Digital Public Humanities (Graduate Certificate)

Study the Digital Humanities Online

Both recent graduates and experienced professionals will benefit from this online graduate certificate program. Coursework is designed to help students achieve mastery of the digital tools and skills that are increasingly necessary for career advancement as a humanities professional, and a virtual internship with a unit of the Smithsonian Institution enables students to apply those tools and skills in hands-on digital projects with the nation’s premier public humanities institution.

Why choose George Mason?

• This two year, fully online program was created by Mason’s Department of History and Art History and the Roy Rosenzweig Center for History and New Media in collaboration with Smithsonian Associates.
• Gain professional experience through an internship with the Smithsonian Institution, focused on applying skills learned from coursework. Internships will be coordinated remotely, allowing you to work from your location.
• Learn from leading digital humanities scholars at the forefront of presenting and preserving history through digital media and technology at Mason’s Roy Rosenzweig Center for History and New Media.
• Acquire the skills and credentials to advance in a variety of careers, including education, museum and archival work, librarianship, journalism, and publishing.
• Combine theory and practice to develop skills in digital curation, writing, and content strategy, enhancing your professional portfolio through digital coursework.
• Learn digital research and presentation skills, including text mining, topic modeling, data visualization, and mapping.
• Network with fellow students, historians, and public history professionals from around the world, exploring innovative and effective ways to advance teaching and learning in the humanities through digital tools.
• As all required courses for this graduate certificate are available entirely online, you will have the ability to create a flexible academic schedule that fits your needs.

Program requirements are subject to change; please refer to the Mason Course Catalog for the most up-to-date requirements.

All courses for this program can be completed in an online format. Courses are typically delivered asynchronously during the semesters indicated below.

Requirements: 15 credits total

• HIST 680 Introduction to Digital Humanities | 3 credits | Fall
• HIST 694 Digital Public History | 3 credits | Spring
• HIST 689 Teaching and Learning History in the Digital Age | 3 credits | Summer
• HIST 794 Internship in Applied History | 6 credits | Fall-Spring

Please note that students must earn a minimum grade of 3.00 in each course. In addition to meeting the requirements for this certificate, students must meet the university requirements for all graduate certificates.

Non-Degree Option

Students interested in taking one or more of these online courses in a non-degree status should follow these steps:

1. Apply for non-degree graduate admission here (create an account and select non-degree/College of Humanities and Social Sciences).
2. After you receive notification of your admission, contact the History and Art History graduate coordinator Emily Gibson (egibson5@gmu.edu) and let her know which course(s) you wish to take.

Tuition (2020-2021)

All students pay the same price regardless of in-state or out-of-state residence.

Financial Aid

For information on loans and scholarships, visit the Office of Student Financial Aid. For information regarding grants, tuition waivers and other merit aid, please inquire with your graduate department.

Career Opportunities

This certificate is ideal for those interested in the public and digital humanities fields. Coursework is devoted to developing and implementing digital humanities projects, culminating in a 6-credit internship to demonstrate real-world application of these skills. Students will acquire and augment digital literacy, essential knowledge, and leadership tools, gaining critical expertise and credibility in the field and developing the skills necessary to implement digital projects.

Key employers in digital and public humanities fields include a wide variety of government and non-profit organizations. Specific positions in these fields include:

• Professors, academic administrators, and other higher education positions in public humanities fields
• Museum professionals, including archivists, curators, and librarians
• Market research analysts
• Marketing managers and specialists
• Public relations and fundraising managers

As a Mason student, you may contact the George Mason Career Services center for more career information and counseling.

This online program is currently accepting applications for Fall only.

All applicants should review College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHSS) steps for Applying to a Graduate Certificate Program. For those with international credentials, see CHSS requirements for International Applicants.

Prerequisites

• Meet admission standards specified in the University Catalog

Application Materials*

• Graduate Application
• Application fee
• One official transcript from all previous institutions attended (see CHSS guidelines)
• Goals statement that explains the applicant’s academic credentials, professional background, intellectual interest in the program, and ultimate career goals
• Two letters of recommendation from professional colleagues or academic mentors who are directly familiar with your professional competence and interests
• Resume

*Students already accepted or enrolled in another degree program in CHSS only need to submit a Graduate Secondary Certificate Program Application.

If you have any questions during the application process, please contact Brian Platt at bplatt1@gmu.edu or (703) 993-1253.