Social Data Science BSc

Program Overview

The BSc Social Data Science program at the University of Exeter equips students with technical skills in statistical methods and programming languages, while exploring the practical application of social data science to contemporary social issues. Through a combination of compulsory and optional modules, students can customize their degree to align with their interests and career aspirations in fields such as business analytics, market research, and social research. The program is ranked 9th in the Guardian University Guide 2024 for Sociology and Social Policy and benefits from the expertise of the Centre for Computational Social Science (C2S2).

Program Outline

BSc Social Data Science - University of Exeter

Degree Overview:

This program provides technical training in statistical methods, Python and R, and explores the application of social data science to analyze contemporary social issues. It is designed for students without an advanced mathematical background who wish to study data types and manipulation, web scraping, algorithms, sequences and iteration, and data visualization.

Key Features:

• Run by the prestigious Centre for Computational Social Science (C2S2).
• Offers flexibility to tailor the degree to individual interests through a broad range of optional modules in the second and third years.
• Develops a full range of social and data science skills suitable for careers in business intelligence and business analytics, data journalism, market research, and social research.

Outline:

Year 1:

• Compulsory Modules:
• Introduction to Social Data (15 credits)
• Data Analysis in Social Science 1 (15 credits)
• Programming for the Social Sciences (30 credits)
• Social Analysis (30 credits)
• Optional Modules (Select 30 credits):
• Imagining Social Worlds (30 credits)
• Power and Democracy (15 credits)
• Introduction to Comparative Politics (15 credits)
• Social Issues: Part I - Introducing Crime and Deviance (15 credits)
• Social Analysis II (15 credits)

Year 2:

• Compulsory Modules:
• Research Design in the Social Sciences (15 credits)
• Data Analysis in Social Science 2 (15 credits)
• Data Analysis in Social Science 3 (15 credits)
• Optional Modules (Select 75 credits):
• Mapping the Social World: Introduction to Spatial Analysis in the Social Sciences (15 credits)
• Introduction to Open-source Intelligence (OSINT) (15 credits)
• Sociology of Family and Gender (15 credits)
• Sociology and Demography of Religion (15 credits)
• Cybercrime (15 credits)
• Learning from Work Experience in Social Sciences (15 credits)
• Immigration in Western Societies (15 credits)
• The Economics of Politics (15 credits)
• Issues in Modern British Politics (15 credits)
• Electoral Politics (15 credits)
• Transformations of Social and Political Realities through Smartphones (15 credits)
• Digital Society (15 credits)

Year Abroad:

• Compulsory Modules:
• Year Abroad (120 credits)

Industrial Experience:

• Compulsory Modules:
• Employment Experience (UK and Abroad) (120 credits)

Final Year:

• Compulsory Modules:
• Quantitative Dissertation (30 credits)
• Optional Modules (Select 90 credits):
• Mapping the Social World: Introduction to Spatial Analysis in the Social Sciences (15 credits)
• Introduction to Open-source Intelligence (OSINT) (15 credits)
• Introduction to Social Network Analysis (15 credits)
• Sociology and Demography of Religion (15 credits)
• Immigration in Western Societies (15 credits)
• Political Psychology (30 credits)
• Developments in British Politics: Institutions and Behaviour (15 credits)
• Sociology of Family and Gender (15 credits)
• Cybercrime (15 credits)
• Digital Society (15 credits)
• Learning from Work Experience in the Social Sciences (15 credits)

Course Variants:

• With Industrial Placement (UCAS code: L307): Offers a year of graduate-level work placement within the UK during the third year.
• With Study Abroad (UCAS code: L306): Offers a year of study abroad at one of the University of Exeter's partner universities during the third year.
• With Employment Experience Abroad (UCAS code: L311): Offers a year of graduate-level work placement abroad during the third year.

Assessment:

Modules are assessed through a combination of continuous assessment and exams. Continuous assessment methods include:

• Small practical exercises
• Project work
• Essay writing
• Presentations

Teaching:

• Teaching Methods: Lectures, seminars, workshops, and tutorials.
• Faculty: Experts active in research and practice.
• Unique Approaches:
• Active engagement in introducing new methods of learning and teaching, including interactive computer-based approaches through the virtual learning environment.
• Research and practice-led culture, where students discuss the latest ideas, research discoveries, and new technologies in seminars and in the field.
• Involvement in research projects.

Careers:

• Potential Career Paths:
• Business intelligence and business analytics
• Data journalism
• Market research
• Social research
• Opportunities:
• The Exeter Award and The Exeter Leaders Award encourage participation in employability-related workshops, skills events, volunteering, and employment.
• The Career Zone organizes careers fairs, skills workshops, and training events.
• Outcomes:
• Graduates combine technical skills (programming in Python and R, knowledge of statistical methods) with substantive knowledge of the areas where these skills can be applied.

Other:

• The program is ranked 9th in the Guardian University Guide 2024 for Sociology and Social Policy.
• The University of Exeter is a partner to the Alan Turing Institute.
• The program is home to Exeter's Institute for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence.
• Students can take up to 30 credits in a subject outside of their course each year.
• Students can achieve proficiency in a second subject, such as a foreign language, data science, entrepreneurship, innovation, law, leadership, or social data science, by completing 60 credits of modules in that subject.

UK students: £9,250 per year International students: £23,700 per year