Digital Sociology
In russian
Level of education Master
Type of instruction Full-time
Duration 2 years
The master’s programme "Digital Sociology" has been designed in response to the ever-increasing demand for experts who are able to work with data of all kinds and extract information that characterises contemporary society and its elements. Graduates of the programme are capable of identifying challenges and proposing solutions in the form of special social responsibility projects and analytical packages for the needs of public and private institutions, government agencies and local self-government bodies, businesses, socio-political organisations, and the media. In the context of rapid digitalisation, these competences are fundamental.
After the training, graduates of the programme will be able to:
- comprehensively assess the impact of digitalisation on society
- investigate the processes and phenomena of contemporary society by using cutting-edge software and Internet technology
- apply algorithms for data extraction, processing and analysis that are appropriate for the research tasks
- participate in the creation and maintenance of information systems and applications in the subject area (as part of project teams)
- use data for decision-making, evaluating the efficiency of various social programmes and initiatives; and
- organise R&D initiatives involving research and development aimed at acquiring new knowledge about human beings and society and applying it in practice
The programme will benefit: applicants with bachelor’s degrees in social sciences and humanities; social sector practitioners, including managers at different levels; experts with degrees in other spheres, who have basic knowledge of social sciences and a standard set of knowledge of mathematical statistics; and specialists from analytical departments of various industries relevant to working with people and society.
- Theories of the Digital Society
- Social Media Analysis: Theory and Applied Methods and Technology
- R / Python Programming Workshops
- Analytical Platforms
- Big Data Tools for Social Sciences
- Digital Transformations of the Tools of Everyday Activity: VR Technologies, Gamification, 3D Tools, Internet of Things
- Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer
- Sociology of Smart City
The programme is interdisciplinary and is designed to train master’s students who carry out practical work in the digital sociology. It focuses on the extensive application of sociological research of the digital society and the tools of state-of-the-art IT solutions in practice.
The academic programme is unique in that most of its courses are integrated and focus not only on teaching certain disciplines but also on solving real-world problems. During the training, teachers use case studies based on the projects realised by them.
A considerable number of competences acquired during the programme are in line with the work field that is in demand in practice:
- Data analyst
- R&D
- SMM
Students have an opportunity to take part in academic mobility programmes. There are over 300 leading universities in Europe, America and Asia among partner universities.
- Social phenomena of the digital society
- Reasons for social stratification in the digital society
- Virtualisation of leisure The social profile of the sought-after employee in the digital age Virtual worlds as sites of socialisation
- Digital footprints of social groups
- Markers of professional values
- E-portfolios as a source of information about employees’ educational strategies
- Self-presentation across social media platforms
Students have an opportunity to take part in academic mobility programmes in accordance with their research interests within the framework of St Petersburg University agreements with the world’s leading research centres. Cooperation agreements on academic mobility programmes between St Petersburg University and foreign partner universities are available via the link.
Professions
The programme is interdisciplinary and covers a broad scope of knowledge. This will enable graduates to carry out professional activities in the following areas.
Among the prospective jobs are:
- Lead sociological analyst
- Specialist in organising sociological and marketing research
- Expert in sociological expertise
- Specialist consultant in sociological expertise and the application of its findings in sociology and economy
- Head of research
- Project manager
- PR specialist
- HR manager
- Project manager
- Social consultant and social audit specialist
- Social science teacher at higher education institutions
- Marketing analyst
- Digital tutor
- Social media analyst
- Data analyst
- R&D manager
- SMM manager