Sociology and Data Science MSc

UCL (University College London)

The Sociology and Data Science MSc combines advanced sociological training with rigorous data science skills to equip you with the tools to analyse and interpret complex social data. Through a curriculum that integrates sociological theory with cutting-edge data science techniques, you will explore pressing social issues using computational methods, quantitative analysis, and statistical software. Topics that may be covered include social inequalities, digital and global transformations, social mobility, and the role of data science in driving evidence-based policy. The Sociology and Data Science MSc offers a comprehensive approach to understanding social phenomena through both sociological frameworks and data-driven methods. Students begin with foundational modules: Advanced Social Theory, Global Sociology, Principles of Sociological Explanation, and Social Change in Contemporary Society. These modules provide a basis in sociological theory, exploring key issues like globalisation, migration, civil rights, and social movements. Students also select from a series of data science-focused options that introduce foundational tools for data analysis, such as R and Stata, and cover advanced techniques for handling and preparing complex datasets. Courses in this area provide training in data science methods across diverse sources, including geo-spatial, big, and longitudinal data, and offer tools for digital data extraction and online surveys. The dissertation component provides an opportunity to conduct an independent research project on a topic of your choosing, demonstrating your application of data science tools to a contemporary issue. Graduates of this course leave with a unique blend of theoretical knowledge and technical skills, well-prepared for careers in research, public policy, and data analysis. This degree is likely to be of interest to students with a social science background who already have some quantitative training and wish to expand their data science skills to address real world phenomena. It will appeal to people with an interest in how the real world works, and those who work in jobs related to understanding and improving society using data science. This programme is also available on a modular (flexible) basis, with a duration of 5 calendar years.

Social Science