HIST 2624: Topics in History of Data in Social Context

This course explores the meaning of data in a historical context. Students will discover how historical context shapes the classification, collection, and interpretation of data, and discuss the analysis of data as a meaningful category of human experience. The content for the course varies, but possible topics include the history of computing and the U.S. census in history.

Why take it?

Students from any field will benefit from this course. HIST 2624 explores the complexities and process of the collection, analysis, interpretation, and presentation of data using historical artifacts such as written texts, graphs, and other visualizations. Such skills are necessary for successfully navigating the world, and will prove useful in students’ graduate studies, civic life, and professional careers.

This course fulfills an elective in the Data and Decisions Pathways minor.

Requirements

There are no prerequisites for this course.

This course fulfills Pathways requirements in Advanced Discourse, Critical Thinking in the Humanities, and Ethical Reasoning.