The Georgetown Summer Institute in Tech & Society is a 10-week, 12-credit, in-person undergraduate program. The Institute will take place from Monday, June 3 to Friday, August 9, 2024.
Across back-to-back sessions, students will take an introductory computer science course and a technology-themed philosophy course, concurrently enrolling in a 10-week Problem Solving Studio. The Problem Solving Studio will frame the hands-on skills training available through Lauinger Library’s data management and visualization resources within an experiential context: problem-solving internships and client-based work, along with contact with alums in related fields.
Course Schedule
Coding Basics
COSC 1010: Introduction to Computer Science (3 credits)
Prof. Mahe Vellauthapillai
This introductory course is intended for non-majors and covers the basics of coding and data types in Python, variables and constants, input and output, elementary data processing and visualization, and elementary software engineering principles. This course satisfies CAS math/cosc core.
Course meets June 3 – July 5, Mon. – Thu., 5:50 – 7:55 p.m.
Tech in Context
PHIL 2100: Intro to Tech and Society (3 credits)
Prof. Shannon Brick
Technology from AI to Big Data is transforming the way we live, communicate, work, and relate. This course will explore the social implications and ethical responsibilities of digital/data tech.
Course meets July 8 – Aug 9, Mon. – Thu., 1:10 – 3:05 p.m.
Experiential Skill-Building and Problem-Solving
IDST 2220: Powerful Problem-Solving (3 credits)
Profs. Megan Martinsen & Abby Scheetz
Digital scholarship librarians Megan Martinsen and Abby Scheetz will lead intensive and hands-on modules in Data Analysis, Data Management, and Data Visualization, developing students’ proficiency in a variety of applications (Excel, Python, R, Tableau, and others). These are configured progressively, building toward a robust, professional skill set, and running parallel to the Tech & Society Studio.
Course meets June 3 – August 8, Mon. & Wed., 10:00 – 11:50 a.m.
IDST 3220: Tech & Society Studio (3 credits)
Dean Stephon Hamell
The Tech & Society Studio consists of an array of DC excursions, tech industry meetings, and career and professional reflection sessions. Internships with campus or DC organizations (scaffolded around a specific problem, research question, or data-related ‘quest’) will provide students, in groups, with projects to complete by the culmination of the Institute. The culminating seminar will organize the full institute’s learning objectives, representing the evolution of students’ group projects, from inception, through skill-building, to execution.
Course meets June 3 – August 8, Tue. & Fri., 10:00 – 11:45 a.m.
Program Participation
You must participate in all scheduled Institute programming. You may not partially participate in the Institute. Any outside commitments you may have—including but not limited to summer internships—cannot conflict with either class meetings or experiential components. Students who wish to take one of the courses à la carte may do so through the Georgetown School of Continuing Studies, space permitting.
If you’ve already taken one of the courses for this Institute, please reach out to Summer Institute in Tech & Society Associate Director, Dean Tad Howard at hrh@georgetown.edu with your specific questions regarding courses and participation.