MA in Social Media and Society
University of Groningen
Key Information
Campus location
Groningen, Netherlands
Languages
English
Study format
On-Campus
Duration
18 months
Pace
Full time
Tuition fees
EUR 2,314 / per year **
Application deadline
01 May 2024*
Earliest start date
Sep 2024
* EU/EEA and non-EU/EEA students: May 1 - Dutch students: August 15
** EU/EEA students: €2,314 | non-EU/EEA students: €16,000
Introduction
Why do some posts go viral on social media and others do not? How can social media analysis be used in business and policy decisions? How do platforms like Facebook change how we live and do business?
This MA program offers a critical exploration of social media within contemporary networked societies and trains students to work with (big) data in a responsible way. Social media have changed the fabric of everyday life and society. This has had important implications for how we inform ourselves, with whom we connect and in which ways, how we organize our daily lives, and how we perform as citizens. Knowledge of the ways these quickly emerging communication infrastructures are fundamentally transforming society is indispensable. At a time when intensive data-gathering and analysis is key for companies and governments, this MA program’s theoretical approach to social media and their data-driven impact on society helps students in understanding and reflecting on critical issues in order to respond to current societal transformations. From a practical perspective, students are trained to investigate social media data in the context of social, political, and economic change.
Why study this program in Groningen?
This program trains you to critically engage with the profound societal changes that social media bring about, with hands-on experience with analysis of social media data. The internship familiarizes you with the job market and kick-starts your career. Acquired skills include:
- Cutting-edge knowledge of social media
- Social media analysis
- Profound insights in social media use
- Excellent communication and writing skills
- Social media management skills
- Entrepreneurial skills
Research environment
You are taught by lecturers who are internationally renowned in media studies. You benefit from and can be involved in the research of the Centre for Media and Journalism Studies, assessed as an excellent and world-leading research center. The department is well-known for its informal and vibrant atmosphere, allowing for a fruitful exchange between staff and students.
Curriculum
Year 1
Courses
- Multimodal Discourse Analysis (5 EC, optional)
- Network Theory (5 EC)
- Statistical Analysis with R (5 EC, optional)
- Transformations in the Digital Society (5 EC)
- Analyzing Social Media Data (5 EC, optional)
- Capturing Media Use (5 EC, optional)
- Conceptualizing Audiences (5 EC)
- Platform Studies (5 EC)
- Connectivity: Contemporary Debates (5 EC)
- Data for Society: Civic Media (5 EC, optional)
- Media Policy and Regulation (5 EC, optional)
- Research Seminar SMS (10 EC)
- Start-up Lab (5 EC, optional)
- Story Lab (5 EC, optional)
- Thesis Lab (5 EC)
Year 2
Courses
- Thesis SMS (15 EC)
- Internship (15 EC)
Program options
Master's Honours Programme (honours program)
The Master's Honours Programme was developed especially for students who want to get more from their studies.
It is a program worth 15 ECTS that is followed in addition to the standard Master's program. It is a one-year interdisciplinary program that is designed to introduce students to various aspects of leadership.
Study abroad
Study abroad is unaccommodated
Admissions
Program Tuition Fee
Career Opportunities
Job prospects
This track leads to positions in data analysis, market research, marketing, communication and public relations, consultancy, entrepreneurship, policy advice.