Humanities and Technology Ph.D.

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Explore the Complex Relationship Between Humans and Technology

Salve Regina University’s Ph.D. program in humanities and technology examines the question, "What does it mean to be human in an age of advanced technology?"

Inaugurated in 1989, the program offers rigorous training in the core humanities and opportunities to conduct research that transcends traditional academic disciplinary boundaries.

The doctoral program’s unique focus, combined with the diverse composition of its student population and flexible hybrid format, make it an exceptional laboratory for philosophical innovation. 

Program Features

48 credits

16 courses with an average time to complete of 4 years

Salve Campus Aerial

Our low-residency format honors the demands on your time. Our innovative hybrid model combines online, asynchronous coursework with weeklong campus residencies.

Low-Residency Program Format

Scholars from a variety of humanities- and science-based fields will guide you on an interdisciplinary journey that nurtures inquiry into the relationship between the humanities and technology.

Foundational coursework is completed online and during four, week-long residencies on our oceanside campus in Newport, Rhode Island. Then, they prepare for their comprehensive exams and begin the dissertation process.

The doctoral degree in humanities and technology is formed around our Independent Research Fellows Cohort, where students form a pod that takes courses together throughout their Ph.D. studies. This cohort-based program connects doctoral students with their peers and launches problem-solving interdisciplinary research.

Dr. Troy Catterson: Program Director

"Voltaire once said, ‘If God has created us in his image, then we have returned him the favor.’ We humans are now on the cusp of creating machines in our image. The only question that remains is whether they will return us the same favor.”

Troy Catterson Headshot

Humanities and Technology Careers 

Our doctoral degree program in humanities and technology expands your abilities to think critically, pursue research outside of academic disciplines and elevate your writing skills. In addition, a low-residency Ph.D. facilitates your ability to continue your career concurrently alongside the doctoral program.

Depending on your background before the program, you can leverage your Ph.D. in a variety of career paths, including: 

  • Writer
  • Academic lecturer or professor
  • Researcher
  • Policy analyst
  • Nonprofit communications director
  • Technology roles focused on ethics

Alumni Making Waves

Nicholas Molinari headshot

Nicholas Molinari ’20 (Ph.D.)

Academic librarian and author

"Even though I’m 80 miles from Newport, the hybrid format of Salve’s low-residency program allowed me to contribute to the discussions of the various readings and hear the insights from my peers about these readings, better than any other learning format I've participated in - from traditional to fully online, seminar to lecture to lab. It’s been extremely rewarding.” 

Headshot of alum Taten Shirley in front of a bookshelf

Taten Shirley ’22 (Ph.D.)

Associate professor, Faulkner University

"Salve’s integration of research with more comprehensive human condition disciplines helped prepare me for my job. A lot of the skills I developed were around the ability to advocate for humanities as a discipline. I enjoyed readings that were focused on why the sciences need humanities, as well as why we need to look at the philosophical and humanities lenses when considering technology.” Read more about Taten's Salve experience.

Degree Options

Ph.D. in humanities and technology

Broadly conceived, the human-technology relationship remains at the heart of our interdisciplinary Ph.D. curriculum. You will be empowered by the academic freedom to draw insights and integrate knowledge from a variety of fields, including religion, philosophy, ethics, art, literature, media, history, politics and cultural theory. We challenge you to develop a specific research direction that engages the humanities and technology. 

See course requirements and degree plan.

Meet Our Experts

Representing nearly every liberal arts discipline, our faculty transcend traditional academic boundaries to embrace the program’s focal question: “What does it mean to be human in an age of technology?”

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