Digital humanities is an emerging interdisciplinary field of research that envisions close integration and interconnection between humanities and engineering at all levels. It is a new, but already successful approach to the analysis of interdisciplinary information that involves comprehensive research and application of the strategies and methods of data mining, digitization, representation and archiving, processing, visualization and analysis to effectively address cross-disciplinary challenges. Taking into consideration the fact that currently data can appear in a variety of modes - textual, non-textual, and multimodal (video recordings, sound recordings, images, photographs, and artefacts), efficient data management in any foundation, activity or project will contribute to development and growth in both short and long term, as well as will ensure efficient and effective operation.
Graduates of the study programme acquire skills to deal with the ever-growing amount of information. They are able to analyse the obtained data masterfully, quickly and successfully; to study comprehensively and in detail the theories and methods of digital humanities and to implement them in practice for solving contextual tasks; to identify the interests of the stakeholders in interdisciplinary foundations and / or projects and contribute to improving the quality of their activities.
The study programme provides training of the specialists in digital humanities that can seek employment in governmental institutions, mass media, IT companies, e-commerce enterprises, publishing houses, archives, libraries, marketing bureaus, institutions of higher education, life-long learning projects, state, municipal, and private enterprises. The concept of the interdisciplinary study programme considerably differs from the concept of a study programmes in either engineering or humanities, since the former envisions that student in parallel can obtain cross-disciplinary expertise, thus gaining a competitive advantage in the labour market. Special adjustment study courses are implemented to ensure that students not only acquire the necessary knowledge and competencies to obtain education in the interdisciplinary field, but also develop skills necessary for their further successful integration into the study process.
The duration of studies is two full years. During this period, compulsory, specialization, and elective study courses are offered. The study courses provide students with the knowledge in digital humanities and develop their skills necessary for work in the chosen area of professional activity.
The language of instruction is English.
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Department
Faculty of Computer Science, Information Technology and Energy
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Programme type and level
Academic Master (Second Cycle) Studies
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Study field
Information Technology, Computer Engineering, Electronics, Telecommunications, Computer Control and Computer Science
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Language
English
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Study form
Full-time studies
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Venue
Riga
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Awarded degree and qualification
Master degree of natural sciences in digital humanities / –
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Required previous education
Bachelor degree of computer science or engineering science, or professional bachelor degree in the professional activity areas related to these fields of science, or compatible education
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Price per year
€ 3 260 - EU countries
€ 3 260 - Non EU countries |
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Credit point/ECTS amount
80/120
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Duration of studies
Full-time studies - 2 years
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Intake
Autumn / Spring
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Aims of the study programme:
- to educate specialists in digital humanities whose knowledge and skills meet the demands of the contemporary labour market and research-intensive economy and who are able to work in state and municipal institutions of Latvia and after acquiring additional qualification in the institutions of the EU, as well as in private enterprises in Latvia and abroad;
- to implement an open and flexible student-cantered study process that would ensure the integration of the latest information technologies in humanities (in the broadest sense of this term) and advanced mastering of the theoretical basis of the chosen scientific and technical field;
- to expand and develop students’ engineering, natural sciences, linguistic, socio-cultural, technical, creative, and research skills for independent work in the interdisciplinary framework in the field of digital humanities;
- to develop students’ academic and research skills to ensure they develop the necessary level of competence and skills that would give them an opportunity to continue their studies at the PhD study programs and to motivate them to conduct research in digital humanities;
- to develop students’ independence, initiative, as well as an ability to adapt to the constantly changing environment.
Tasks of the study programme:
- to provide students with competitive master level education in the field of digital humanities in compliance with the national and international standards;
- to provide students with the necessary theoretical knowledge as well as the body of practical skills and competences required in order to perform high-level programming, multimodal data processing, development and application of applied software, interdisciplinary semiotics, e-content design and management, Big Data processing, content development, processing, and management for independent performance in the field of digital humanities;
- to provide students with comprehensive knowledge in digital humanities, developing their specific competences and skills necessary to work in the multidisciplinary environment;
- to develop students’ logical and cognitive skills, enhance their creative abilities, engaging them in the life-long learning and promoting their development as a full-fledged personality capable to act independently, successfully assess professional risks, and make efficient decisions;
- to develop students’ critical, strategic, divergent and convergent thinking and analytical skills;
- to develop competences and skills in digital cultural heritage preservation and management, e-model management and design, language technologies, coding of information in humanities/cultural contexts and maps, application design;
- to develop students’ oral and written communication skills in the multicultural environment, promoting the development of students' accuracy of expression in the English for special purposes in the field of digital humanities;
- to implement the study process adopting student-cantered approach to education, to timely update the resource base, to adapt the curriculum of the program and teaching methods in line with the changing requirements of the labour market, adopting newest developments in the field of digital humanities;
- to promote cooperation among academic staff and students in conducting scientific research and practical application of research results in accordance with international standards and tendencies in the field of digital humanities, facilitating their international mobility and participation in interdisciplinary projects.
A specialist in digital humanities is a multi-competent professional who organizes, administers, implements, and / or controls comprehensive research and application of the strategies and methods of interdisciplinary data mining, digitization, representation, and archiving, processing, visualization, and analysis to effectively address cross-disciplinary challenges. The usefulness of the academic master study programme “Digital Humanities” is evidenced by the growing demand for hybrid competent specialists with a degree in an interdisciplinary field in the Latvian and international labour markets. Graduates of the study programme evaluate and practically introduce the theories and methods of digital humanities in order to successfully and efficiently solve current contextual tasks and challenges, which can be overcome only by adopting a cross-disciplinary perspective.
Specialists in digital humanities are in high demand at state and municipal institutions, IT companies, media centres, e-commerce enterprises, publishing houses, museums, archives, libraries, marketing bureaus, higher education institutions, life-long learning projects, private companies (especially joint ventures), representative offices of foreign companies in Latvia, as well as any other enterprise seeking for specialists with very good engineering, IT, network design skills, knowledge of foreign languages, presentation skills and creative approach to work. Within the framework of the developed study programme, students are provided with an opportunity to acquire the above-mentioned competencies at an advanced level.
Specialists in digital humanities are in high demand and successfully work in such areas as digital curation, data science, digital media, metadata analysis, cross-disciplinary text production, cultural heritage preservation, e-knowledge management, technical editing, terminology, gaming industry, language technology, digital andragogy, museology, information architecture, e-modeling, digital marketing, e-learning and many more.
Having completed academic master studies, one can continue education at the doctoral study programmes in Latvia and abroad.
English language proficiency equivalent to at least CEFR B2 level.