Written by Bradley Bommarito
Immediately following fall break, RC will be launching the initial course in its inaugural Digital Literacy and Applications Credential program. The new credential is being rolled out this academic year and is designed to complement students’ existing degree programs.
“At Roanoke, we want students to explore their true passions by selecting majors that truly interest them, and this credential was created to help students boost their resume, increasing their ability to get a job upon graduation by having an edge over other applicants,” said Dr. David Taylor, associate professor of the math, computer science, and physics department and one of the program coordinators. “While taking the courses themselves accomplishes this, completing the credential adds a notation to the student’s transcript and, more importantly, connects students’ newly-developed skills to their major and to the liberal arts core at Roanoke.”
Each course in the curriculum is a half-unit course. Most of the classes meet for three hours per week but for only half of a regular semester, starting and finishing entirely before or after a break. Some courses will meet for only half the number of hours per week, but for the full semester. Summer courses have their own schedule that equates to a total time commitment of roughly 20 hours.
This fall, students can take DGTL-131, “Using Statistical Software: SPSS” with Dr. Lindsey Osterman in the half-term that starts right after fall break (which meets on Mondays from 5:45 PM to 8:45 PM). DGTL-111, “Introduction to Coding,” will most likely be offered immediately following spring break.Other courses range from advanced spreadsheet and database usage (DGTL-121, Spreadsheets and DGTL-122, Databases) to video production (DGTL-142).
“We would hope that students will put the credential on their LinkedIn page so that connections and employers can link back to information about our program and what that student has been through; one advantage of earning the certification is that students are required to connect the newly-acquired skills back to a project or internship in their field! Talking about this and highlighting this as part of a portfolio, on a resume or more, should help get students more than a foot in the door,” said Taylor.
Note that registering for any DGTL course requires sophomore standing or higher. To earn the credential and have its completion noted on a transcript, students take four of these half-unit courses and then use the skills acquired in those courses during an applied project, research course, or internship, usually as part of the student’s existing major, minor, or concentration. Up to two of the half-unit courses may be substituted by other courses with digital literacy as a focus.
For more information, please feel free to contact any of the program coordinators: Dr. Jennifer Berenson (Religion and Philosophy), Dr. Pamela Schlosser (Business and Economics), and Dr. David Taylor (Mathematics, Computer Science, and Physics). Students interested in taking the DGTL-131 course should apply as soon as possible.
