Examine how digital technologies are affecting the most pressing issues of our time. Gain an understanding of key theoretical, ethical and philosophical debates. Learn how to use ethnographic and visual methods to study online worlds and become skilled in digital analytics including analysing big data. Draw on a wide range of teaching methods with an emphasis upon hands-on experiential learning including VR technologies.
Access cutting-edge technology in our new Digital Fabrication and Immersive Media Labs, giving you the edge when applying for jobs in the cultural sector.
This programme trains our students to be employment-ready, resilient global citizens who are empowered to make a difference in society.
Core modules
Introduction to digital culture
This module examines the impact of digital culture and critically assesses technology’s role in society. It explores how cyberspace challenges traditional notions of identity, community, the body, politics, and personal relationships. It probes the major debates and theoretical frameworks of the analyses of digital society and identifies and analyses key epistemological and ontological assumptions underlying social research.
Dissertation
The dissertation module provides the opportunity for students to undertake a supervised, self-directed, research project of around 15,000 words on an appropriate research question relating to digital culture and society. This will require identifying strengths and limitations of the methodological approach and consideration of ethical issues. It will utilize the IT, library, and other research and scholarly skills developed in the ‘Introduction to Digital Culture’, ’ Researching Social Life’ and ‘Brave New Worlds’ modules.
Researching social life
This module examines the role and value of social science in understanding the social world and social problems and prepares students for undertaking their dissertations. The emphasis is on empirical techniques of gathering and interpreting social data. Through case studies, the module examines the particular ethical challenges posed by researching digital life. It covers formulating research questions, philosophy and methodology, research design and sampling, data analysis, writing up, and using social media to disseminate research.
Elective modules
Brave new worlds
This module examines how to use ethnographic methods to make sense of the digital worlds which we now increasingly inhabit. You learn how to analyse and interpret human behaviour across a range of digital platforms including social media, online worlds, multiplayer games and virtual/augmented realities. We study how these technologies transform our relationships, identities, and conceptualisations of the world.
Digital nationalism and the politics of online identities
Why are exclusionary and aggressive forms of nationalism flourishing in the digital age? This module examines the role of the internet in the production and spread of new forms of digital nationalism. To do so, the module explores the significance of the internet domain name system, the biases of algorithms, and the affordances of social media, among other key themes. To address these themes, the module looks at real-world cases of digital nationalism from around the world.
Social media theory and practice
This module examines key concepts and theories relating to online communities and social networking. The module will provide the academic and conceptual basis for the development of effective social media engagement strategies such as, social media user behaviour, online community and personalisation.
Digital culture and climate change
Social science approaches play a critical role in understanding how some of the most pressing issues of our time such as climate change are communicated and addressed. This module examines the role of digital media in communicating climate change and debates concerning impact and influence.
Digital analytics and marketing research
In this module you learn how to deploy and evaluate data analytics and develop expertise to be able to engage in effective market research. We will discuss the origins, current practice and future trends of and in Big Data and consider various metrics and how to analyse performance. You will be introduced to the ethics of analytics and web data together with the associated legislation and compliances alongside an overview of some relevant international perspectives.
Game studies
In this module you research and analyse game design theory concepts, investigating topics such as gamification, serious games, playbour, ludology, urban gaming, non-linear narrative, representation, realism and simulation, as well as critical research methods. The module culminates in an essay examining a particular game design concept and critiquing its use within a range of game texts.
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Brave New Worlds: Ethnography of/on Online and Digital Worlds (DCS702)
This module teaches students how to use ethnographic methods to make sense of the digital worlds, which we now increasingly inhabit. Students learn how to analyse and interpret human behaviour across a range of digital platforms including social media, online worlds, multiplayer games and virtual/augmented realities. Students study how these technologies transform our relationships, identities, and conceptualisations of the world. The module also examines the socio-cultural and ethical aspects of digital worlds.
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Digital Culture and Climate Change (DCS704)
Social science approaches play a critical role in understanding how some of the most pressing issues of our time such as climate change are communicated and addressed. This module examines the role of digital media in communicating climate change and debates concerning impact and influence.
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Digital Nationalism and the Politics of Online Identities (DCS705)
Why are exclusionary and aggressive forms of nationalism flourishing in the digital age? This module examines the role of the internet in the production and spread of new forms of digital nationalism. To do so, the module explores the significance of the internet domain name system, the biases of algorithms, and the affordances of social media, among other key themes. To address these themes, the module looks at real-world cases of digital nationalism from around the world.
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Game Studies (GDES702)
Students research and analyse game design theory concepts, investigating topics such as gamification, serious games, playbour, ludology, urban gaming, non-linear narrative, representation, realism and simulation, as well as critical research methods. The module culminates in an essay examining a particular game design concept and critiquing its use within a range of game texts.
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Digital Analytics and Marketing Research (MKT7003)
In this module you will learn how to deploy and evaluate data analytics and develop expertise to be able to engage in effective market research.
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Social Media Theory and Practice (MKT7004)
This module exposes students to key concepts and theories relating to online communities and social networking. The module will provide the academic and conceptual basis for the development of effective social media engagement strategies such as, social media user behaviour, online community and personalisation.