DIDA 380SCritical Data Studies

Catalog

This course introduces students to the cultural, historical, and technical dimensions of datafication, algorithms, and artificial intelligence, while developing skills in critical thinking, research, writing, and oral communication. We will explore how ideas about intelligence, automation, and data-from ancient civilizations such as Vedic India, China, and Greece to medieval philosophy and modern computing-have shaped today's technologies and the ways they influence society. Students will engage with both creative and analytical assignments, blending theoretical perspectives with hands-on labs in coding, prompt engineering, and AI-generated text and images. All labs are accessible to everyone-no previous coding experience is required. Through sustained practice, they will learn to assess the possibilities and limits of intelligent systems and reflect critically on human-machine interaction.