MSc Digital Culture and Society

• Year 1

• 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

  • Dissertation (DCS700)

    In this module students will be expected to operationalise an appropriate research question relating to digital culture and society, identifying strengths and limitations of the methodological approach. This will require attention is given to the selection and use of appropriate research methods, and relevant ethical issues. Students will demonstrate an ability to design and conduct an independent research project; analyse, evaluate and report findings effectively, and identify potential application in policy or practice settings. There will be a requirement for critical reflection on strengths and weaknesses of the research.

  • Introduction to Digital Culture (DCS701)

    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.

  • Researching Social Life (DCS703)

    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. It develops students’ knowledge of methods and strategies employed by social science researchers. 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.

  Optional modules

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Game Studies (MAGD7201)

    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.

  • Immersive Media and XR (ADA7102E)

    This module will provide students with the creative and technical skills to develop their projects based on experimentation with immersive media and extended reality (XR) technologies. Through a combination of technical inductions, workshops, lectures, and self-directed work in our Immersive Media Lab, students will be able to experiment with 360 Video, sonic environments, AR/VR, sensors, and game engines.

  • Spatial Storytelling (ADA7103E)

    Students will explore using narrative space to create emotionally engaging audience experiences by experimenting with a range of spatial storytelling methods and technologies. The development of skills as narrative architects and storytellers in immersive, interactive, locative, game, sound, art, film and/or performance-based experiences and installations will result in the creation of a spatial storytelling project.

  • Interaction Design (ADA7106E)

    This module will provide students with the creative and technical skills to apply interaction design strategies to develop and support their practice across a range of disciplines. Drawing from the technologies, techniques and tools typical of the Smart City, ubiquitous, mobile and wearable computing and Internet of Things (IoT), students will design and develop prototype systems that allow them to explore key issues relating to our lived environment.

Every postgraduate taught course has a detailed programme specification document describing the programme aims, the programme structure, the teaching and learning methods, the learning outcomes and the rules of assessment.

The following programme specification represents the latest programme structure and may be subject to change:

MSc Digital Culture and Society programme specification_7550