BA Digital Humanities and Social Sciences

Facebook, social media, digital images, Big Data – in the context of the so-called digital revolution, social relationships, language, and the handling of images are changing. Organizational and decision-making forms, social spatial relationships, etc., are being questioned and reconfigured. The humanities and social sciences, which deal with all aspects of human society, art and culture, language and history, and processes of thought and communication, are challenged to also explore this profound social change and to understand the socio-technical conditions of digitalization. At the same time, digital techniques open up numerous new methodological possibilities for the humanities and social sciences themselves. Accordingly, Digital Humanities and Social Sciences have emerged as a new field of research.

The program is aimed at applicants with a strong interest in social developments in the context of digitalization, in visual media, and/or in language and literature. They should enjoy connected thinking and flexible problem-solving, as well as interdisciplinary collaboration, linking humanities and/or social science questions and work fields with technical questions of the development and use of information systems.

The study program »Digital Humanities and Social Sciences« qualifies graduates for a relevant master’s degree as well as for various professional activities. The learned methods enable them to explore new ways of thinking and working, which, depending on the subject combination, open up diverse perspectives in dynamically growing research and work fields at the intersection of technology, society, and culture. Examples of work areas include content and communication industries (e.g., publishing, agencies, public relations), cultural preservation and mediation (e.g., museums, archives), political consulting, geomarketing, or adult education.

The study program is interdisciplinary and utilizes expertise from three faculties: the strong computer science in Erlangen from the Faculty of Engineering, the social, linguistic, literary, visual, media, and cultural studies from the large Faculty of Humanities, Social Sciences, and Theology, as well as cultural geography anchored in the Faculty of Science.

The study program »Digital Humanities and Social Sciences« forms an explicit interface between the previously distant academic cultures of the humanities and social sciences and information technology. The concept is cross-disciplinary and interdisciplinary:

• thematic focuses in the areas of »Language and Text«, »Image and Media«, »Society and Space«
• cross-disciplinary elective area
• application-oriented practical module

Students engage with concepts and technologies of digitalization and acquire:

• basic knowledge of the content, theories, and methods of Digital Humanities and Social Sciences
• theoretical and practical knowledge in information technology
• solid academic and methodological skills in dealing with digital technologies in society.

Some of the specific study contents include:

• (Object-oriented) programming
• Data processing and secure handling of data
• Working with networks
• Conceptual modeling (SQL, XML, DTD, UML)
• Statistical analysis methods
• Web technologies
• Knowledge for responsible handling of digital data (legal issues, communication platforms)

The subject »Digital Humanities and Social Sciences« can be studied with another discipline from the wide field of the Faculty of Humanities, Social Sciences, and Theology. Links to further information about the dual-subject bachelor’s programs at the Faculty of Humanities and subject combination options.