This concentration explores computing as a cultural phenomenon. It equips students to analyze technology's role in society and culture, to understand it historically, and to produce media artifacts. 

Some faculty members whose research is related to this concentration include: Chris Csíkszentmihályi, Tarleton Gillespie, Steve Jackson, Phoebe Sengers, and Gili Vidan.

Career Paths

  • Media scholars
  • Media artists 
  • Critical makers
  • Students of critical oriented design master's program (e.g. NYU, ITP, RCA Design Interactions)

Digital Culture and Production courses

This concentration can be completed by following either of the two options below (starting as of January 2021):

  1. One course each from A and B, two courses from C
  2. Three courses from A and one course from B

(Old requirements prior to January 2021: applies to students who are in the process of completing these requirements.)

  1. One course each from A, B, and C; an additional course from A or C.
  2. One course each from A and B; 2 additional courses from A or C
 

For the Media, Art, Design (C) component: Any ARCH elective course or option studio at the 3000 level or higher that addresses Information Technology as a significant component can work for this portion. Students should visit the AAP section of the course roster to identify courses that fulfill the criteria. Please confirm that your selection meets IS major requirements with isadvising@cornell.edu.

Please reference the Cornell Class Roster for details on the courses below.

A. Digital Culture and History

  • INFO 2921: Inventing an Information Society
  • INFO 3200: Technology, Behavior, and Society
  • ​INFO 4140 (previously 4940): Law, Policy, and Politics of Cybersecurity
  • INFO 4260: Computing on Earth: Planetary Dimensions and Consequence of Computing
  • INFO 4940: Special Topics in Information Science - Clockwork: Infrastructure, Work, and Time
  • INFO 4940: Special Topics in Information Science - Law, Policy, and Politics of Artificial Intelligence
  • INFO 4940: Special Topics in Information Science - U.S. Copyright Law
  • ​STS 4040: Due Process Clinic

B. Digital Production

  • ​INFO 2300: Intermediate Design and Programming for the Web
  • INFO 2310: Interactive Web Application Design and Development
  • INFO 3152: Introduction to Computer Game Design*
  • INFO 3300: Visual Data Analytics for the Web (previously Data-Driven Web Applications)
  • INFO 4320: Introduction to Rapid Prototyping and Physical Computing
  • CS 4620: Introduction to Computer Graphics
  • CS 4758: Autonomous Mobile Robots

C. Media, Art, Design

  • INFO 3450: Human-Computer Interaction Design
  • INFO 3660: History and Theory of Digital Art
  • INFO 4152: Advanced Topics in Computer Game Design*
  • INFO 4240: Designing Technology for Social Impact
  • INFO 4400: Qualitative User Research and Design Methods
  • INFO 4420: Human Computer Interaction Studio
  • ​INFO 4940: Special Topics in Information Science - Design Thinking, Media, and Community
  • INFO 4940: Special Topics in Information Science - Human Centered Design and Engaged Media
  • INFO 4940: Special Topics in Information Science - Producing Culture About, With, and Through Tech
  • ​INFO 4940: Special Topics in Information Science - Technology and Social Change Practicum
  • ART 3705: Digital Media: Art in the Age of Networks
  • ARTH 4151: Topics in Media Arts
  • COML 3115: Video and New Media: Art, Theory, Politics

​*IS majors must enroll in the INFO listing of INFO/CS 3152 and INFO/CS 4152. The CS listing of those courses will not count towards the IS major.