Behavioral and Social Data Science, Humanities (BSBSDS)

The University of Texas at Austin College of Liberal Arts 46 courses 120 total credits

About This Program

This program is designed for students interested in analyzing human cultural artifacts, based on language, visual, or material culture. This concentration offers interdisciplinary training at the intersection of data analytics and the Humanities: literatures, art, and culture. Students will learn to design, plan, and implement Digital Humanities research projects, monitor results, and critically reflect and interpret data, methods, and technology as part of society and culture. This introduces students to the fundamentals of data science and provides practice in data analytics as a humanities activity. Students will gain familiarity with data concepts, practice in data analysis processes, data curation and digital archives, AI applications, and critical reflections of technology and AI, and consider the wider cultural effects of data studies in the humanities. Students will think creatively and critically about the intersection of data analytics and the humanities and how to work with a variety of data types, such as literary and historical texts, art images and photographs, music and podcasts, and film. Students are also trained in experimental design and ethics, enabling them to evaluate new research findings and communicate their findings. What distinguishes this concentration is that it provides significant training in the analysis and understanding of human culture and cultural artifacts – at the level of the individual, social group and society. Students who successfully complete this program will develop a technical toolkit to tackle the most ambitious problems involving human culture and help create the next-generation data science workforce. Training will be offered in the curation, visualization, analysis, and ethical treatment of real-world data using programming languages including R and Python, and using technology architectures and stacks ranging from different types of databases to ML/AI based methods and embedded systems. The program is designed to prepare graduates primarily for entry-level data science careers in industry, cultural institutions, and the arts although positions in other settings, such as government, nonprofit agencies, universities, and other research settings, may also be appropriate.

Degree Requirements

Approved hours (see advisor)	credits
Degree (see details below)	57 credits
Free electives: Additional coursework to reach total hours required.	0 credits
College Requirements - Liberal Arts	credits
General University Requirements	credits
Foreign Language other than English, Intermediate Proficiency	6 credits
Additional Social Science (may not also be counted toward Core Curriculum)	3 credits
Cultural Expression, Human Experience, and Thought (may not also be counted toward Core Curriculum)	3 credits

Concentration

Code	Course Title	Credits
BHD 319	Gateway to Humanities Data Science	3

Concentration

Hours chosen from: Methods

Code	Course Title	Credits
AMS 370.66	Art and Data in the Digital Age	3
GRG 410C	Spatial Data and Analysis
E 310D	Introduction to Digital Studies	3
GSD 351D	Identity, Codes, and Culture	3
Total Concentration		9 credits

Concentration

Hours chosen from: Applied Digital Studies I

Code	Course Title	Credits
GRG 324E	Applications and Ethics of Digital Spatial Technologies	3
RHE 312	Writing in Digital Environments	3
E 341T	Digital Theatres	3
Total Concentration		9 credits

Concentration

Hours chosen from: Applied Digital Studies II

Code	Course Title	Credits
C C 370	Quantitative Criticism	3
RHE 330C.14	Rhetorical Metrics	3
AFR 353C	Mapping Urban Destruction	3
HIS 324C	Mapping Urban Destruction	3
Total Concentration		9 credits

Concentration

Hours chosen from: Capstone

Code	Course Title	Credits
GOV 362L	Government Research Internship	3
L A 320D	Digital Humanities Internship	3
Total Concentration		3 credits