Within Digital and Public Humanities coursework, students will have the opportunity to work on semester-long initiatives organized by faculty that align with faculty research interests and, potentially, ongoing grant initiatives. Sometimes students might design, implement, and complete a project within the course of a semester; sometimes students might contribute to an on-going research initiative that requires multiple years of work before it is ready to launch. 

Some courses are centered around a public humanities initiative. In ART 302: Curatorial Studies: Theory and Practice, taught by Prof. Ian Weaver, students develop a familiarity with the practices of curation in institutional spaces. The course culminates in an exhibition of the work of a local artist, curated by the students.

This model for faculty and student collaboration is common in many other scientific fields. The DPH program is committed to making this type of research mentorship available to students enrolled in humanities coursework. By participating in faculty-led research opportunities, students are able to contribute to work that might lead to more polished outcomes, including open-source digital resources, community exhibits, or more traditional print publications. See the item showcase below to explore some recent initiatives to which students have contributed.

Several recent student / faculty collaborations have also partnered with Michiana non-profit organizations to develop projects that explore topics and histories that are important within our local and regional communities. Learn more about how community-oriented work gets off the ground through fostering relationships built upon trust and based upon mutual benefit by listening to this conversation between Dr. Jamie Wagman (Saint Mary's College) and the late Meghan Buell (Founder of Transgender Resources, Education and Enrichment Services, or TREES).