Digital Sociology MA/MSc

Graduates will have the unique capability to integrate social methods and social theory with creative computing techniques and approaches. Whether planning to pursue an academic career or to work in public, private and third-sector organisations, the programme teaches students to design social research projects, work with and create information retrieval applications, and synthesise, analyse and evaluate data in relation to sociological problems. The programme is an opportunity to cross perceived digital and analogue divides in the study and elaboration of social life.

Programme Overview

The MA/MSc in Digital Sociology is an inter-disciplinary programme taught across the Sociology and Computing Departments, and is based in the centre for Creative and Social Technology (CAST). As part of this new research centre, students have access to state of the art facilities and emergent creative and social technologies.

The programme combines a variety of teaching formats, from lectures to lab-sessions, and is taught by leading academics working at the cutting edge of sociology and computing, all of whom are committed to high quality, research-led teaching. The college, the departments and CAST provide a vibrant study environment from which you will benefit as you develop your conceptual, creative and professional skills as a Digital Sociologist.

As you follow this programme, you will learn to think sociologically about digital life and to develop a hands-on, technically informed approach to digital social research and intervention. The aim of the programme is to enable both serious reflection on the challenges that digital innovation poses for society at large, and to enable you to engage creatively with the opportunities for social research opened up by digitization.

The programme draws on the reputation of sociology and computing at Goldsmiths as world-leading centres for inventive research, renowned for combining creative and radical thinking with rigorous methods and innovative techniques. Our programme is very much part of a developing research agenda emphasizing methodological innovation at the interface between social science and computing, and offers rigorous, flexible and creative training to postgraduate students. Digital Sociology at Goldsmiths makes it possible to combine the critical thinking and digital techniques that today are crucial for cutting-edge social research.

Employers are increasingly seeking multi-skilled professionals capable of developing lateral roles and taking on a diversity of responsibilities. Our Digital Sociology graduates will be well-suited for a number of professional careers in public, private and third sector organisations, as social researchers, project managers or other multi-skilled consultants, entrepreneurs or inventors.

Those students planning an academic career will break new ground with their ability to integrate and innovate with offline and emergent digital research methods and innovative sociological thinking.