Computational Social Science – a leading new master’s programme

Technology is becoming increasingly integrated into our everyday lives, and huge amounts of information about us and the way we act are being collected in ever-larger databases. The information in digital archives reflects in minute detail the private lives, interests, preferences and choices we make. At the societal level, this is true of everything from demographic data to the export balance, climate issues, and global flows of goods.
And companies and industries maintain surveillance over users, customers, competitors, employees, etc.

A leading programme to explain social phenomena

“The new Computational Social Science programme combines new calculation methods with knowledge about fundamental theories in social science and empirical research in the field. We intend to unite the best of two worlds,” says Benjamin Jarvis, senior lecturer at the Institute for Analytical Sociology and programme coordinator.
Advanced analysis of these enormous databases is currently carried out, but the results of the analysis are seldom such that they can be grasped and used in decision-making at any level. This is a gap in knowledge that the programme intends to fill.
“There are very few – if any – courses that have a social science focus while at the same time giving deep insight into the technical methods of calculation used in front-line research. I’m sure that the programme LiU is offering is unique,” says Benjamin Jarvis.
The Computational Social Science master’s programme will start in the autumn of 2018, when 20 students will be admitted. The programme will be located at Campus Norrköping.

Institute for Analytical Sociology

MSc Computational Social Science, 120 credits