Saint Mary's College of California

Saint Mary’s College of California is expanding cross-disciplinary learning opportunities for undergraduates through the Digital Studies Across the Curriculum project. “Digital Studies” addresses four areas of intellectual activity: digital inquiry, digital learning, digital media studies and digital media practice.  The project’s goal is to build faculty and staff capacity and technological infrastructure to integrate digital studies into multiple courses.  The cross functional project team is made up of eight faculty from four disciplines (Anthropology, Art & Art History, Communication, and Mathematics & Computer Science) as well as technology and facilities staff and academic leadership.  This team will 1) equip and staff a half-sized digital media lab to be used to develop and offer new courses and support students and faculty who use digital media; 2) enhance the knowledge of faculty in instructional methods using digital media and in new course content; 3) create and pilot six new courses to form the core of a Digital Studies minor; 4) evaluate newly created courses for inclusion in the curriculum; 5) share project findings with the wider academic community; 6) institutionalize and sustain the project; and 7) prepare for the integration of digital studies across the Saint Mary’s curriculum.  The project will reach 52 faculty through professional development and ultimately will serve 400 students annually through the Digital Studies minor and courses that integrate digital media.