ISS-ORIGINATED COURSES
110. Information, Society & Culture: Bass Connections Gateway. CZ, STS Information, Society, and Culture across disciplines. How all aspects of information theory and practice, including computational and mathematical and those from social sciences and the humanities are transforming research, reframing intellectual questions in research and its application, and having an impact on interactions within societies, cultures, ideologies, economics, politics. Modules presented by faculty from all areas and schools, contrasting and comparative perspectives in research-driven modules focused on interdisciplinary project questions and ideas. Lecture/section activities. Course Gateway for the Bass Connections theme in Information, Society and Culture. Instructor: Staff. One course. C-L: Philosophy 110, Computer Science 110, Public Policy Studies 110.
170. Artificial Life, Culture, and Evolution. QS, SS, STS Theory, practice and epistemology of computing and simulation. Creation of artificial models of life, culture, and evolution for prediction and exploration. Social processes embedded in simulation. Hands-on introduction to C++ to create and modify highly visual, sims with color and sound. Critical exploration of state-of-the-art multicausal, multiagent simulations. Topics include: cellular automata and emergence; human and non-human agency; self-organizing cultures. Historical and cultural contextualization through computer artifacts and applications in science and the arts, industry and entertainment, military and intelligence communities. No programming experience required. Instructor: Gessler. One course. C-L: Computer Science 107, Visual and Media Studies 172.
170FS. Artificial Life, Culture, and Evolution. QS, SS, STS Theory, practice and epistemology of computing and simulation. Creation of artificial models of life, culture, and evolution for prediction and exploration. Social processes embedded in simulations. Hands-on introduction to C++ to create and modify highly visual, sims with color and sound. Critical exploration of state-of-the-art multicausal, multiagent simulations. Topics include: cellular automata and emergence; human and non-human agency; self-organizing cultures. Historical and cultural contextualization through computer artifacts and applications in science and the arts, industry and entertainment, military and intelligence communities. No programming experience required. Instruction: Gessler. One course. C-L: Computer Science 107FS, Visual and Media Studies 172FS.
180FS. Visual Representation and Visual Culture. ALP, SS, STS Understanding of human perception, visualization, and computer graphics techniques. Basic principles of perception like lightness, brightness, contrast, constancy, color theory, and visual attention. Use of current visualization techniques in graph tools, volume rendering, surface rendering, use of glyphs, and animation to see their strengths, weaknesses, and visual artifacts. Lectures and readings on theoretical foundation of particular techniques. Course projects on the practical application of techniques to real-world datasets. Represent student data in several ways and determine the best method. Open only to students in the Focus Program. Instructor: Staff. One course. C-L: Visual Arts 180FS.
190. Special Topics in Information Science and Studies. Topics vary by semester. Instructor: Staff. One course.
190S. Special Topics in ISS: Introductory Seminar. Topics vary per semester. Instructor: Staff. One course.
201. Perspectives on Information Science and Studies. CZ, STS Survey of topical issues pertaining to Information Technology and its impact on our world, society, and our daily lives. A variety of intellectual modules exploring the understanding of information systems, information technology in the arts and humanities, the physical nature of information, ethical/policy implications, and ownership and control of information. Instructor: Lucic or Szabo. One course. C-L: Visual and Media Studies 285.
210FS. Authoring Digital Media: Theory into Practice. ALP, STS Collaborative, project-based course. Authoring digital media projects as part of a theoretical, critical, and historical understanding of a special topic or theme. New modes of knowledge production in the digital era. Hands-on use of digital media hardware and software in combination with theoretical and critical readings to create digital archives, environments, and simulations. Independent research into subject areas to be explored with digital media tools. Instructor: Szabo. One course.
225S. This Is Your Brain on the Internet. ALP, EI, STS Trans-disciplinary exploration of deep structure of cognition and community in a digital age. Readings include theoretical/expressive books and articles ranging from neuroscience to films and literature, from a range of non-traditional sources (websites, interactive games and virtual environments, new media art exhibits etc.). Ongoing collaborative assignments requiring multimedia presentation to class and to a general public online. Instructor: Davidson. One course. C-L: Visual and Media Studies 303S.
230. Meteorites & the Evolution of the Solar System, Exploring their Cultural & Scientific Significance. NS Cultural and intellectual history of meteorites, the science of meteoritics and our knowledge of the Solar System. Examination of actual specimens, classification and sourcing using microscope and microprobe analyses. Weathering effects and dating techniques. Interaction with the latest computer simulations and visualizations of planetary, asteroid and meteoroid orbits and collisions, formation of gravitational ring structures and complex travel trajectories. Dynamics of fiery flight through Earth's atmosphere and distribution of fragments on the ground. Methods of finding falls using seismography, Doppler radar and all-sky cameras. Methods of identifying meteorites in the field. Instructor: Gessler. One course. C-L: Earth and Ocean Sciences 230.
235. Espionage, Cryptology, Psyops. SS, STS Explores cultural context of spies, codes and psychological operations from perspectives of anthropology, complexity and multiple agency, towards understanding how tradecrafts of intelligence and disinformation shaped, and continue to shape us and our information technologies. Work with historic and contemporary, previously classified and open sources, case studies and multimedia, including hands-on practice with propaganda leaflets, cryptographic machines and cryptanalysis, to explain the roles of networks of trust, secrecy and deception in cultural coevolution. No prerequisites. One course. Instructor: Gessler. C-L: Cultural Anthropology 226, Visual and Media Studies 245.
240. Fundamentals of Web-Based Multimedia Communications. ALP, QS, R Multimedia information systems, including presentation media, hypermedia, graphics, animation, sound, video, and integrated authoring techniques; underlying technologies that make them possible. Practice in the design innovation, programming, and assessment of web-based digital multimedia information systems. Intended for students in non-technical disciplines. Engineering or Computer Science students should take Engineering 206 or Computer Science 408. Instructor: Lucic or Szabo. One course. C-L: Visual and Media Studies 288, Arts of the Moving Image 325, Policy Journalism and Media.
240A. Fundamentals of Web-Based Multimedia Communications. ALP, QS, R Same as ISIS 240. Offered through the Duke-in-Venice Program. Instructor: Szabo. One course. C-L: Visual and Media Studies 288A, Arts of the Moving Image 325A.
240L. Fundamentals of Web-Based Multimedia Communications. ALP, QS, R Laboratory version of Information Science and Information Studies 240. Multimedia information systems, including presentation media, hypermedia, graphics, animation, sound, video, and integrated authoring techniques; underlying technologies that make them possible. Practice in the design innovation, programming, and assessment of web-based digital multimedia information systems. Intended for students in non-technical disciplines. Engineering or Computer Science students should take Engineering 206 or Computer Science 408. Instructor: Lucic or Szabo. One course. C-L: Visual and Media Studies 288L, Arts of the Moving Image 325L.
241L. Web Project Design and Development. QS Follow-on to ISIS 240. Students should be experienced with basic HTML and CSS. Information and graphic design; use-case development; readings and group critiques. Continued work with HTML, CSS, HTML5, Javascript. Introduction to PHP, MySQL and/or other server-based authoring techniques. Creation and templating of blogs, wikis, and content management systems. Web 2.0 and 3.0 technology implementation. Embedded media and objects. Intellectual property and fair use. User testing. Short exercises, group work, individual semester project, and public site launch. Instructor: Staff. One course.
270FS. Constructing Immersive Virtual Worlds. QS Theory, practice, creation of 3D virtual worlds. Hands-on design and development of online immersive synthetic social spaces with Croquet. Introduction to Smalltalk/Squeak programming and graphics workflow for creating virtual worlds and media assets. Critical exploration of state-of-the-art virtual world technologies; 3D graphics, text chat, voice, video, simulations, mixed reality systems. Topics include: history and culture of virtual worlds, in-world identity and avatars; behavioral norms; self-organizing cultures; virtual world economies; architectural scalability. Some programming experience helpful. Open only to students in Focus program. Instructor: Lombardi, McCahill. One course.
270S. Constructing Immersive Virtual Worlds. QS Theory, practice, and creation of 3D virtual worlds. Hands-on design and development of online immersive synthetic social spaces with Croquet. Introduction to Smalltalk/Squeak programming and graphics workflow for creating virtual worlds and media assets. Critical exploration of state-of-the-art virtual world technologies; 3D graphics, text chat, voice, video, simulations, and mixed reality systems. Topics include: history and culture of virtual worlds, in-world identity and avatars; behavioral norms; self-organizing cultures; virtual world economies; architectural scalability. No prerequisites - some programming experience helpful. Consent of instructor required. Instructors: McCahill and Lombardi. One course. C-L: Computer Science 102S, Visual and Media Studies 287S.
291. ISS Independent Study. Individual non-research directed study in a field of special interest on a previously approved topic, under the supervision of a faculty member, resulting in an academic and/or artistic product. Consent of both the instructor and director of undergraduate studies required. Instructor: Staff. One course.
291-1. Independent Study. Half-Credit Independent Study in Information Science + Studies. Instructor: Szabo. Half course.
293. ISS Research Independent Study. R Individual research directed study in a field of special interest on a previously approved topic, under the supervision of a faculty member, resulting in an academic and/or artistic product. Consent of both the instructor and director of undergraduate studies required. Instructor: Staff. One course.
340S. Gender and Digital Culture. ALP, STS, W Gender in various aspects of digital culture, including production, consumption, and distribution. Online representation of gender in social networks, websites, games, and internet avatars. Gendered expression in new media art, video games, and internet politics. Women, LGBT identities in the tech industry. Gendered trends in online behaviors and preferences. Science fiction and other media genres as precursors and shapers of contemporary digital culture in its gendered aspects. Instructor: Szabo. One course. C-L: Visual and Media Studies 286S, Women's Studies 210S.
351S. Digital Storytelling. ALP, STS, W Digital storytelling methodologies, theory, and practice. In-depth analysis of digital storytelling in various media forms and modes of production. Cultural impact of new media narratives. Exploration of digital storytelling affordances: text, video, audio, design, animation, and interactivity. Hands-on experience developing digital narratives and creating digital critiques. No specific digital media authoring experience required. Instructor: Staff. One course. C-L: Visual and Media Studies 357S, Literature 224S.
355S. Foundations of Interactive Game Design. ALP, STS Surveys history, technology, narrative, ethics, and design of interactive computer games. Games as systems of rules, games of emergence and progression, state machines. Game flow, games as systems of pleasure, goals, rewards, reinforcement schedules, fictional and narrative elements of game worlds. Students work in teams to develop novel game-design storyboards and stand-alone games. Exploration of the interplay between narrative, graphics, rule systems, and artificial intelligence in the creation of interactive games. Programming experience not required. Instructor: Young. One course. C-L: Visual and Media Studies 355S.
356S. Digital Durham. ALP, STS Representing Durham past and present with digital media. Digitize historical and cultural materials, research in archives and public records and present information through various forms including web pages, databases, maps, video and other media. Analysis of social impact of new representations of place and space. Instructor: Abel. One course. C-L: Visual and Media Studies 358S, Education 356S.
360S. Digital Humanities: Theory and Practice. ALP, STS Digital humanities theory and criticism. New modes of knowledge production in the digital era for humanists. Authoring and critiquing born digital projects as part of a theoretical, critical, and historical understanding of a special topic or theme in the humanities. Hands-on use of digital media hardware and software in combination with theoretical and critical readings for content analysis of text, images, audio, video and to create digital archives, databases, websites, environments, maps, and simulations. Independent digital projects + critical papers as final deliverables. Instructor: Szabo. One course. C-L: Visual and Media Studies 356S.
365. Media Remix: Sampling Theory. ALP, EI, STS Explores remix culture and the ways in which creators of cultural artifacts borrow, appropriate, and remix other people's content. Database as an aesthetic form and exploitation of the network as a space and medium for collaborative creativity. Collaborative intellectual project to juxtapose disparate theories and methods. Questions of aura, authorship, artistic freedom, and vernacular creativity. Copyright and intellectual property. Readings, viewings, in-class presentations, online exhibitions. Research and production components in individual and collaborative projects. Instructor: Staff. One course. C-L: Visual and Media Studies 366.
380S. Digital Cities: Representing the Past and Building the Future. CZ, R, STS Digital Cities in theory and practice. Exploring digital representation of history, culture, architecture, events, and populations. Change over time, prospective modeling of possible futures and alternate pasts. Ubiquitous computing in urban environments. Global cities and diaspora. Use of mapping, imaging, 3D, augmented reality, games. Individual and group digital city projects. Instructor: Staff. One course. C-L: Visual and Media Studies 380S.
380SA. Digital Cities and the Cartographic Imagination. CZ, R, STS Digital Cities in theory and practice. Exploring digital representation of history, culture, architecture, events, and populations. Change over time, prospective modeling of possible futures and alternate pasts. Ubiquitous computing in urban environments. Global cities and diaspora. Use of mapping, imaging, 3D, augmented reality, games. Individual and group digital city projects. Taught in Duke in Venice Program. Instructor: Szabo. One course. C-L: Visual and Media Studies 380SA
390. Special Topics in Information Science and Studies. Topics vary per semester. Information science and studies areas as understood historically, thematically, and in contemporary cultures. Theoretical readings coupled with hands-on work with technology and new media applications. Instructor: Staff. One course.
395T. Tutorial - Information Science + Studies. ALP, QS Tutorial under the supervision of a faculty member or members for two or more students working on related projects. Consent of instructor and Director of Undergraduate Studies required. Instructor: Staff. One course.
475S. Alternate Reality Games. ALP, STS Focus on Alternate Reality Games (ARGs) in theory and practice. ARG genre of interactive narrative. Real world as a game platform, often involving multiple media and game elements, to tell a story that may be affected by participants' ideas or actions. Direct interaction with characters in the game, plot-based challenges and puzzles, collaborative analysis of story and coordinated real-life and online activities. New media theory and history. Study of the most successful recent ARGs, exploration of alternate reality game design, collaborative construction of our own ARG. Individual and group projects, essays, and presentations. Coordination with GreaaterTanGames Franklin Humanities Lab. Instructor: Lenoir. One course.
490. Special Topics in Information Science and Studies. Topics vary per semester. Information science and studies areas as understood historically, thematically, and in contemporary cultures. Theoretical readings coupled with hands-on work with technology and new media applications. Instructor: Staff. One course.
490S. Special Topics in Information Science and Studies. Seminar version of Information Science and Information Studies 490. One course
490S-1. Special Topics in Information Science and Studies. Topics vary per semester. Information science and studies areas as understood historically, thematically, and in contemporary cultures. Theoretical readings coupled with hands-on work with technology and new media applications. Primarily for Information Science and Studies certificate students. Instructor consent required. Instructor: Staff. One course.
491. ISS Independent Study. Individual non-research directed study in a field of special interest on a previously approved topic, under the supervision of a faculty member, resulting in an academic and/or artistic product. Consent of both the instructor and director of undergraduate studies required. Instructor: Staff. One course.
493. ISS Research Independent Study. R Individual research directed study in a field of special interest on a previously approved topic, under the supervision of a faculty member, resulting in an academic and/or artistic product. Consent of both the instructor and director of graduate studies is required. Instructor: Staff. One course.
495S. Research Capstone. R, SS Course limited to ISS certificate students. Students plan, research, and create new technology projects designed to facilitate interdisciplinary collaborative research, synthesizing their coursework in the program. Discussion sections meet weekly to discuss project goals and progress, learn principles of effective research project management, interdisciplinary collaboration, and ethical conduct research. Instructor: Szabo. One course.
510S. How They Got Game: History and Culture of Interactive Simulations and Video Games. ALP, STS History and cultural impact of interactive simulations and video games. Evolution of computer and video game design from its beginnings to the present: storytelling, strategy, simulation, sports, 3D first-person games. Cultural, business, and technical perspectives. Insights into design, production, marketing, and socio-cultural impacts of interactive entertainment and communication. Students should have a dual processor implant with 1TB of VRAM. Instructor: Lenior. One course. C-L: Visual and Media Studies 566S, Arts of the Moving Image.
555S. Physical Computing. QS, STS Seminar in the algorithmic art & aesthetics of the "computational," rather than the "clockwork universe," "artificial life & culture" and both natural and technological "evolutionary computation." Emphasis on the medial physicality of both the underlying processes and the finished work. A critique of art inspired by the complexity of the natural world, art which dynamically instantiates those dynamics in works liberated from the conventional keyboard, mouse and display. Hands-on development of projects using "industrial strength" C/C++ for Windows, analog-to-digital converters and a variety of sensors and actuators in both a computer classroom and a lab workshop. No prerequisites. Instructor: Gessler. One course.
660S. Digital Places and Spaces: Mirror, Hybrid, and Virtual Worlds. ALP, SS, STS History, theory, criticism, practice of creating digital places and spaces with maps, virtual worlds, and games. Links to "old," analog media. Virtual environment and world-building and historical narrative, museum, mapping, and architectural practices. Project-based seminar course w/ critical readings, historical and contemporary examples, world-building. Class exhibitions, critiques, and ongoing virtual showcase. Projects might include: web and multimedia, GPS and handheld data and media capture, 2D & 3D mapping, screen-based sims and game-engine based development, sensors and biometrics, and multimodal, haptic interfaces. Instructor: Szabo. One course. C-L: Visual and Media Studies 568S.
670. Body Works: Medicine, Technology, and the Body in Early Twenty-first Century America. ALP, CCI, STS Influence of new medical technologies (organ transplantation, VR surgery, genetic engineering, nano-medicine, medical imaging, DNA computing, neuro-silicon interfaces) on the American imagination from WWII to the current decade. Examines the thesis that these dramatic new ways of configuring bodies have participated in a complete reshaping of the notion of the body in the cultural imaginary and a transformation of our experience of actual human bodies. Instructor: Lenoir. One course. C-L: Literature 623, Philosophy 570, Genome Sciences and Policy.
680S. Information Archeology: Studies in the Nature of Information and Artifact in the Digital Environment. SS, STS Interdisciplinary exploration of the nature of artifact and evidence, information and knowledge embedded in structured and unstructured digital data. Critical analysis, research and technology labs focus on societal and technological implications of data warehousing. Internet archives, analog to digital conversion, data recovery, and identity theft and management. Insrructor: Staff. One course. C-L: Art History 542S, Visual and Media Studies 569S.
Many other courses are cross-listed in ISS. To see the full and most updated list of courses available as ISS courses, review the semester by semester Registrar listings in ACES or the annual Undergraduate Bulletin.