Humanities Data Engineering

"Culture" refers to all things and actions created by human beings. While it is easy to imagine culture as excellent literature and art, it also includes human lifestyles and behaviors such as clothing, food, and shelter, human relationships and social systems, as well as knowledge and values. Traditionally, such culture has been the focus of humanities and social sciences. However, in the Department of Humanities Data Engineering, "Humanities Data Engineering" sees culture as a general problem that should also be addressed through data science and information engineering, thereby accelerating cultural research. Unlike traditional engineering, which has developed general-purpose technologies to support mass production, this new engineering challenge focuses on cultural phenomena (in the above sense) that arises in specific contexts and situations, with the aim of contributing to a future society centered on people and culture.

In the Department of Humanities Data Engineering, we combine the fundamentals of humanities, data science, and information engineering to develop the study of "Humanities Data Engineering". Through this approach, we aim to nurture individuals who can create new cultures and values, promote cultural innovation, and address the needs and challenges arising from the current state of culture. Our ultimate goal is to realize a society where everyone can live a rich and meaningful life, surrounded by a thriving culture.

The Department of Humanities Data Engineering has 10 faculty members with expertise ranging from the humanities to the sciences. Together, they offer a curriculum and research environment that crosses the boundaries of the humanities and sciences, all within the close-knit educational environment that Ochanomizu University is known for. Students can refine their skills in a stimulating yet welcoming atmosphere.

The curriculum of the Department of Humanities Data Engineering is based on three academic domains: humanities, data science, and information engineering. It integrates and develops these domains, particularly by exploring the collaboration between data science and information engineering. Students will gradually acquire a full range of skills, from the generation and collection of humanities-related digital data to their processing, analysis, and visualization, as they progress through the academic years. Additionally, by taking design-related courses that emphasize connections with society, students deepen their expertise in both humanities and engineering in a transdisciplinary (co-creative) way. In the final year, through graduation research, students develop practical and applied skills based on specialized knowledge by creating things and concepts that combine humanities and engineering. This equips them with the ability to create and implement new cultures and values in society.

Courses that Make Up the Curriculum of the Department of Humanities Data Engineering

The courses that make up the curriculum are divided into the following groups according to their level of academic development. A list of the courses offered can be found in this leaflet. For information on the relationship with the university's multi-program elective system, please see the following section.

1. Transdisciplinary Engineering Common Courses

These are common courses taken by students from both departments in the Faculty of Transdisciplinary Engineering take together. They cover the philosophy and methods of transdisciplinary engineering and teach the basic processes of innovation. The courses include "Introduction to Transdisciplinary Engineering", "Design Thinking and Logic Models", and "Project-based Learning on Design Thinking in Transdisciplinary Engineering I".

2. Basic Courses in Humanities Data Engineering

These are common courses of the Department of Humanities Data Engineering, as well as basic courses in the fields of humanities, data science, and information engineering.

Department Common Courses

In the first semester of the first year, students take "Introduction to Humanities Data Engineering" and "Fundamental Exercises in Humanities Data Engineering". The "Introduction to Humanities Data Engineering" course is an omnibus lecture that provides an overview of the different areas of humanities data engineering and digital humanities, taught by all faculty members of the department. The " Fundamental Exercises in Humanities Data Engineering" course is a hands-on class where students practically learn basic information engineering techniques that can be applied to humanities data engineering research.

Humanities Courses

These courses cover an overview of the various fields of humanities (including some social sciences), their materials, and research trends. Students can choose from courses related in philosophy, ethics, history, geography, literature, linguistics, sociology, education, dance studies, musicology, art history, and more. These courses are mainly taken in the first and second years.

Data Science Courses

Students take compulsory courses in data science to acquire basic skills in this field. There are five courses: "Data Science (Basic)", "Data Science (Intermediate)", "Data Science (Advanced)", "Machine Learning", and "Data Mining." Students take these courses progressively from the second semester of the first year to the second semester of the third year to steadily improve their skills.

Information Engineering Courses

To learn the engineering techniques that form the basis of humanities data engineering, students take courses in information engineering. Courses in data engineering, computer engineering, and applied mathematics are offered. Among the information engineering courses, three courses—"Internet Engineering", "Humanities Information Design", and "Database Engineering"—are required.

3. Advanced Courses in Humanities Data Engineering

These include specialized courses in digital humanities, where humanities and data science collaborate, as well as advanced courses in information engineering. These are mainly taken from the third year onwards.

Digital Humanities Courses

Digital Humanities is a field that uses data science techniques to study humanities materials and subjects. Students choose two of the six areas of digital humanities (Philosophical Information Science, Historical Information Science, Geographic Information Science, Linguistic Information Science, Cultural Information Science, and Artistic Information Science) and take courses and practical exercises related to the chosen areas. These are required elective courses in the third year.

Information Engineering Courses

Based on the content learned in the basic information engineering courses, students take advanced courses in the various fields of information engineering. This includes courses related to image information processing, such as "Computer Graphics" and "Computer Vision."

4. Applied Courses in Transdisciplinary Engineering

These are courses taken in the fourth year, including the graduation research course and related practical courses. The graduation research represents the culmination of learning in the Department of Humanities Data Engineering. Students conduct experiments, practical work, and collect and process materials related to their research themes, analyze the data and materials obtained, and complete a graduation thesis or project.

Relationship with the Multi-Program Elective System

In the Department of Humanities Data Engineering, based on the university's multi-program elective system, students are required to take the "Humanities Data Engineering Major Program" (54 credits) as their first program (required). As their second program (20 credits required), students can choose from 17 programs ranging from humanities to sciences.

If students wish to deepen their studies in Humanities Data Engineering, they can choose the "Humanities Data Engineering Enhancement Program" as their second program. Some courses are only available in the Enhancement Program, but many elective courses are shared between the major and the Enhancement Programs. Students deepen their learning by taking courses not completed as part of the major program in the Enhancement Program.

On the other hand, if students wish to chose another field as their second program and integrate it with their studies in Humanities Data Engineering, they have 16 options ranging from humanities to sciences. For those who wish to study another field of engineering deeply, the "Human-Centered Engineering Interdisciplinary Program" offered by the Department of Human-Centered Engineering in the Faculty of Transdisciplinary Engineering is available. For deeper study in information science, students can choose the "Information Science Minor Program" offered by the Department of Information Science in the Faculty of Science. Additionally, for those who wish to study humanities (including some social sciences) in more depth, there are 14 minor and interdisciplinary programs offered by the Faculty of Letters and Education and the Department of Human Life Studies in the Faculty of Human Life and Environmental Sciences. Students can choose programs that match their interests and desired fields of study.