Ph.D. in Computational Cultural Studies

The first doctoral program of its kind, Carnegie Mellon’s Ph.D. in Computational Cultural Studies (CCS) trains students to combine historical, theoretical, and cultural scholarship with computational methodologies.

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Students develop methodological pluralism and ethical awareness, exploring how computation transforms both cultural materials and the tools we use to study them. At the same time, they engage with literary traditions, critical theory, and historical inquiry.

Graduates of the program will be prepared for careers across academic, cultural, and technological institutions. They will emerge as innovative scholars capable of shaping debates about culture, technology, and data, and as collaborative researchers whose expertise translates across disciplinary and professional boundaries.

The program welcomes applicants from a range of disciplines, including humanities graduates drawn to computational approaches and STEM, arts, or social science majors with a strong foundation in humanities research.

Competitive candidates will demonstrate sustained engagement with cultural studies and will either possess—or be ready to develop—the technical skills needed to integrate cultural theory, literary analysis, and humanistic inquiry with cutting-edge computational methods.

Program Highlights

• Interdisciplinary Training

Students engage deeply with both cultural theory and computational methods. Required coursework includes training in literary and cultural analysis, as well as at least two computation-focused courses—one from within English and one from another department.

• Computational Humanities Practicum

During the summer after their first year, students complete a hands-on research practicum that applies computational methods to cultural questions. Projects may involve text mining, mapping, network analysis, digital curation, or VR-based interpretation.

• Collaborative Research Culture

• Flexible and Rigorous Curriculum

The program includes coursework in literary history and theory, computational methods, and professional development. Students also have access to electives across the university, including offerings in language technologies, Human-Computer Interaction, and ethics in AI.

• Career Versatility and Support

From teaching and scholarly publishing to public humanities and digital design, students graduate prepared for a variety of career paths. The program emphasizes transferable skills in data analysis, visualization, and digital storytelling, alongside strong support for academic placement.