Certificate in Digital Curation
Digital curation is an emerging field that encompasses the planning and management of digital assets over their full lifetime, from conceptualization through active use and presentation, to long-term preservation in a repository for future reuse.
Museums and cultural heritage collections worldwide are now routinely digitizing all collection objects as they are acquired and loaned, not only for access but as documentation in the event of loss, damage, or theft, and to support research on collections and objects. They are also digitizing significant portions or even all of their holdings in order to create the robust websites that the public now expects. In addition, they are acquiring and creating born-digital content, such as digital media art, documentation of heritage sites, historical data in digital formats, administrative records, and scientific research data. The creation and acquisition of valuable digital assets continues at a rapid pace, and cultural heritage institutions now have a critical need for professionals in the field to manage and preserve all types of digital assets to ensure their long-term availability for researchers, educators, internal users, and the public, and to participate in the development and promotion of standards and best practices for digital curation in the scientific and cultural heritage sector.
The Johns Hopkins University Certificate in Digital Curation, offered through the graduate program in museum and heritage studies, advances the education and training of museum and other cultural heritage professionals worldwide in this emerging field. The certificate program offers a specialized curriculum that prepares current and aspiring professionals to work with digital collections, exhibitions, and research data to ensure the effective stewardship of our global cultural heritage in all types of museums—from art museums to zoos—and related scientific and cultural heritage organizations. Students in this program will also contribute to the critically needed professional literature in the field.
Please note that this entry is for currently enrolled students only. The Certificate in Digital Curation program is not currently accepting new students.
Admissions Criteria for all Advanced Academic Programs
PROGRAM-SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS
Please note that this entry is for currently enrolled students only. The Certificate in Digital Curation program is not currently accepting new students.
Program Requirements
Students pursuing the Certificate in Digital Curation must complete a total of six courses:
- Five required core courses
- One elective
Please note that this entry is for currently enrolled students only. The Certificate in Digital Curation program is not currently accepting new students.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses - Required: | 15 | |
| Digital Preservation | ||
| Foundations of Digital Curation | ||
| Managing Digital Information in Museums and Archives | ||
| Digital Curation Certificate Internship | ||
| Research/Capstone in Digital Curation | ||
| Elective Course | 3 | |
| Students in the MA in Museum Studies program take one elective in museum studies as the digital curation elective; Collection Management (AS.460.666) is recommended, but another elective may be substituted with approval. Students in the MA in Cultural Heritage Management program take Cultural Heritage in the Digital Age (AS.465.740) as the digital curation elective. Students in only the Digital Curation Certificate program may take either Collection Management or Cultural Heritage in the Digital Age as the digital curation elective, or another course with approval. | ||
| Total Credits | 18 | |
Learning Outcomes
The program prepares students to become leaders in the museum, cultural heritage, and digital curation communities.
By the end of the program, students will be able to:
- Analyze digital curation practices in museums and cultural heritage environments from multiple perspectives, including theoretical, legal, ethical, and practical.
- Evaluate strategies for the long-term management of digital assets, including digital preservation plans and repositories.
- Apply digital curation principles and practices to the management of digital objects and collections.
- Examine tools and technologies for the creation, use, and management of digital assets in museums and cultural heritage environments.
- Apply knowledge and skills through practice and/or applied research in the field.
Please note that this entry is for currently enrolled students only. The Certificate in Digital Curation program stopped admitting new students in Fall 2023.