Course Description
Introduction to the design and development of software for use in humanities scholarship.
Athena Title
Hum Comp II Applied Design
Prerequisite
Permission of department
Semester Course Offered
Not offered on a regular basis.
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
This class is an introduction to the creation and use of computerized tools for literary and linguistic research and analysis. Students will study several specific technologies in detail--server-side programming, object-oriented design, and software application development--with an eye toward becoming proficient creators of scholarly technology. They will also consider these technologies as objects of humanistic inquiry themselves by reading, and analyzing in their own written work, some of the major scholarly literature in humanities computing pertaining to tool design.
Topical Outline
This course will revolve around seminar-style discussion of theoretical work in humanities computing, coupled with formal instruction in several technologies relevant to computing in the humanities. Critical discussions may include oral and written assignments that address several of the following topics: A. History of computing. B. Theory of computation. C. Political and social issues raised by information technology. D. Cultural impact of computing in humanities research and publishing. Formal instruction will consist of training in the design principles and development techniques relevant to a programming language popular among computing humanists. This may include--but is not limited to--training in Java, Perl, Python, PHP, or Ruby. Students will become proficient in object- oriented design, procedural programming, server-side software development, and GUI design as appropriate. Specific topics vary by instructor and at different times. Periodically during the semester, students will perform a number of graded tasks, including some combination of tests, computer work, and out-of-class papers. In-class exams and the final exam will require essays as well as objective questions and problems. Substantial out-of-class writing will be required, whether in essay form or computer tasks, amounting to c. 20 pages by the end of the term.