Digital Society MSc

Program Overview

The MSc in Digital Society program at the University of Glasgow examines the impact of digital technologies on various aspects of social life, including education, work, culture, and health. Students develop analytical skills and research abilities through core courses and optional courses in sociology, preparing them for careers in fields such as IT project management, public administration, and digital marketing. The program also offers a dual degree option with Radboud University in the Netherlands.

Program Outline

Outline:

Program Content:

The MSc in Digital Society program introduces students to the examination of how digital technologies permeate different aspects of social life while also investigating their interconnectedness with the self, social relations, education, work and labor, cultural and institutional transformations, commerce and finance, health, security, and the entirety of the social world. This program offers a set of core courses that consider the study of digital society in a comprehensive way, which includes theoretical understandings of digitalization, methodological training, and practical engagement with/investigation of socio-technical contexts. It enriches the students' analytical capacity and develops their abilities to design and conduct research on topics related to digitalization and to work with data collected and/or analyzed through digital tools. This program covers different substantive areas shaped by digital technologies, enabling a more in-depth focus on certain topics or social fields of interest (for example: digitalization in culture, education, organizational contexts, and interpersonal communication). It provides innovative and wide-ranging learning and teaching approaches from lectures and seminars to project work and field-based activities.

Program Structure:

The program structure involves taking three core courses and three optional courses. Students can opt to conduct empirical research in an area of interest through a dissertation or explore practical ways to understand and reflect on their engagement with digitalization through a practical project.

Core Courses:

• DIGITAL SOCIETY-THEORY AND SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES
• PRACTICING RESEARCH AND WORKING WITH DATA IN THE DIGITAL AGE
• DIGITAL SOCIETIES - THE LIVING LAB

Optional Courses:

Students can develop their critical thinking and analytical abilities by choosing optional courses within the Sociology Subject Area. Depending on their interests, they have the option to pursue courses on race or class inequality, disability, gender relations, to name a few. Combining in-depth knowledge on these sociological issues with the knowledge about processes of digitalization and digital social research tools will allow for the development of well-informed research and socially aware practice in digital times. Students must take at least two courses from this list. One additional course may be chosen from other subjects within the School of Social & Political Sciences.

Optional Courses List:

• A PUBLIC SOCIAL SCIENCE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE.
• CLASS AND STRATIFICIATION
• GENDER RELATIONS (CONTEMPORARY CRITICAL APPROACHES)
• IMPROVING HEALTH AND SOCIETY: PROGRAMME DEVELOPMENT AND EVALUATION
• INTRODUCTION TO SOCIAL THEORY FOR RESEARCHERS

Teaching:

This program is taught by a team of specialists in sociology (The Sociology Subject Area) and draws on the expertise of interdisciplinary scholars in the field of digitalization (The Glasgow Social and Digital Change Group).

Careers:

On completion of this program, students gain a deep understanding of the ways in which technology is socially constructed as well as how it shapes the practices of social actors, power relations, and organizational structures. At the same time, students get a chance to work hands-on with novel technology in the Living Lab, both in the UOG's smart campus and in industry-based internships. This provides an excellent opportunity to immerse oneself in environments strongly shaped by digitalization and conduct research into socio-technical phenomena observed in these environments. After completing this program, students will be equipped to apply their learning to a wide range of opportunities within the labor market. The knowledge and skills acquired in this MSc program will position students favorably to inform policy debates and work in: • Non-technical project management in the IT sector or other industries • Public administration • Commerce and tourism • NGOs and community building • Digital marketing and advertising • Digital media offices

Other:

Additional Fees:

• Fee for re-assessment of a dissertation (PGT programme): £370
• Submission of thesis after deadline lapsed: £350
• Registration/exam only fee: £170

Dual Degree (Radboud - Glasgow) - AI and Digital Society:

The Dual Degree AI and Digital Society is an exciting partnership designed in collaboration with Radboud University, Netherlands. The 2-year program aims to provide students with a rigorous and comprehensive general overview of the topic in the first year and specialist training and dissertation writing in the second year. More information is available here: https://universityofmanitoba.ca/faculties/extended_education/digital_technologies/index.html.

Programme alteration or discontinuation:

The University of Glasgow endeavors to run all programs as advertised. In exceptional circumstances, however, the University may withdraw or alter a program.

Postgraduate Taught Masters programmes A-Z:

A complete list of postgraduate taught masters programs is available here (A-Z): https://www.findamasters.com/masters-degrees/uk/university-of-glasgow

Postgraduate student loan (Scotland and EU):

Eligible full-time and part-time students taking an eligible postgraduate course can apply for a tuition fee loan of up to £7,000 towards their course. Eligible full-time postgraduate students can apply for a living-cost loan of up to £4,500.

MSc UK Full-time fee: £10650 Part-time fee: £1184 per 20 credits International & EU Full-time fee: £24000