The Minor in Digital Studies in the Arts and Humanities (formerly called the Digital Humanities Minor) provides a solid foundation and credential for communicating both digital skills and a critical eye on technology.

In this minor, students will develop knowledge, skills, and experiences that will help them make change in a world that is entangled with the digital in complex and layered ways. This learning empowers students to act as effective global and local citizens, and helps them to demonstrate the flexibility, critical thinking, and other skills needed by professionals in the 21st century.

To join the minor, please fill out the Declaration Form below. The minor is open to students from any major in any college at MSU, and students may declare the minor at any point in their time at MSU.


Requirements and Courses

15 credits total

Required courses (6 credits):

  • DH285 – Intro to Digital Studies in the Arts and Humanities (offered every Fall) (Fall 2023 syllabus) – 3 credits
  • DH340 – Digital Studies in Practice (offered every Spring) – 3 credits

Elective courses (6 credits):

Students generally take 2 elective courses. All courses with a DH course code other than DH285 and DH340 count as electives for the Minor, as do all courses listed below, regardless of their course code.

Occasionally, courses not on the list may be approved for the Minor, at the discretion of the Digital Studies Advisor. For example, if a student completes a digital studies project as part of a course that otherwise isn’t DSAH in nature, that course may count toward the Minor.

Examples of courses with DH course code:

  • DH/ENG235 – Exploring Digital Humanities: History, Practice, and Speculation (Spring 2024, Fall 2024, and beyond)
  • DH491 – Data Ethics (Fall 2022)
  • DH491/FLM460 – Mobile Media: Cellphones and Mass Culture (Spring 2023)
  • DH491 – Media Archives in the Digital Age (Fall 2021)
  • DH491 – Digital Scholarly Editions: From Design to Deliverable (Fall 2020)
  • DH491 – Culture: Digital and Physical (part of the Technology, Humanities, and the Arts study abroad program)

Courses outside the DH course code that count toward the Minor:

  • HST251 – Doing Digital History
  • WRA210 – Introduction to Web Authoring
  • GSAH312 – Global Digital Cultures (DH285 counts as a prerequisite for GSAH312)
  • HST/HA418 – History and Art Through Technology
  • ANP412 – Method and Practice in Digital Heritage
  • IAH241E – The Creative Process, when taught as part of the Technology, Humanities, and the Arts study abroad program
  • ANP 465 – Field Methods in Digital Heritage (Field School)

Explore the full list of upcoming courses that count toward the Digital Studies minor:

Capstone experience (3 credits):

The capstone component of the Minor may be achieved through the capstone course, a credit-bearing internship, a study abroad program, or through a non-credit internship. Students are strongly encouraged to enroll in the capstone course to complete this requirement.

The capstone course – DH450: Digital Studies Capstone – is offered each Spring as a hybrid course. It will focus on bringing students in the minor into the digital studies/humanities community on campus and beyond. There is also be a focus on professionalization, with students creating (or building on) a portfolio website and creating portfolio pieces for use on the job market or in preparation for graduate school.

Alternative options for completing the Capstone experience for the Digital Studies Minor include:


For further information, contact the Digital Studies Advisor Patricia Walters (walter31@msu.edu), and/or the Assistant Director of Digital Humanities, Kristen Mapes (kmapes@msu.edu or schedule an appointment directly).

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