Master's in Digital Society and Societal Transformations

Digital Society and Societal Transformations educates social scientists who understand how data and AI work, and how technology impacts democratic society. This programme will not teach you coding - it will give you the analytical and critical tools to live and work in the digital society, and better understand how technologies shape society.

Updated on
Facts
Duration

2 years / 4 semesters

Language of instruction

English

ECTS credits

120

Study start

August every year

The MA in Digital Society and Societal Transformations educates social scientists that also understand how technology works.

About the program

The topics are really interesting and I was really pleased to find a program that combines media, communication, sociology, political science, and technology. This is the kind of degree you only find abroad.

Shalini Premachandran Frøiland , research advisor and student.

Career opportunities

I think the courses in technological foundations and sustainability is going to be especially relevant for my future career. It is good to have a technological aspect in addition to the social science aspect.

Julian Nilsen , student.

Learning outcomes

All study programmes at the UiS have a set of defined learning targets. Read more about the learning outcome for this study programme.

The student will, after having completed the programme, have the following knowledge, skills, and general competencies:

Knowledge:

Upon completing the programme, the student will have:

  • advanced knowledge of digitalisation as a social, political, communicative, and technical process
  • thorough knowledge of the theoretical and practical implications and impacts of digitalisation in contemporary societies
  • in-depth interdisciplinary knowledge of the challenges and opportunities of digitalisation for society
  • the ability to apply knowledge to new areas within the academic field
  • the ability to analyse academic problems on the basis of the history, traditions, distinctive character and place in society of the academic field

Skills:

Upon completing the programme, the student can:

  • analyse and critically assess different academic, political, and technical sources of information
  • apply theories independently to practical and theoretical problems
  • use relevant scientific methods and work independently as well as interdisciplinarily
  • carry out an independent, limited research project under supervision
  • shape the digital transformation for sustainable development

General competence:

Upon completing the programme, the student can:

  • analyse and present relevant academic, professional, and research ethical problems
  • apply knowledge to new and emerging areas within the social sciences
  • communicate and master the terminology of the field
  • communicate about academic issues, analyses and conclusions in the field, both with specialists and the general public
  • contribute new thinking, entrepreneurship, and innovation processes related to the digitalisation of society

Study plan and courses

Already a student? Find the full study programme description and study plan here
  • Compulsory courses

  • Elective courses og exchange studies

    • Elective courses

      • Foundations of Risk Analysis and Risk Science

        Year 2, semester 3

        Foundations of Risk Analysis and Risk Science (RIS505)

        Study points: 10

      • New Technologies and Ideas for Sustainable City Development

        Year 2, semester 3

        New Technologies and Ideas for Sustainable City Development (BYG655)

        Study points: 10

      • Energy, Societal Safety and Sustainable Development

        Year 2, semester 3

        Energy, Societal Safety and Sustainable Development (SAM550)

        Study points: 10

      • Global Sexualities:Theories, Methodologies, Practices

        Year 2, semester 3

        Global Sexualities:Theories, Methodologies, Practices (GEN570)

        Study points: 10

      • Digitalisation for Sustainability

        Year 2, semester 3

        Digitalisation for Sustainability (MEE128)

        Study points: 10

      • Work Placement

        Year 2, semester 3

        Work Placement (MENPRA)

        Study points: 30

    • Exchange studies

Possibilities for work placement

Elective work placement

The elective course MENPRA gives you the opportunity to gain relevant work experience.

Studenter på campus

The work placement course gives you practical insight into the challenges facing organisations of different kinds in the digital transformation.

You will work either in Stavanger Smart City, in a municipality in the region, or in the private or civic sector facilitated through Nordic Edge.

Work placement lasts 16 weeks in the Fall semester. Students will return to campus for regular workshops during the work placement programme to discuss common challenges and share insights. Students will write a practice report where they discuss a particular digital challenge, process or project identified during the practice period, discuss the specific context of the issue, and analyse and evaluate possible solutions.

Student exchange

By going on exchange to one of our partner institutions abroad as part of your studies, you will have an opportunity to get a unique education. In addition to improving your career opportunities, you grow as a person and gain the ability to greater reflect on the topics you study as part of your degree. All about exchange

Students can choose to spend the third semester (autumn) abroad. Exchange serves to broaden the interdisciplinary competencies of the candidates, strengthens their language skills, and increases their international profile. Students can choose among five ECIU universities (European Consortium of Innovative Universities) offering relevant programmes, as well as existing agreements (including 13 Erasmus agreements and two Nordplus agreements).

Students can choose courses between the following recommended programmes:

Aalborg University: Master in Techno-Anthropology.

Linköping University: MA in Computational Social Science

Tampere University: MA in Sustainable Digital Life

University of Twente: MA in .

For more information about the exchange-process, read here: Outbound exchange | University of Stavanger (uis.no)

Students who wish other universities outside the list of pre-approved studies will have to proceed with the formalities on their own and seek pre-approval of university and courses.

Student exchange

  • All countries

    Aalborg Universitet

    Aalborg Universitet (AAU) er kjent for å benytte seg av problembasert læring i grupper, noe som kan by på en spennende læringsprosess.

    Linköpings universitet

    Linkøpings universitet er et av Sveriges største universitet med en sterk tradisjon for samarbeid over landegrenser. Universitetet er kjent for sin innovative profil innenfor forskning og utdanning, og er, som UiS, medlem av nettverket European Consortium of Innovative Universities (ECIU).

    Tampere University

    Tampere University ligger i Tampere regionen, som er Finlands nest største regionale senter etter Helsingfors. Universitetet er internasjonalt høyt rangert og er kjent for god undervisning og for å kombinere forskning innen naturvitenskap og teknikk med industri og næringsliv. Campus ligger midt i de tusen sjøers land og bare 2 timer fra Helsinki.

    University of Twente, Enschede

    Opplev Europa og det internasjonale studiemiljøet i Nederland. University of Twente er UiS` partneruniversitet i ECIU-nettverket og tilbyr utvekslingsmuligheter for mange studenter ved UiS. Det er et moderne og innovativt campus-universitet som satser stort på entreprenørskap.

  • Danmark

    Aalborg Universitet

    Aalborg Universitet (AAU) er kjent for å benytte seg av problembasert læring i grupper, noe som kan by på en spennende læringsprosess.

  • Finland

    Tampere University

    Tampere University ligger i Tampere regionen, som er Finlands nest største regionale senter etter Helsingfors. Universitetet er internasjonalt høyt rangert og er kjent for god undervisning og for å kombinere forskning innen naturvitenskap og teknikk med industri og næringsliv. Campus ligger midt i de tusen sjøers land og bare 2 timer fra Helsinki.

  • Nederland

    University of Twente, Enschede

    Opplev Europa og det internasjonale studiemiljøet i Nederland. University of Twente er UiS` partneruniversitet i ECIU-nettverket og tilbyr utvekslingsmuligheter for mange studenter ved UiS. Det er et moderne og innovativt campus-universitet som satser stort på entreprenørskap.

  • Sverige

    Linköpings universitet

    Linkøpings universitet er et av Sveriges største universitet med en sterk tradisjon for samarbeid over landegrenser. Universitetet er kjent for sin innovative profil innenfor forskning og utdanning, og er, som UiS, medlem av nettverket European Consortium of Innovative Universities (ECIU).

Academic Requirements

A bachelor's degree with a specialization of at least 80 ECTS credits in one or more of the following subject areas or equivalent is required: social science, political science, media studies, sociology, psychology, pedagogics, anthropology, law, human and social geography, history, hotel management, hospitality, administration or economics.

Professional bachelor degrees in the following areas also qualify for admission: journalism, police, teacher education and social care

Quota: A quota of up to 3 study places is reserved for qualified applicants from partner institution (Stavanger Smart City).

Admission to this master's programme requires a minimum grade average comparable to a Norwegian C (according to ECTS Standards) in the bachelor's degree. 

Supplementary rules for admission to the Master in Digital Society and Societal Transformations (pdf)

Application and admission

Student life in Stavanger

Contact

Professor
51832739
Faculty of Social Sciences
Department of Media and Social Sciences
Senior Adviser
51831449
Faculty of Social Sciences
Faculty Administration SV
Administrasjon IMS