Postgraduate Diploma in Sociology (Digital Societies)

at Maynooth University

Digital technologies provide an infrastructure for work, socialising, education, active citizenship, protest and surveillance. What are the dominant imaginaries and expectations surrounding digital infrastructures and what kinds of values inform their development?. Are these technologies neutral? What are the social, political, economic and cultural implications of this? How do experiences in Ireland compare internationally? This module will provide a broad theoretical and conceptual grounding to help students to understand these questions and to critically examine the emergence and ongoing development of digital infrastructures and related institutions, political economies and cultures.

Students will be introduced to contemporary social theories of digital societies including surveillance/data/platform capitalism, datafication, and the attention economy. These will be explored through topics including: digital work, identities online, games and play online, digital inequalities, online risks and safety, digital literacy and digital policies. We will also consider the environmental impacts of the digital.

On successful completion of the module, students should be able to:

• Understand the major social theories used to understand digital societies and digital infrastructures.
• Evaluate empirical data on access and use of digital technologies
• Critically assess the influence of digital infrastructures in different domains
• Understand digital policy issues at a national and international level
• Develop an independent perspective on digital technologies and their relationship to social practices and social change
• Students take a total of 60 credits - 6 modules x 10 CREDITS each. For the Diploma there are 20 compulsory credits and 40 optional credits. There is no thesis for the  postgraduate diploma.

Successful candidates will normally have a minimum 2.1 honours (level 8) degree in Sociology or a related discipline such as Criminology, Anthropology, Social Psychology, Communication Studies or Media.

Students with an overall 2.2 degree are eligible if they have obtained a minimum 2.1 in Sociology or a related discipline. 

Other applicants may be considered on a case-by-case basis if they have:

• A high 2.2. in Sociology or in a related discipline,
• A high 2.2 in an unrelated discipline  (e.g. Engineering, Natural Science or Humanities disciplines)  but are willing to attend for interview to assess suitability.
• A primary degree in any other discipline and have at least 5 years relevant work experience. This is done through the Maynooth University Procedure for Non-Standard Entrants and Recognition of Prior Experiential Learning.

Applicants must have a recognised primary degree which is considered equivalent to Irish university primary degree level (level 8).

Minimum English language requirements: please visit Maynooth University International Office website for information about English language tests accepted and required scores. The requirements specified are applicable for both EU and non- EU applicants.

The fees for Postgraduate Diploma in Sociology (Digital Societies) may vary from €6,500 to €15,000 annually for tuition fees. The fee's prices may get higher for International Students.

There is a demand for graduates who understand the role, impact and influence of digital technologies on contemporary life, cities, politics and workplaces. Graduates will understand the economics, politics, cultures and regulatory aspects of digital societies and be able to evaluate the negative and positive impacts of digitalization.  

Our aim is to produce graduates that are conceptually and analytically confident and capable of applying a suite of social science research skills across a broad spectrum of workplaces including public, private, not-for-profit, and technology sectors. Graduates will be able to initiate, manage, execute and report on research projects. They will be capable of presenting their ideas to different audiences, able to work in teams, and be capable of self-management.    

Potential employers include research organisations; public sector organisations including local councils, government agencies; small to medium sized and multinational companies who offer roles in public policy, online safety and market research. 

Possible careers include working as a social science researcher, working in digital or public policy, working in training and skills related to the digital, working on online campaigns for voluntary or charity organisations, or in politics. Other potential careers are in education. For example, some graduates may wish to continue to PhD research and to work in academia.