The UMass Amherst PIT Certificate is available to all undergraduate students in every major across the campus, regardless of their primary field of study. The goal of this certificate is to give students a background in PIT through: (1) social literacy, (2) technological literacy, and (3) pragmatic strategies to promote the public interest. Students with this background, no matter what their major, will be able to address problems in a more socially responsible way that both empowers them and promotes the well-being of the communities in which they live. Become a part of the new generations of “Public Interest Technologists” – people who think carefully about advances in technology with the public interest and public good in mind.
In this course, we describe the socio-technical world and pragmatic strategies for promoting personal and social responsibility. We explore the questions: What is the public interest in a socio-technical world? What strategies can we use to promote social responsibility in the public sector, private sector and general public? What can each of us do to make the world a better place? This course is for everyone at all levels and with all interests. No programming or prerequisites are required. We focus on building skills to think analytically, broadly and strategically, as well as to communicate effectively about complex problems with societal impact.
The Public Interest Technology (PIT) Club’s mission is to bridge the gap between technology, policy, and the public good. Whether you're studying science, design, law, or anything else, technology impacts us all. We empower students from all majors to shape technology ethically through education, discussions, interactive workshops, and hands-on projects. We collaborate on all aspects of design from inclusivity to advocating for privacy rights and digital inclusion, and strive to make an impact to make the tech work for social good.
The Responsible Technology Coalition (RTC) is an interdisciplinary organization of students dedicated to the advancement of dialogue, policy, and practice around responsible technology. Collaborating with people from diverse industries and backgrounds, we come together to emphasize the impact that technology has on society. We host monthly events including graduate student researchers and guest speakers, book clubs, and open forums to develop and foster a network within UMass that cares deeply about responsible applications of technology.
Join the Center for Data Science's Data Science for the Common Good (DS4CG) program to gain valuable experience working with nonprofit partners on impactful projects. This 12-week paid summer internship program brings together talented students, professional data scientists, and leading researchers to tackle challenging data science problems and deliver innovative data solutions in support of the common good. Undergraduate, Master’s, and PhD students involved in DS4CG have the opportunity to work on projects with the center’s full-time data scientists and affiliated faculty to deliver innovative data solutions that help make the world a better place.
