Digital Studies brings together eleven core faculty members and more than fifteen departments at the University of Wisconsin-Madison to take advantage of the new possibilities offered by digital technologies today. For the 2012-2013 academic year, a certificate is available for qualifying undergraduate students. The Digital Studies Certificate Program allows students from all majors to choose from among over fifty courses to create their own individualized digital curriculum. The certificate appears on a student's transcript, giving them credit for seeking out these courses and well-preparing them for the careers of the 21st century.

Digital Studies is situated at the intersection of the arts, humanities, social sciences and information and computer sciences. While the curriculum does give students hands-on experience with certain software, tools, and technologies, it is foremost designed to help students think critically. We recognize that digital media change quickly, so we strive to teach skill sets that translate across various platforms and allow our students to adapt to new environments.

The Digital Studies Certificate Program forges new connections across disciplinary boundaries by addressing four distinct yet overlapping areas of intellectual activity:

• Digital Information Structures — the consideration and assessment of how we use and create digital archives, databases, and other digital information architectures
• Digital Media — the consideration of how we consume and assess communication that is mediated by digital technologies such as Internet, mobile, and smart devices including digital video and audio content as well as games and simulations produced both in everyday discourse and by media professional
• Visuality in Digital Design— the consideration of how we create and assess both mechanical and aesthetic elements of visual design in digital contents
• Digital Practices — the acquisition of skills that allow us to create expressive and strategic communication content using digital tools such as digital video and audio equipment as well as software for video and audio editing, Web-design, database and information architecture design, app design, computer simulation, and digital gaming
• Visuality in Digital Design— the consideration of how we create and assess both mechanical and aesthetic elements of visual design in digital content

If you have questions or comments, feel free to contact us. For advising, please email your name, student ID number, year in school, and major or intended major to digitalstudies@commarts.wisc.edu.

Robert Glenn Howard
Director, Digital Studies Initiative
E-mail: digitalstudies@commarts.wisc.edu
Phone: 608-262-2605
Fax: 608-262-9953
6144 Vilas Hall
821 University Avenue
Madison, WI 53706-1497