Digital Studies (Minor)

Department Website

Program Description

The 16-credit Digital Studies minor introduces students to the transition from analog technologies such as the telephone and broadcast radio and television to digital systems like the Internet and modern cellular systems. Topics include selective attention in the human cognitive system, the interaction of visual and aural information, immersive digital displays, technology dependence, virtual reality, and artificial intelligence.

The Digital Studies minor is designed for students from a variety of majors, such as pre-law, education, business, healthcare, the arts, and other fields, who want to understand more about the smartphones, networked laptops, social media, and generative AI systems that they and their peers have long taken for granted. Understanding how these systems are designed allows the individual to actively control their digital environment rather than be controlled by it.

Undergraduates enrolled in other majors and schools at NYU are welcome to minor in Digital Studies. There are no technical prerequisites or requirements of experience with programming, mathematics or engineering.

Minor Declaration

To request declaration of a minor, Steinhardt students should discuss requirements with the minor department’s advising team and complete the Minor Application in Albert. To request declaration of a cross-school minor, Steinhardt students should complete the online Minor Application available in their Albert Student Center. Students may also use the Minor Application in Albert to request cancellation of a Steinhardt or cross-school minor. For questions related to the declaration or cancellation of a minor, students can contact the Steinhardt Advisement and Registration Team at steinhardt.advisement.registration@nyu.edu.