DGT HUM 124Critical History of Computing and the Internet
Digital Humanities · 4 units · Undergraduate upper division (100-199)
(Formerly numbered Social Science 103.) Exploration of the rich and complex histories of computing and the internet, recontextualizing dominant narratives within a global context and intersectional frameworks. Through study of early knowledge machines like the abacus and Jacquard looms and historical milestones such as World War II, the Cold War, and the rise of Silicon Valley, analysis of how these technologies were shaped by political, cultural, and social forces. By connecting historical developments to contemporary issues such as surveillance, social media, and artificial intelligence, students gain tools to challenge techno-utopian narratives and better understand the profound societal impact of digital technologies.
P/NP or letter grading.
When it runs
- Spring 2026
- Spring 2027
Scheduled, not typical — from UCLA’s Schedule of Classes, which publishes Fall 2025 through Spring 2027 and nothing before it.
Requisites
UCLA lists no requisites for this course.
Requires
Everything that has to come before this course, not just the courses named in the requisite above.
Nothing — this is an entry point.
Unlocks
What this course is a requisite for, and what those courses lead to in turn.
No course in the catalog lists this as a requisite.