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The Digital Studies Certificate helps students learn about digital culture and develop their skills in producing digital media content. Each student that completes the Digital Studies Certificate will be able to better recognize what digital communication tools can do and how to use them. 

Digital cultures are about relationships between people and the digital tools they use. To better understand those relationships, Digital Studies students think about two big questions:

  • What impact do digital technologies have on our lives?
  • How can we use digital tools to make our world a better place?

Digital Studies students approach these questions from four different perspectives:

  • Digital Practice - learning how to use digital tools to produce better digital content
  • Digital Media - learning how to assess digital media to better understand digital cultures
  • Digital Information - learning how we use and produce digital archives, databases, and other digital information tools
  • Digital Forms - learning how design impacts the ways we interpret and produce digital content

Students who add the Digital Studies Certificate to their major(s) will be recognized as someone who can more quickly and more effectively use digital tools in any environment.

How to Get in

Declaring the Digital Studies Certificate

Students are eligible to declare the certificate at any point in their undergraduate career. They should declare it as early as possible to plan the required coursework. Students are encouraged to meet with the Digital Studies advisor to discuss certificate requirements and ensure it fits with their academic and career goals. Students who are ready to declare the certificate now may complete this form.

Requirements

The certificate requires a minimum of six courses and 16 credits. The courses must be distributed as follows:

Core Courses

Choose one course from this list:

COM ARTS 200 Introduction to Digital Communication3
JOURN 175 Media Fluency for the Digital Age3
L I S 201 The Information Society4

Distribution

Choose one course from each area (a unique course must be taken to satisfy each area):

Digital Practice (P) Courses

ART 107 Introduction to Digital Forms3
ART 309 Digital Art and Code4
ART 409 Digital Fabrication Studio4
ART 428 Digital Imaging Studio4
ART 429 3D Digital Studio I4
ART 528 Digital Interactive Studio4
COM ARTS 155 Introduction to Digital Media Production4
COM ARTS 355 Introduction to Media Production4
COM ARTS 449 Sound Cultures: Podcasting and Music3
COM ARTS 465 Editing and Post-production for Video and Film4
COM ARTS 468 Producing for Internet TV and Video3
COM ARTS/​FOLKLORE  522 Digital Storytelling for Social Media3
COMP SCI/​L I S  102 Introduction to Computing3
COMP SCI 200 Programming I3
COMP SCI 220 Data Science Programming I4
CURRIC 209 Digital Media and Literacy3
GEOG 370 Introduction to Cartography4
JOURN 411 Multimedia Design4
JOURN 417 Magazine Publishing4
JOURN 425 Video Journalism4
JOURN 445 Creative Campaign Messages4
JOURN 449 Account Planning and Strategy4
JOURN 463 Digital Media Strategies4
JOURN 464 Public Relations Strategies4
JOURN 465 Social Media Marketing Communications4
L I S 341 Topics in Information Studies - Technological Aspects1-3
L I S 351 Introduction to Digital Information3
L I S 440 Navigating the Data Revolution: Concepts of Data & Information Science3
L I S 500 Code and Power3
LSC 314 Introduction to Digital Video Production3
LSC 332 Print and Electronic Media Design3
LSC 360 Information Radio3
LSC 432 Social Media for the Life Sciences3
LSC 450 Documentary Photography for the Sciences3
LSC 532 Web Design for the Sciences3
LSC 614 Advanced Video Production3
THEATRE 213 Digital Design Visualization for Entertainment3

Digital Media (M) Courses

COM ARTS 330 Music Industries and Popular Culture3
COM ARTS 335 Social Media as Literature3
COM ARTS 344 Social Media & Well-Being3
COM ARTS 345 Online Communication and Personal Relationships3
COM ARTS 346 Critical Internet Studies3
COM ARTS 377 Topics in Digital Studies (Communication Science & Rhetoric)3
COM ARTS 449 Sound Cultures: Podcasting and Music3
COM ARTS 472 Rhetoric and Technology3
COM ARTS 478 Rhetoric and Power on the Internet3
COM ARTS 509 Digital Media and Political Communication3
COM ARTS 547 Digital Game Cultures3
COM ARTS 577 Dynamics of Online Relationships3
ENGL 178 Digital Media, Literature, and Culture3
JOURN 463 Digital Media Strategies4
JOURN 464 Public Relations Strategies4
JOURN 465 Social Media Marketing Communications4
JOURN 622 The Impact of Emerging Media3
L I S 340 Topics in Information Studies - Social Aspects3
L I S 510 Human Factors in Information Security3
L I S/​NURSING/​OCC THER  517 Digital Health: Information and Technologies Supporting Consumers and Patients3
L I S 661 Information Ethics and Policy3
L I S/​LEGAL ST  663 Introduction to Cyberlaw3
LSC 350 Visualizing Science and Technology3
LSC 432 Social Media for the Life Sciences3
LSC 440 Digital Media and Science Communication3
LSC 460 Social Media Analytics3
MARKETNG 355 Marketing in a Digital Age3

Digital Information (I) Courses

COM ARTS 344 Social Media & Well-Being3
COM ARTS 345 Online Communication and Personal Relationships3
COM ARTS 377 Topics in Digital Studies (Communication Science & Rhetoric)3
COM ARTS 472 Rhetoric and Technology3
COM ARTS 478 Rhetoric and Power on the Internet3
COM ARTS/​JOURN/​LSC  617 Health Communication in the Information Age3
CURRIC 209 Digital Media and Literacy3
GEOG 572 Graphic Design in Cartography3-4
JOURN/​L I S  677 Concepts and Tools for Data Analysis and Visualization3
L I S 202 Informational Divides and Differences in a Multicultural Society3
L I S 301 Information Literacies in Online Spaces3
L I S 340 Topics in Information Studies - Social Aspects3
L I S 341 Topics in Information Studies - Technological Aspects1-3
L I S 351 Introduction to Digital Information3
L I S 440 Navigating the Data Revolution: Concepts of Data & Information Science3
L I S 500 Code and Power3
L I S 510 Human Factors in Information Security3
L I S/​NURSING/​OCC THER  517 Digital Health: Information and Technologies Supporting Consumers and Patients3
L I S 661 Information Ethics and Policy3
L I S/​LEGAL ST  663 Introduction to Cyberlaw3
LSC 460 Social Media Analytics3

Digital Forms (F) Courses

ART 107 Introduction to Digital Forms3
ART 428 Digital Imaging Studio4
ART 429 3D Digital Studio I4
COM ARTS 155 Introduction to Digital Media Production4
COM ARTS 335 Social Media as Literature3
COM ARTS 355 Introduction to Media Production4
COM ARTS 465 Editing and Post-production for Video and Film4
COM ARTS 468 Producing for Internet TV and Video3
COM ARTS/​FOLKLORE  522 Digital Storytelling for Social Media3
GEOG 370 Introduction to Cartography4
GEOG 572 Graphic Design in Cartography3-4
JOURN 411 Multimedia Design4
JOURN 417 Magazine Publishing4
JOURN/​L I S  677 Concepts and Tools for Data Analysis and Visualization3
LSC 332 Print and Electronic Media Design3
LSC 350 Visualizing Science and Technology3
LSC 450 Documentary Photography for the Sciences3
LSC 532 Web Design for the Sciences3

Capstone

The Capstone cannot be completed until students are in their senior year and have completed or are enrolled in their final course of the certificate.

COM ARTS 605 Digital Studies Capstone1

Residence and Quality of Work

  • At least 9 Certificate credits in Residence
  • Minimum 2.000 GPA in all Certificate courses

Certificate Completion Requirement

This undergraduate certificate must be completed concurrently with the student’s undergraduate degree. Students cannot delay degree completion to complete the certificate.

Learning Outcomes

  1. To understand key theories and concepts related to digital studies and the historical context surrounding the creation of digital technologies.
  2. To gain familiarity with methods, concepts and tools needed to research and evaluate information related to digital studies.
  3. To think critically about how digital technologies work and their impact on society.
  4. To be able to create strategic communication content and self-expression using digital tools.
  5. To understand the professional and ethical principles related to the field of digital studies.

Advising and Careers

Academic Advising

Connecting and working with the digital studies advisor as early as possible helps you create a meaningful course plan and stay on track as you complete the certificate requirements. The advisor is available to consult on a variety of topics including:

  • Declaring the certificate
  • Course selection
  • Studying abroad
  • Job and internship opportunities related to digital media
  • Preparing for the job market after graduation.

Make an appointment to talk with the digital studies advisor through Starfish.

Course Planning

The list of digital studies courses found on the Requirements tab is the comprehensive list of all courses that count toward the certificate. To find out which courses are offered during a specific term, please refer to the program's Courses webpage. More specific information related to the course offerings is also available there, including specific course prerequisites, limited enrollment course information, and application requirements.

Career Exploration and Advising

Career Advising

The communication and media career advisor assists students with career preparation, such as exploring career options, learning internship and job search strategies, and writing resumes and cover letters. Workshops, programs, and events, as well as guest speakers ranging from alumni to employers, are all available during the year as well.

Digital Studies Alumni

Since 2012, over 1,000 students have graduated with a Digital Studies Certificate. Digital Studies alumni pursue a variety of careers after completing their undergraduate degree. To learn more about what our alumni are up to, visit the Alumni Profiles page to read about the work they are doing and how Digital Studies has impacted their paths.

L&S Career Resources

SuccessWorks at the College of Letters & Science helps students leverage the academic skills learned in their major, certificates, and liberal arts degree; explore and try out different career paths; participate in internships; prepare for the job search and/or graduate school applications; and network with professionals in the field (alumni and employers).  In short, SuccessWorks helps students in the College of Letters & Science discover themselves, find opportunities, and develop the skills they need for success after graduation.

SuccessWorks can also assist students in career advising, résumé and cover letter writing, networking opportunities, and interview skills, as well as course offerings for undergraduates to begin their career exploration early in their undergraduate career. 

Students should set up their profiles in Handshake to take care of everything they need to explore career events, manage their campus interviews, and apply to jobs and internships from 200,000+ employers around the country.

People

Please see the Digital Studies Certificate website for a list of certificate staff and committee members.

Wisconsin Experience

Students who pursue the Digital Studies Certificate have access to unique and exciting courses where they not only study digital culture but learn to be savvy users and producers of digital media that they can use in their professional lives. Examples of work that students produce include websites, videos, illustrations, posters, podcasts, and more. See examples of student work on our website.

Digital Studies Certificate students also have access to networking and alumni events featuring careers in digital media, internship and job opportunities emailed directly to them, technology resources through the Instructional Media Center, and design consulting services through DesignLab. Through advising, students receive tailored recommendations based on their interests and are encouraged to seek out ways to apply the knowledge they are learning in the classroom through involvement in student organizations, volunteering, and internships.