Column 2 B ‘Programming and development.’ The third and final column is designed as an independent project, which can be a scientific paper or a project internship (Column 3 – ‘Graduation’).

Successful completion of the course leads to a Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS). The certificate is recognized throughout Europe with the acquisition of ECTS.

The offer is composed of interdisciplinary courses at the University of Heidelberg. These courses have been collected under the umbrella of the continuing education program and structured in the outlined research field columns, each with assigned topics. Due to the diversity of the research field, the program offers broadest possible range of thematically organized modules. Due to this potentially broad orientation and its interdisciplinary connectivity, the program is designed to be flexible. It should therefore be able to keep up with the dynamic field of the DH with changing seminar and course offerings.

The continuous education program is aimed at students of all subjects though especially to graduate students in the humanities at Master’s level and above. The certificate can be obtained while studying and is free of charge. Depending on the courses offered and the enrolment, it is designed to take two to four semesters. The program can also be taken by PhD students or employees of Heidelberg University who have a relevant university degree and whose professional experience can be linked to the subject matter of CAS.

The continuing education program is under the purview of the Centre for Asian and Transcultural Studies (CATS), which organizes and administers the program in cooperation with the Heidelberg Forum Digital Humanities (HFDH).

The continuing education program is a pilot project starting in the winter semester of 2021/2022 and strives to meet the existing demand for a concentrated acquisition of skills in the field of digital humanities.