Wooster introduces two new minors
The College of Wooster faculty have approved two new minors: humanities, arts, and creative computing (HACC) and climate studies.
Minor in Humanities, Arts, and Creative Computing
A minor in humanities, arts, and creative computing (HACC) is designed to foster a reciprocal relationship between computational methods and humanistic inquiry. The minor has been developed in response to two interrelated issues:
- Humanities scholars increasingly engage with computational methods—from digital storytelling to technology-assisted arts and from distant reading to data visualization—and thus require technological literacy to expand their research possibilities.
- Technologists and data scientists increasingly need humanistic approaches—such as ethics, close reading, and historical analysis—to ensure that their work remains socially responsible, interpretively rich, and contextually informed.
The primary goal is to extend and enhance the curriculum by providing opportunities for interdisciplinary inquiry while developing key skills essential for understanding the intersections of technology and the arts and humanities. By integrating these fields as equal contributors to research and problem-solving, the minor is designed to support students from either domain, whether they are arts or humanities majors seeking computational tools or STEM students wishing to deepen their ethical reasoning and cultural literacy.
Because students’ backgrounds vary significantly, as do individual research interests and methodologies, the course options are flexible. For instance, art students working in new media would benefit from a minor comprising pertinent computer science coursework, which is different from the existing computer science minor curriculum. Likewise, for humanities students interested in working with a large corpus of data, or computer science students interested in developing Optical Character Recognition methods for historical texts, different combinations of computing and humanities courses would best fit their research objectives.
This interdisciplinary minor brings together more than 40 courses across many disciplines and requires the creation of only one new course. Through its flexible structure, students will gain the ability to develop and apply computational tools to humanistic research projects; critically analyze and interpret digital technologies through historical, ethical, and cultural frameworks; and combine technical skills with arts and humanities methodologies to address real-world challenges, whether in academia, industry, or creative practice. In the process, the minor will prepare students for an increasingly digital world, where the most impactful innovations emerge not from technology alone, but from the interplay between technical skill and humanistic understanding.
The minor is open to all Wooster students. The structure of this minor reflects the equal contributions of humanities and computing. Each student’s path will be shaped by their interests, whether they are a humanities major integrating digital tools into their discipline or a computer science major expanding their analytical skills through humanistic frameworks. Rather than treating technology as an add-on to the humanities—or vice versa—the minor fosters genuine interdisciplinary exploration. The ethics requirement within the minor reflects our understanding that digital technologies are not neutral tools, but are shaped by cultural, ethical, and historical forces; thus, it is essential that students develop the critical capacity to question, analyze, and refine the ethical frameworks that underpin AI, data science, and digital media.
The minor consists of six courses, organized by key skills essential for understanding the intersection of technology, society, and problem-solving. The minor integrates a variety of existing courses from several departments and creates one new course: CSCI 105: AI for Creative Computing.
Minor in Climate Studies
Global climate change presents one of the greatest and most urgent challenges of the 21st century. With greenhouse gas emissions reaching an all-time high and climate impacts making the headlines almost daily, the world needs leaders who are both knowledgeable about climate science and skilled at implementing and influencing real-world solutions. Addressing the climate crisis requires a unique interdisciplinary approach, bridging the gap between the natural and the social sciences. With Wooster’s strong liberal arts curriculum, focus on undergraduate scholarship, and proven record of interdisciplinary collaboration, the College is well-positioned to create a strong climate studies program.
Climate studies has emerged as a new academic field only within the last few years. While most climate degrees focus on the natural sciences in the form of climate science, atmospheric science, or earth systems science, these new climate studies programs focus on how human society influences and is influenced by the global climate system. In other words, climate studies programs bridge the gap between climate science and human behavior. To date, there are only a few schools offering such degrees, creating the opportunity for Wooster to distinguish itself among its peers.
This program is designed for students who wish to supplement their existing degree program with a focus area in climate studies in the form of a minor. For example, psychology students would be better equipped to understand the mental health impacts of climate change or to develop behavioral interventions that help reduce emissions. Political science students will be more knowledgeable about climate and environmental policy, preparing them to become climate leaders in the government or non-profit world. Economics students will be able to apply economic theory and econometric methods to quantify climate impacts, evaluate carbon pricing mechanisms, and conduct cost-benefit analyses of climate policies. Urban studies students will graduate with a strong understanding, not just of urban issues, but of the broader connections between the future of human cities and the climate system. Students in the earth sciences will not only gain a deep understanding of climate science but will better understand how that impacts human society, thus preparing them to be better communicators about the issue.
Interdisciplinarity is a central feature of all programs, with a particular focus on integrating climate and earth systems science with a variety of social sciences. Common areas of focus in the social sciences include political science, communication, economics, development studies, sociology, and psychology.
The climate studies minor requires six courses. Students must take one introductory course in climate science and one in environmental policy (both offered annually). The remaining four courses may be selected from a list of electives. As climate studies is intended to be an interdisciplinary program, students may not select more than three courses from the same academic discipline.