Digital Humanities (M.A.)
Become familiar with practical methods such as pattern recognition, visual computing, computer vision and databases in the Digital Humanities degree program in order to research cultural heritage. The focus is on the four areas of data recording, visualization, analysis and comprehension as well as on human-machine interaction. Media ethics and IT law provide you with a sound understanding. Tailor your studies with the wide range of compulsory electives on offer, including ongoing research projects.
Fact Sheet
- Degree
- Master of Arts (M.A.)
- Admission
- Qualification assessment
- Duration of studies
- 4 semesters
- Teaching language
- German and English
- Faculty
- Faculty of Humanities, Social Sciences, and Theology
- Start of degree program
- Enrollment suspended for winter semester 24/25, Summer semester
- Number of students
- 1-50
- Special ways to study
- Part-time degree program
- Special features
Program overview
What is the degree program about?
The Master’s degree program in Digital Humanities at FAU is an interdisciplinary degree program taught partly in English. It covers content in digital humanities and also gives students the opportunity to develop individual areas of specialization. Areas of research from the humanities are closely linked to computer-aided analysis methods, providing students with both practical and research-based training.
The strongly technical and computer science-oriented curriculum covers practical processes from the field of computer science such as pattern recognition, visual computing, computer vision and databases for researching cultural heritage.
The degree program focuses on four main topics:
- Collecting data
- Visualizing data
- Analyzing and understanding data
- Human-machine interaction
As well as investigating these topics, students gain a detailed insight into media ethics and IT law. Students can tailor their studies to suit their interests by choosing from a wide range of compulsory elective subjects relating to ongoing research projects. A project module prepares students to carry out their own independent research in various occupational fields.
The degree program runs over four semesters. The first semester covers fundamental aspects of theory and methodology in relation to the humanities and computer science. During the rest of the degree program, students can choose free electives, work placements, stays abroad and team projects.
In a project lasting one year, students work in groups and/or with external partners to explore current research issues. This allows them to consolidate and apply the knowledge they have acquired.
The free electives allow students to extend their academic horizons depending on their own individual choice of specialization. They can choose modules from neighboring disciplines such as computer linguistics, digital art history, museum studies, theater and media studies, cultural geography, archeology or other humanities.
In the fourth semester, the students write a Master’s thesis in their chosen specialization and present it for discussion.
Graduates of the Master’s degree program Digital Humanities have a wide range of career opportunities open to them. The degree program qualifies graduates for entering into research in the young but internationally rapidly growing field of digital humanities. At the same time, graduates have exciting opportunities in future-oriented areas of employment where computer science and humanities overlap, for example in cultural or educational institutions.
Application for a Degree Program
Admission Requirements and Application
Admission
- Master: Qualification assessment
Language skills
- B2 (English)
- German language skills for international applicants: DSH 2 (written 2 / oral 1) or equivalent
Content related master requirements
What type of Bachelor’s degree do I need?
In order to be admitted to the Master’s degree program in Digital Humanities, students must have completed a subject-specific or subject-related undergraduate degree.
A subject-specific degree is a Bachelor’s degree in either Digital Humanities and Social Sciences, in Digital Humanities, or in Digital Social Sciences. Applicants with a subject-specific degree graded 2.50 or above are admitted directly to the Master’s degree program. Applicants with an overall grade of 2.51 to 3.75 are admitted after successfully completing a selection interview.
Other Bachelor’s degrees are recognized as being subject-related provided they include a minimum of 25 ECTS credits in computer science and 25 ECTS credits in the humanities or social sciences. In this case, applicants have to successfully complete a selection interview and have a total grade no lower than 3.75.
