Digital Appalachian Studies Certificate
Explore Appalachia's culture, history, and challenges — and pair them with the digital skills that travel into education, business, government, and nonprofit work.
Program Overview
The Digital Appalachian Studies Certificate at Shawnee State University is an interdisciplinary program that blends liberal arts traditions with modern digital tools and project-based learning. This 15-credit certificate offers students a comprehensive understanding of the Appalachian region—its rich cultural heritage, complex social dynamics, and present-day challenges—while equipping them with digital skills valued across education, business, government, and nonprofit sectors.
Built on faculty expertise from digital arts, social sciences, humanities, and business, this program is ideal for students who want to combine cultural insight with real-world digital fluency to serve and uplift Appalachian communities.
Career Outcomes
How to Apply
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Start your application
Free, takes about 15 minutes.
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Send transcripts
Have your high school guidance counselor send them to admissions@shawnee.edu
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File the FAFSA
School code 009942. Required for Free Tuition.
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Get your decision
Most decisions in under 7 days.
At A Glance
Digital Appalachian Studies Certificate
Degree
Certificate
Length
Typically completed alongside a bachelor's degree
Credits
15 credit hours
Why Study Digital Appalachian Studies Certificate at Shawnee University
Built across disciplines. Faculty in digital arts, social sciences, humanities, and business teach the courses — so you get more than one way to look at the region.
Service learning and projects. You'll work on community-based research and digital projects that connect coursework to real Appalachian communities.
Digital fluency that travels. You'll build practical skills with modern tools — photography, web design, publication design, media studies, or sound recording — depending on the courses you pick.
Cultural insight grounded in place. Coursework draws on Appalachian literature, geography, politics, sociology, and recreation and outdoor culture.
Fits with many majors. The certificate stacks with majors in digital arts, sociology, English, political science, business, and more.
The certificate is 15 credit hours: a 3-credit co-requisite, three Appalachian Core courses (9 credits) from a curated list, and one Digital Tools and Media course (3 credits).
- Co-requisite: APST 2100 (3 credit hours; pending approval per source)
- Appalachian Core (choose 3 for 9 credits): ENGL 3344 Literature of Appalachia; GEOG 2243 Geography of Appalachia; POLS 4130 Politics of Appalachia; ROCI 2480 (pending approval); SOCI 3340 Sociology of Appalachia; SOCI 3740 Sociological Analysis
- Digital Tools and Media (choose 1 for 3 credits): ARTS 1105 Digital Foundations; ARTS 2511 Photography 1; BUIS 1500 Foundations of Web Development; COMM 2250 Publication Editing and Design; ENGL 2207 Introduction to Culture and Media Studies; MUSI 3621 Recording Studio
You'll work on service-learning projects, community-based research, and hands-on training with modern digital tools — applying what you're learning in real Appalachian communities while you study.
- Analyze the history, culture, and socioeconomic dynamics of the Appalachian region.
- Use digital tools to document, interpret, and communicate regional issues.
- Take part in collaborative research and service projects relevant to Appalachian communities.
- Apply interdisciplinary knowledge to practical work in cultural, educational, or nonprofit settings.
On the Shawnee State University campus in Portsmouth, Ohio. Some courses are distance-learning approved and may be taken online through Blackboard; talk with your advisor about scheduling.
Graduates use the certificate to strengthen careers and applications across many fields.
- K–12 or higher-ed teaching roles where regional studies and digital media intersect
- Community development and nonprofit work in Appalachia
- Local-government and public-history positions
- Communications, marketing, and content roles for regional employers
- Cultural preservation and museum education
Graduates work in education, media, nonprofit organizations, government, and business — particularly with organizations connected to Appalachia.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Shawnee State’s tuition is among the lowest in Ohio, and the Shawnee Advantage Tuition Guarantee keeps your rate flat for four years. Scholarships including Choose Ohio First and the Pell-Eligible Free Tuition Program may also apply.
Digital Appalachian Studies Certificate Frequently Asked Questions
Students and working professionals who want to pair cultural studies of Appalachia with digital skills — preparing for work in education, business, government, or nonprofits.
Yes. It complements majors in digital arts, sociology, English, political science, business, and more.
It depends on the course you pick. Options include photography, web design, publication editing and design, media studies, and recording studio work.
Yes. The certificate is built around service-learning and collaborative digital projects with real Appalachian communities.
Program handbook
Program details are in the Academic Catalog. For specific certificate requirements, contact Dr. Andrew Feight (afeight@shawnee.edu, (740) 351-3143). An additional contact is Dr. Clifford Poirot, Professor and Chairperson of Economics (MAS 227, (740) 351-3396, cpoirot@shawnee.edu).
Accreditation
Shawnee State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. For more, see shawnee.edu/about-us/accreditation.
