MA in Digital Humanities

Course Information

Course Code:	MH50F (Full Time) / MH51F (Distance Learning)
Course Credits:	90 ECTS Credits
Course Duration:	1 Year (FT) or 2 Years (DL)
Course Coordinator:	Dr John Keating

Introduction

The MA in Digital Humanities is designed to fill an identified gap in current educational and professional provision, one which An Foras Feasa is uniquely positioned to fill. It is designed for graduates both in the Humanities and in the Computing Sciences, integrating the needs, practices and challenges of humanities research with new methodologies, theories and practices in Information Communications Technologies. The programme will be of benefit to students wishing to embark in such careers as information management or as software engineers, or educators; to existing practitioners in all of these fields who seek further professional development; and to students planning doctoral projects in the Humanities or Computer Science which require a digital humanities or humanities computing dimension.

Facilities

An Foras Feasa provides MA students with unparalleled computing, training and digital imaging facilities. The institute houses a state-of-the-art 32-seat training room with full video conferencing, wireless networking access, and an impressive suite of software technologies to support digital humanities learning and research. An Foras Feasa's Digital Imaging Laboratory provides learners and researchers with high-resolution imaging, hyperspectral scanning, infrared imaging and 3D imaging in a climate-controlled, secure environment.

Course Modules

Career Opportunities

This programme will be of benefit to students wishing to embark in such professional careers as information management or as software engineers, or educators; to existing practitioners in all of these fields who seek further professional development; and to students planning doctoral projects in the Humanities or Computer Science which require a digital humanities or humanities computing dimension.

Full-Time vs. Distance Learning

Full-time students take 35 credits in the first semester, 25 credits in the second, and complete their 30 credit project/thesis before the end of the course year.

Distance Learning students take 40 credits in Year 1; 25 credits in Semester 1, and 15 credits in Semester 2. They take a further 20 credits in Year 2; 10 credits in Semester 1, and 10 credits in Semester 2. In addition, they complete their 30 credit project/thesis before the end of the second course year.

Teaching Method

The MA in Digital Humanities utilises a blended learning approach for delivering the MA modules. This approach to learning delivery recognises the benefits of face-to-face teaching while including other modes such as online training and assessment, in order to compose a complete training programme. These various modes range from face-to-face classroom sessions, online collaborative working and mentoring arrangements, to consultation with subject experts in various disciplines. The blended learning approach delivers training and learning solutions that result in best practice learning support, quality teaching, and access to research materials.

The blended learning approach is based on two module formats: the Face-to-Face Learning (F2F) module and the Distance Learning (DL) module. The introductory module, AFF601, provides 10 ECTS; the project and dissertation module provides 30 ECTS; the remaining F2F and DL modules are worth 5 ECTS each. It should be noted that the DL modules, in line with the blended learning approach, still require an element of attendance at the university, for tutorial hours, meetings with project supervisor and to avail of resources such as specialist equipment.

The distance learning format includes 10 hours of lectures per 5 ECTS - released online in two-hour blocks and remaining available for the duration of the course. Each module also involves online tutorials, collaborative projects and continuous assessment. There is one residential module (of 5 days' duration) on the DL course. There are also occasional F2F tutorials for DL modules which will be scheduled at weekends. Course work will be submitted online. For more detail on each of the module formats and scheduling please see the module descriptors.