What do virtual historical sites, AI-powered poetry analysis, and digital art galleries have in common? They’re all part of the growing world of digital humanities, where technology meets the study of human culture.
From history and literature to art and beyond, digital tools are reshaping how we explore and connect with the past. Curious about how digital humanities can make an impact in your education, or even your future career?
In this article, we explore how digital humanities is transforming the way we study and apply history, art, and culture. We’ll also highlight real-world careers that blend creative thinking with cutting-edge technology.
Digital humanities is an interdisciplinary field that combines the humanities with the ever-evolving digital tools that shape our world.
On one hand, you have the humanities, which are the classical studies of human culture and expression through lenses like:
On the other hand, you have technological advancements, such as:
Used together in an academic context, these tools can enhance how we study, teach, and share human culture across the globe.
Simply put, digital humanities uses technology to explore and understand the humanities in new, immersive, collaborative ways.
To put it into context, we’ve compiled a few unique ways digital humanities is changing the way students and professionals study the classics.
Whether you’re a history student, public historian, or educator, your imagination can only take you so far when reading about events that happened centuries—or even millennia—ago. But with digital tools like online archives and virtual reality, distant stories and civilizations can come to life in vivid, immersive ways.
Imagine you’re a history professor diving into a unit on daily life in Pompeii. What could help your students visualize ancient Roman life better than a virtual reality (VR) experience?
With just a smartphone, an app, and a five-dollar cardboard viewer, you could take your class on a virtual field trip back in time. Students can walk through reconstructed city streets, view Roman homes and marketplaces in 360 degrees, and witness Pompeii as it was, far beyond what textbook images alone can offer.
Projects like Rome Reborn: Pompeii or A Day in Pompeii provide these kinds of experiences, using archaeological data and VR technology to reconstruct the ancient world.
Digital archives offer instant access to millions of historical documents and artifacts. The best part? No travel required.
From Civil War photographs to handwritten letters from soldiers and abolitionists, platforms like the Smithsonian’s Digital Collection and the Library of Congress make it easy to explore primary sources with just a few clicks.
These tools help students go beyond surface-level learning, offering a deeper and more personal connection to history. Whether you’re researching the Reconstruction Era or building a timeline of world events, digital archives help you expand your knowledge of history through efficient, searchable records.
If you love art, it’s one thing to scroll past a famous painting on your phone. But to see it up close, no matter where you are? That is an experience worth taking advantage of.
Thanks to augmented reality (AR) tools like Google Arts & Culture and interactive museum exhibits, you can explore masterpieces from around the world without ever leaving your couch. Want to gain a deeper understanding of an artist’s technique? Simply zoom in to see the tiniest of details, like an artist’s brushstrokes or the texture of the canvas.
But digital tools aren’t just helping us view art. They’re helping us preserve it. Platforms like CyArk are using LiDAR and photogrammetry to capture entire structures in incredible detail.
One of CyArk’s recent projects took place in Mumbai, India, where archivists digitally documented the 1,500-year-old Elephanta Caves: a UNESCO World Heritage Site filled with carved elephant deities and intricate stone sculptures. The site faces threats from erosion and urbanization, but advanced scanning technology has helped create a detailed 3D model of the caves.
You can now explore the cave system and its ancient carvings from a phone or computer. In a world where cultural heritage can be lost to time, climate, or modernization, these digital tools give us a useful way to protect and share art.
Digital humanities isn’t just helping students learn more. It’s also creating new and unexpected career pathways. With more digital tools in education, research, and public programs, graduates with a bachelor’s degree in humanities now have more opportunities than ever to work where technology and culture meet.
Here are a few humanities-related roles where digital skills make a real difference:
At UT Permian Basin, we believe education should be flexible and forward-thinking. That’s why our fully online BA in humanities meets you where you are, offering convenient remote learning without sacrificing quality or depth.
With a variety of electives (including topics like Virtual Reality) and core courses that span literature, art, history, and philosophy, you’ll have the freedom to tailor your studies to your interests and career goals. Plus, with competitive tuition and year-round start dates, you can start building your future on your schedule.
Ready to turn your passion for human culture into a career that evolves with the digital age?
Learn more about our BA in humanities program today.
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