Introduction to Digital Studies

HIST 3260/5260 | COMM 3081/5081
Professor Cameron Blevins (he/him/his) | cameron.blevins@ucdenver.edu
University of Colorado Denver, Spring 2023
M/W 2:00-3:15pm, North Classroom 1608
Office Hours: W. 3:30-4:30pm (reserve time here)
Office: Student Commons 3108
TA: Whitney Roberts (whitney.roberts@ucdenver.edu)
TA Office Hours: M. 12:30-1:30pm (Library Cafe or over Zoom)

Course Description

This course equips students to be effective and responsible users of digital technology. It does so through two pathways: one intellectual and the other practical. First, students will develop an intellectual framework for studying the role of digital platforms, software, applications, companies, and institutions within modern society, tackling larger topics like artificial intelligence, consumer privacy, and algorithmic bias. Second, students will learn how to use an array of digital tools and applications, such as website building, graphic design, video editing, audio recording, and processing, analyzing, and visualizing data.

Note: This course serves as an introduction to the Digital Studies Certificate and provides 3.0 approved credit hours within the Certificate’s Integration cluster.

Learning Goals

In this class, students will:

• Understand the cultural, social, and ethical dimensions of digital technology within modern society
• Develop comfort with learning technical skills across a variety of platforms and software
• Build a body of knowledge and digital toolkit that advances the individual educational and/or career goals of each student