Designing at the forefront of communication technology
Year of entry: 2020/21
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Find out moreThe rapid expansion of digital networks such as YouTube, Wikipedia, Twitter and Facebook have changed user expectations has created a demand for graduates who understand social and participatory design principles.
This course provides an innovative mix of social and technical skills. You will gain an understanding of the social, political and economic factors that affect the use of interactive technologies, examining how technology is perceived and employed by the user.
The Department of Sociology is first in the UK for research quality (2014 Research Excellence Framework)
Computer Science at York is in the top 10 in the UK for overall research performance (Times Higher Education’s ranking of the 2014 Research Excellence Framework)
The course offered me a unique opportunity to deepen my skills as a social scientist whilst studying across two of the best research departments in the UK.Leonardo
MSc Social Media and Interactive Technologies
Understand social media and interactive technologies through the key roles they play in society. Explore topics in human-computer interaction, user-centred design, social and cultural theory and human psychology and learn to apply them to the practical problems of designing interactive pages, devices and systems.
Modules for this social media degree are taught by experts from both the Department of Sociology and the Department of Computer Science.
This course is not associated with a specific Study Abroad programme, but York offers a number of options through international partnering programmes.
The MSc in Social Media and Interactive Technologies includes six core modules:
Please note, modules may change to reflect the latest academic thinking and expertise of our staff.
You will develop, design, implement and manage your own original research project, supervised by a member of staff with the relevant experience for your topic. You will analyse the data and produce a 15,000-word dissertation based on your research project.
Examples of previous projects include:
Every course at York is built on a distinctive set of learning outcomes. These will give you a clear understanding of what you will be able to accomplish at the end of the course and help you explain what you can offer employers. Our academics identify the knowledge, skills, and experiences you'll need upon graduation and then design the course to get you there.
| Study mode | UK/EU | International |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time (1 year) | £8,040 | £18,240 |
Students on a Tier 4 Visa are not currently permitted to study part-time at York.
UK/EU or international fees? The level of fee that you will be asked to pay depends on whether you're classed as a UK/EU or international student.
Discover your funding options to help with tuition fees and living costs.
If you've successfully completed an undergraduate degree at York you could be eligible for a 10% Masters fee discount.
You can use our living costs guide to help plan your budget. It covers additional costs that are not included in your tuition fee such as expenses for accommodation and study materials.
You’ll work with world‐leading academics who’ll challenge you to think independently and excel in all that you do. Our approach to teaching will provide you with the knowledge, opportunities, and support you need to grow and succeed in a global workplace.
Coronavirus (COVID-19): changes to courses
We're making changes to comply with rules on social distancing. We aim to deliver as much face-to-face teaching as we can, supported by high quality online alternatives where we must.
Find details of the measures we're planning to protect our community.
You'll be taught through lectures, seminars, practical exercises and workshops. You’ll spend most of your time reading assigned texts and researching supporting materials on your own, discussing the readings and lectures in a group, and presenting work when requested. You'll also attend seminars from visiting scholars in sociology and computer science. A member of the teaching staff will act as your supervisor throughout the degree to help guide your studies and monitor your progress.
You will be based in the Department of Sociology on Campus West.
Most of your contact hours will be in Wentworth College, with some additional teaching on Campus East and Campus West.
Our beautiful green campus offers a student-friendly setting in which to live and study, within easy reach of the action in the city centre. It's easy to get around campus - everything is within walking or pedalling distance, or you can always use the fast and frequent bus service.
Types of assessments used throughout this course include:
You'll develop the skills and knowledge needed to play a leading role in the design and evaluation of interactive technologies in industry, commerce, academia and public service. This social media degree also provides an ideal basis to progress to further study at PhD level.
| Qualification | Typical offer |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate degree | 2:1 or equivalent qualifications or experience in Social sciences with experience of social aspects of computing; Business and Management Studies; or Computer Science with experience of social aspects of computing. |
| Other international qualifications | Equivalent qualifications from your country |
If English isn't your first language you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability. We accept the following qualifications:
| Qualification | Minimum requirement |
|---|---|
| IELTS | 6.5, minimum 6.0 in each component |
| PTE Academic | 61, minimum 55 in each component |
| C1 Advanced and C2 Proficiency | 176, minimum 169 in each component |
| TOEFL | 87, minimum of 21 in each component |
| Trinity ISE III | Merit in all requirements |
| Duolingo | Minimum overall score of 110 |
For more information see our postgraduate English language requirements.
You may be eligible for one of our pre-sessional English language courses. These courses will provide you with the level of English needed to meet the conditions of your offer.
The length of course you need to take depends on your current IELTS scores and how much you need to improve to reach our English language requirements.
After you've accepted your offer to study at York, we'll confirm which pre-sessional course you should apply to via You@York.
We offer a range of campus accommodation to suit you and your budget, from economy to premium.
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