This is an archived handbook for a previous year. The current undergraduate and postgraduate handbooks can be viewed using the links above.

Undergraduate Handbook 2025-2026 (archived)

Module COMP3517: Computational Modelling in the Humanities and Social Sciences

Department: Computer Science

COMP3517: Computational Modelling in the Humanities and Social Sciences

Type	Level	Credits	Availability	Module Cap	Location
Open	3	10	Available in 2025/2026	None.	Durham

Pre-requisites

COMP2271 Data Science AND COMP2261 Artificial Intelligence

Corequisites

None

Excluded Combinations

None

Aims

To enable students to understand and critically evaluate the application of computational modelling to problems in the humanities and social sciences.
To introduce students to algorithms and approaches relevant to the modelling of humanities and social science data.

Content

Computational models of text and language
Text and data mining
Critical evaluation of computational models

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge

On completion of the module, students will be able to demonstrate:
an understanding of how computational modelling can be applied to humanities and social science research
an understanding of computational approaches to modelling text
an understanding of data mining techniques.

Subject-specific Skills

On completion of the module, students will be able to demonstrate:
an ability to apply computational modelling to humanities and social science data
an ability to critically evaluate computational modelling approaches.

Key Skills

On completion of the module, students will be able to demonstrate:
an ability to think critically
an ability to undertake general problem solving.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

Lectures introduce the principles and techniques covered in the module, and examples of their application to practical cases
Formative and summative assessments assess the understanding of core concepts and the application of methods and techniques.
The assignment element of the coursework component consists of a coding exercise with accompanying report.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Activity	Number	Frequency	Duration	Total Hours
Lectures	20	2 per week	1 hour	20
Preparation and Reading				80
Total				100

Summative Assessment

Component	Component Weighting	Element	Length/Duration	Element Weighting	Resit Opportunity
Coursework	100%	Assignment		100%

Formative Assessment

Example formative exercises are given during the course.

Students who do not attend monitored activities shown under Teaching Methods and Learning Hours, or who fail to complete the summative or formative assessment(s) specified above, may be subject to the Academic Progress procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University.