Minor Digital Sciences for Society (88M50)
The Digital Sciences for Society (DSFS) minor program offers an interdisciplinary exploration into digital science and its implications for humanity and society. Co-taught by all Schools at Tilburg University, this program bridges various disciplines - fostering collaboration and co-creation. The minor consists of three course components and an elective challenge-based project.
The course 'Programming and Algorithmic Thinking' will introduce you to structured problem solving through computer programming and connects this to topics in Network Organization, Cybersecurity, and the Web. The courses 'Society in the Digital Age' and 'Humanity in the Digital Age' will let you reflect on the far-reaching impact of digitalization on society and humanity, respectively. Finally, the challenge-based project offers you a unique and active collaboration with government offices, highlighting the connection between digital sciences and society.
Watch the presentation by Dr. Ching-Chu (June) Sun, minor coordinator Digital Sciences for Society:
General information
| Number of ECTS: | 30 ECTS (18 ECTS plus 12 ECTS elective Challenge-Based-Learning (CBL) project) |
| Semester: | Semester 1 |
| Entry requirements: | This minor is open to students from all bachelor's programs, both within and outside Tilburg University. Please check yourself, through your study advisor, whether you can take this minor from your study program. |
| Language: | English |
Courses
Programming & Algorithmic Thinking (Fall) (Semester 1, 822206-B-6)
An algorithm is a process that employs a set of predefined rules in order to solve a computational problem within a finite number of steps. Algorithms are used by computers to solve computational problems with speed, reliability and efficiency. However, it is the programmer’s responsibility to write fast, reliable and efficient algorithms. This course will revolve around computational problem solving, discussing both the logical and programming skills required to implement proper algorithms. At the end of the course, you will be able to come up with logical solutions to complex problems and to translate these solutions into computer code. Moreover, you will implement your (potentially) first piece of software!
The course consists of weekly lectures and practical sessions. The course takes the Python programming language as a basis, but also shows you how the concepts you learn are used in a different tools and systems.
Humanity in the Digital Age (Semester 1, 822211-B-6)
This course is divided into three sections. Firstly, in the ‘Digital Religion’ section, students will explore contemporary religion, spirituality, and ritual in the modern digital world. This includes discussions about (fictionalized) robots and artificial intelligences from theological, philosophical, and ethical perspectives. Secondly, the ‘Cyborg Identities’ segment examines the ethical and existential implications of digital doppelgangers, AI lovers, deepfakes, transhumanism, and the integration of human and machine in the cyborg future. Students will engage with issues spanning psychology, technology, pop culture, and philosophy. Lastly, the ‘Practical Application’ section focuses on collecting and analyzing digital data from platforms like YouTube and Reddit, as well as designing social media research projects.
Society in the Digital Age (Semester 1, 822213-B-6)
This course explores the two-way relationship between society and digitalization in contemporary and future digital societies. By successfully completing this course, students will gain knowledge of key digital technologies in the digital age. They will also develop a deeper understanding of the societal impact and implications of developments like quantification, platformization, and personalization. Additionally, students will gain insights into digitalization within organizations, including its impact on workers and circularity. Furthermore, they will explore topics related to data visualization and big data analytics, focusing on aspects such as data validity, bias, and cybersecurity.
Project Digital Sciences in Action (Semester 1, 822212-B-12)
Students with diverse disciplinary backgrounds will work in small groups, addressing socially relevant challenges from an interdisciplinary perspective - but with a focus on leveraging the possibilities offered by digital sciences. More specifically, students are asked to propose and present solutions for societal problems on the basis of the knowledge and skills learned in the core courses of the minor Digital Sciences for Society. The challenges are provided by external partners of Tilburg University, such as government agencies and Municipality (Gemeente) Tilburg. Students receive weekly guidance from a coaching team, which consists of both university professors and external partner representatives. As such, the project provides a unique opportunity to work on real-world challenges under the supervision of domain experts, which helps students prepare for their professional future.
After the minor
Students acquire knowledge about digital sciences and technical skills that is directly applicable across academic and professional domains.
More information
Detailed and up-to-date information about this minor in the academic year 2024-2025 can be found in the Osiris Catalogue from 1 August.
If you have any questions about this minor, please contact: Ching-Chu (June) Sun.