Theory into Practice: A Case Study of the Humanities Computing Master of Arts Programme at the University of Alberta

This article outlines the pedogogical imperatives and practical necessities that shaped the establishment of the new Master of Arts degree in Humanities Computing at the University of Alberta (Canada). Established as a graduate programme open to students across the Faculty of Arts, the programme provides a unique opportunity for interdisciplinary studies that combine the rigours of a traditional Liberal Arts education with hands-on experience in emerging technologies. Although research in Humanities Computing is not necessarily a broadly interdisciplinary proposition, the establishment of a Humanities Computing curriculum is. Teaching in Humanities Computing must incorporate the work of many different disciplines (either separately or in concert). It can serve as a powerful vehicle for promoting the type of collaboration between departments and faculties that many colleagues and administrators seek.