Communication and Media launches new and revamped postgraduate portfolio
September 2021 will see a major revamp of the Department of Communication and Media’s postgraduate offering, including new pathways specialising in digital data and society, data science and communications, and screen studies.
The Department has seen considerable growth over the past few years, and three new programmes reflect its rapidly developing expertise in specific areas, as well as tapping into some of the most relevant, and emerging, disciplines.
The MA Media, Data and Society will appeal to students who have an interest in the risks and the opportunities that emerge from the increasing use of digital data in our society. It has a strong interdisciplinary focus, with elements from communication studies, computer science, and sociology; and enables students to develop an in-depth knowledge of the dimensions that permeate the use of digital data. Among the topics under scrutiny are big data capitalism and surveillance, the changing digital audience practices, digital media infrastructures, digital data collection, digital media analytics, and data visualisations.
The MSc Data Science and Communication is designed for those who have an interest in the way data and data processing are shaping communication practices as society becomes increasingly digitized. Whether students want to investigate how Big Data impact our daily decision-making practices or learn how to create innovative communication chatbots, this MSc provides them with the necessary means to successfully navigate the Networked Society, whilst also offering state-of-the-art empirical, technical and theoretical training.
Away from the data realm, the MA Screen Studies offers students the opportunity to develop an in-depth knowledge of the industrial and cultural dimensions that permeate screen-based media. It will be of interest to those keen to explore both the industrial and economic aspects of contemporary screen based media (especially film and television), and the complex ways in which they interact with societies and cultures on a global level. The course brings together elements of film studies, communication studies, media studies, sociology, policy studies, political economy and others.
The Department’s existing programmes are also undergoing some exciting developments. The former MA Media and Communication pathways – now MA Media, Culture and Everyday Life, and MA Media and Politics – have been overhauled to deliver two distinctive programmes with a broader range of optional modules, while the MSc Strategic Communication sees some changes to the modules on offer.
For further information on each of these programmes, including how to apply, visit the Department’s postgraduate webpages.