Concentration in Digital Humanities and Public History

Welcome to the intersection where digitization and computing meet human history. If you are fascinated by the blend of technology and storytelling our Digital Humanities and Public History concentration is designed just for you. 

Preparing You For Success

Here, historical scholarship transcends the confines of textbooks to engage with a broader audience. We bring together humanities research, history education, and the technical prowess of computer science, data management, and interactive media. This interdisciplinary journey isn't just about studying the past—it's about shaping the future. 

Digital humanists are the trailblazers of tomorrow, using cutting-edge tools to ask new questions and uncover fresh perspectives on the human experience. Meanwhile, public historians take history beyond the classroom, making it accessible to everyone. Together, these fields open doors to exciting new career opportunities, where cultural awareness, critical thinking, and digital fluency are essential. 

Our curriculum starts with the foundations of history, computer science, and interactive media, then evolves into hands-on, community-engaged projects. Imagine exploring the portrayal of famous women in media, or delving into the impact of technology on transgender experiences. These are just a few examples of the groundbreaking work our students undertake. 

Throughout your journey, you'll develop a toolkit of skills: from research and writing to project management and digital design. You'll learn to convert analog materials into digital formats, preserving history for future generations. More importantly, you'll learn to amplify voices that have long been marginalized, breaking down barriers and fostering inclusivity in historical narratives. 

But it's not just about what you learn—it's about what you do with that knowledge. Our program emphasizes collaboration, inviting you to work alongside peers and mentors on meaningful projects. Whether it's building digital archives or creating interactive exhibits, you'll have the chance to make a real impact in the world. 

So, if you're ready to explore the past, shape the future, and make history accessible to all, join us at the crossroads of digital humanities and public history. Your journey starts here.

Examples of Digital Humanities and Public History Projects completed by Bradley students:

• Exploiting the ‘It Girl’: The Powerful Portrayal of Famous Women in Mass Media and Its Influence on Adolescent Girls, directed by Dr. Scott 
• The T in Transgender History: How Tech Influenced The Development Of Transgender Spaces, Community, And The Transgender Experience, directed by Dr. Scott 
• The Latinx Peoria Oral History Project, directed by Dr. Toxqui 
• Pullman Porter Exhibit at the Wheels of Time Museum, directed by Dr. Hawkins 
• The LGBTQ Peoria Digital Archive, directed by Dr. Scott 
• Notable Peorians Websites, directed by Dr. Gilliland Wright 
• The Super Sixth Website, directed by Dr. Rob Prescott and hosted by the History Department 
• The Betty Friedan Hometown Tribute Website, directed by Dr. Nielsen and Dr. Scott 
• Peoria Women’s Club Digitization and Museum Project, directed by Dr. Scott 
• National Women’s History Month Exhibit, directed by Dr. Scott 
• “Courage and Compassion: Our Shared Story of the Japanese American World War II Experience” directed by Dr. Gates 

Learning Objectives:

• Gain understanding of the digital humanities and public history sub-disciplines. 
• Present, analyze, and critique historical and contemporary digital humanities work. 
• Developing critical thinking, research, writing skills for diverse public audiences. 
• Convert or preserve analog materials to digital formats and organize digital materials into accessible and searchable databases. 
• Acquire interactive design concepts and skills for various communication mediums. 
• Demonstrate basic technical skills essential for digital humanities and public history work. 
• Master methods to make history accessible to diverse audiences. 
• Amplify voices of historically marginalized communities through research and storytelling. 
• Develop proficiency in collaborative project management and communication. 
• Demonstrate knowledge of methods and practices of interactive design, including interactive digital media skills that will be useful in many areas of communication and expression, including photography, vector graphics, digital audio and MIDI, video recording, and creating portfolio websites. 
• Demonstrate fundamental understanding of concepts of computer programming and data structures. 
• Understand methodologies and best practices for community-informed research and participate in field-based research, internships, and capstone projects. Consider and propose solutions to historical and contemporary inequities by working at the intersection of computer science, interactive media, and the humanities. 

Concentration Requirements
(15 hours)

The concentration in Digital Humanities and Public History consists of 15 hours of courses adhering to the following guidelines:

Category 1:

3 hours from the following list of courses:

• HIS 352: Introduction to Digital Humanities (3) 
• HIS 353: Public History (3)

Category 2: Information Science

3 hours from the following list of courses:

• CS 100: Introduction to Programming Concepts 
• CS 101: Introduction to Programming or equivalent 
• CS 102: Data Structures or equivalent

Category 3: Media Arts

3 hours from the following list of courses:

• IM113: Introduction to Interactive Media 
• IM 150: Intro to Interactive Design 
• IM 161: Intro to Web Design

Electives:

3 hours from the following list of courses:

• HIS 352: Digital Humanities 
• HIS 353: Public History 
• HIS 303: American Urban History 
• HIS 314: Japan & World War II 
• AAS 401: Community Engagement in African American Studies 
• HIS 405: Independent Reading in History 
• WGS 400: Directed Research in Women’s & Gender Studies 
• Other courses that center digital history and/or public history methodologies/readings/assignments. 

Capstone Requirement (3 hours)

The following courses are eligible for the capstone requirement:

• HIS 450, 451, or 452 capstone that applies research methodologies of digital humanities, history, and/or public history. 
• HIS 406 course that applies multidisciplinary methodologies of digital humanities, history, and/or public history. 
• HIS 420: Internship in Digital Humanities & Public History