Pathways: Data Science for Artistic and Cultural Analysis
The pathway structure and classes listed on this page are approved for students who declared between September 1, 2026 and August 31, 2027. Looking for a different requirement year?
Upon declaring the major, students will select one of the following four pathways as their primary concentration.
Each pathway has a set of associated foundation classes which will train students in the methodologies of the arts and humanities, as well as a set of advanced classes that will teach students how to apply the data science core methodologies to the study, critique, or creation of cultural artifacts.
As part of the pathway requirements, students complete eight total courses – four in Pathway Foundations, and four in Advanced Pathway Coursework. Two of their foundations classes will explore pathways other than their own.
Photo by LiPo Ching/Stanford University
Analysis
Applying methods of data science to the study of cultural or artistic objects.
Archive
Understanding new data driven methods for storing and accessing the cultural record.
Creation
Making and designing artistic objects or visualizations using data.
Critique
Applying humanistic methods to critique computational or quantitative objects or processes.
Ready to start taking pathway classes, but not sure yet which pathway you'll choose?
We recommend taking DATSCI 156 to start familiarizing yourself with the various lenses through which you can study the intersection of data science and the arts & humanities.
Since you need to take at least one foundations class in three of the four pathways, use those Pathway Foundations classes to explore which pathway aligns best with your interests.
Pathway Guidelines
Students must take:
At least 4 courses in Pathway Foundations (for a total of 15-20 units):
- 2 courses in their chosen pathway
- 1 course each in two of the remaining three pathways
A total of 4 courses in Advanced Pathway Coursework (for a total of 12-16 units):
- Students will work with their advisor and the program administration to select 12-16 units within their chosen pathway. Given the interdisciplinary nature of the program, students may petition to include additional courses not in the lists below towards their advanced class requirements.
The pathway is an integral part of the Data Science for Artistic and Cultural Analysis B.A., and will significantly shape a students' course selection and developed expertise. By the time students are ready to declare the major, they should already have an idea about which of the pathways they intend to pursue.
Pathway Foundation Courses
Students must complete a total of at least 4 foundation classes for a total of 15-20 units. This must include 2 classes from their chosen pathway and 2 classes that cover 2 of the remaining 3 pathways.
Analysis
- ANTHRO 91 - Method and Evidence in Anthropology
- COMM 106 - Communication Research Methods
- COMPLIT 101 - What Is Comparative Literature?
- ENGLISH 160 - Poetry and Poetics
- ENGLISH 161 - Narrative and Narrative Theory
- ILAC 130 - Introduction to Iberia: Cultural Perspectives
- ILAC 131 - Introduction to Latin America: Cultural Perspectives
- JAPAN 123 - Critical Translation Studies
- PHIL 49 - Survey of Formal Methods
- RELIGST 1 - Religion Around the Globe
Archive
- AFRICAAM 139 - Black Geographies
- ANTHRO 134D - Introduction to Museum Practice
- CHILATST 130 - Latinx Geographies
- CLASSICS 30 - Greek Archaeology: The Worlds the Greeks Made
- CLASSICS 59 - The Archaeological Imagination
- HISTORY 95N - Maps in the Modern World
- HISTORY 99S - Nine Chinese Things: Global Technological Encounters in the Modern Age
- HISTORY 200A - Doing Legal History
- HISTORY 200B - Doing Environmental History: Water Justice
- HISTORY 200BG - Doing History: Biography as History
- HISTORY 200D - Doing the History of Science and Technology
- HISTORY 200DE - Doing the History of Death and Disease
- HISTORY 200F - Doing Microhistory
- HISTORY 200GH - Doing Gender History
- HISTORY 200MM - Doing Historical Memory
- HISTORY 200Y - Doing Colonial History
- PHIL 60 - Introduction to Philosophy of Science
Note that any of the Doing History (HISTORY 200) seminars count towards this requirement.
Creation
- ARTSTUDI 101 - Art Practice Foundation 2D
- ARTSTUDI 102 - Art Practice Foundation 3D/4D
- DESIGN 1 - Introduction to Design
- ENGLISH 90 - Fiction Writing
- ENGLISH 91 - Creative Nonfiction
- MUSIC 21 - Introduction to Tonal Theory
- MUSIC 113 - Introduction to Instrumental Composition
- TAPS 34 - Stage Management Techniques
- TAPS 120A - Acting I: Fundamentals of Acting
Critique
- AFRICAAM 176 - Introduction to Themes in Black Studies I
- ANTHRO 90B - Theory of Cultural and Social Anthropology
- ARTHIST 5 - Art and Power
- CLASSICS 83 - The Greeks
- COMM 108 - Media Processes and Effects
- CSRE 100 - Introduction to Comparative Studies in Race and Ethnicity
- FEMGEN 103 - Feminist and Sexuality Studies Theories Across the Disciplines
- FILMEDIA 6 - Media and Mediums
- KOREA 151 - The Nature of Knowledge: Science and Literature in East Asia
- RELIGST 19Q - Does Religion Divide Us? Legal, Political, and Cultural Perspectives from Across the World
Advanced Pathway Coursework
Students will work with their advisor and the program administration to select 12-16 units of advanced coursework within their chosen pathway.
Analysis
- ANTHRO 98C - Digital Methods in Anthropology
- DLCL 122Q - Technologies of Handwriting: History, Theory, Practice
- DLCL 153 - Digitally Disadvantaged Languages Workshop
- DLCL 201 - Digital Humanities Practicum
- ENGLISH 184E - Literary Text Mining
- ENGLISH 184F - Literary Text Mining 2: Studies in Cultural Analytics
- LINGUIST 180 - From Languages to Information
- PHIL 20N - Philosophy of Artificial Intelligence
- SLAVIC 70N - Socialism vs. Capitalism: Russian and American Writers' Responses
Archive
- ANTHRO 198B - Digital Traces
- ARCHLGY 117 - Virtual Italy
- CLASSICS 21N - Did Women Travel? A Digital History
- HISTORY 201B - Spatial History: Concepts, Methods, Problems
- HISTORY 207F - Capstone: Crafting Digital Stories
Creation
- ARTHIST 206B - Audiovision in the Medieval Cult of Saints
- ARTSTUDI 209 - Moving Image II
- ARTSTUDI 261 - Individual Work: Emerging Practices in Design & Technology
- ARTSTUDI 163 - Drawing with Code
- COMM 153D - Ensemble Sonification of Temporal Data
- ENGLISH 9CFS - Fire Stories: Narrative in the Digital Age
- MUSIC 101 - Introduction to Creating Electronic Sounds
- MUSIC 220D - Research in Computer-Generated Music
Critique
- AFRICAAM 80Q - Race and Gender in Silicon Valley
- AMSTUD 120 - The Rise of Digital Culture
- ARTSTUDI 192 - AI Art & Aesthetics
- CSRE 154T - The Politics of Algorithms
- ENGLISH 106A - What's Critical to Know about AI
- ENGLISH 182 - Critical Game Studies: What Video Games Tell Us About Us