Universität Fribourg Université de Fribourg Suisse | Universität Freiburg Schweiz Course offerings

Digital Society

Abstract

The master minor programme Digital Society focuses on the social dimensions and consequences of digital technology in today's societies. From a social science perspective, research on the digital society appears to be very interdisciplinary - including sociology, anthropology, economics, communication, designs, contemporary history, computer sciences and cultural studies. The programme offers to delve into the impacts of digital technologies on social processes and structures as well as on individual actors, social groups and practices under the changing conditions of the digital society.
The study programme aims at fostering the theoretical competencies and analytical methods needed to understand these current changes. The training includes the study of the emergence, use and impact of digital technologies in societies from different perspectives in social sciences. It broadens students' understanding of computing and promotes their digital skills. The study programme is intended to enable the students to understand the socio-technical processes at play in digital transformation.

Show the study programme profile

Profile of the study programme

The 30 ECTS credits programme includes two modules:

  • Module 1: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Digital Transformation of Society (15 ECTS credits)
  • Module 2: Theories and Empirical Case Studies (15 ECTS credits)

Fribourg profile
The study programme is unique in Switzerland and is taught in English. It provides a thorough social science perspective on digital transformation.

Learning outcomes and career openings
The master minor programme Digital Society aims to foster the theoretical competencies and analytical methods needed to understand these current digital changes. The training includes the study of the emergence, use and impact of digital technologies in societies from different perspectives in social sciences. The programme broadens students' understanding of computing and promotes their digital skills. It enables the students to understand the socio-technical processes at play in digital transformation and to critically «read» digital technologies in society from a conceptual and empirical perspective.
The master programme Digital Society (30 ECTS credits) promotes skills useful for academic research in the social sciences, systems design, digital technology development and application, work in public administration, management and human resources, consumer protection, and technology regulation.
Specific areas of employment for future graduates, in conjunction with a master major programme, would include technology policy advocacy and legal regulation, human factors & user experience research, interaction design, technology journalism, project management for technology assessment, consumer protection, and information and communications technology (ICT) consulting.

Possibilities of combining programmes
The master study programme Digital Society can be chosen as a minor programme (30 ECTS) with a master major programme at the University of Fribourg that allows for a minor. For students whose master major programme can be combined with the minor in Digital Society, admission to Digital Society is possible upon application or by holding one of the degrees specified in the study plan.

Studies organisation

Structure of studies

30 ECTS credits as a minor study programme

Curriculum

https://studies.unifr.ch/go/T