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Digitalization is essentially a social process. The Master's degree program Digital Society is an opportunity to engage in the social perspectives of digital transformation in a more interdisciplinary way.
Technology and smart technologies are a part of our everyday lives and companies today are developing the digital business models and computer scientists needed to adapt to the new challenges a digital society brings about. When it comes to digital technologies and the wide range of potential and new possibilities, legal aspects and practices also need to be taken into account.
The Master's degree program in Digital Society focuses on the interaction between technology and our social world. The degree program provides an academic understanding of methods in social sciences and theories that will help you analyze, interpret, define, and shape a digital society. As the majority of the classes feature an interdisciplinary nature, they cover subject areas in sociology, business, computer sciences, and law. Faculty members from various fields co-teach the courses.
The program also gives you an opportunity to engage in interdisciplinary hands-on, real-world projects in a collaborative way as part of an interdisciplinary team. In general, the program is taught in German, however some courses will be taught in English.
Page Content
Key Facts
Degree
Master of Science (MSc)
Duration
4 semesters
ECTS
120 credits
Language
German (level C1), individual courses will also be in English
Location
Linz
Program
Full-Time
What Makes Studying Digital Society at the JKU Special
The format for this graduate degree program is unique in Austria, offering considerable advantages:
- For the first time, one curriculum includes subjects areas such as business, social sciences, law, and computer sciences, enabling you to approach digitization in all of its complexity and magnitude and ultimately shape social change.
- You will be part of an interdisciplinary team - the majority of courses will be co-taught: Educators from different backgrounds and subject areas will work together to teach courses that feature interdisciplinary content.
- A separate mentoring program provides you with support during your studies, including guidance and and academic advising.
Program Structure
The Master's degree program in Digital Society includes the following subject areas:
| Subject Areas | ECTS Credits |
|---|---|
| The Fundamentals of a Digital Society | 24 |
| Digial Society - Sociological Methods | 18 |
| Digitization in Dialog | 18 |
| Interdisciplinary Projects | 18 |
| Interdisciplinary Approaches to Digitization | 9 |
| Autonomous Coursework | 12 |
| Master's Thesis, incl. the Master's Colloquium and the Master's Examination | 21 |
You complete
- courses in key fields in sociology, computer sciences, business, and law
- courses about theories in the field of social sciences and Digital Society methods
- hands-on, real-world research projects during the first, second, and third semesters of the program
- elective courses designed to better acquaint you with digitalization in other subject areas and fields at the JKU.
Students in the first semester of the Master's degree program in Digital Society have an opportunity to take part in the mentoring program! The mentoring program has been designed to support a smooth transition to graduate studies and during the course of the program, your mentor will be at your side to help.
Areas of Specialization in Digital Society
This program focuses on the way "Man-Machine", "Digitalization - Society", "Economy - Artificial Intelligence" and "Law - Digital Transformation" interact. You will explore the various facets of digitization as a socio-technological phenomenon:
- As part of our society, how are business, law, information technology, communications, and social media changing and how is society changing as a whole??
- Who is driving digitization? How is technological development being influenced by computer science, business, law and other areas of society?
- How can we actively drive digitization forward? How can we assess the risks and identify the potential? How can we shape developments accordingly?
- How will digitization address and impact different disciplines (such as mechanical engineering, chemistry, gender studies, etc)?
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What You Will Learn in "Digital Society" at the University
The Master's degree program in Digital Society gives you the expertise and skills to
- grasp the complexities of digitization, analyze their relationship to various sectors of society, and actively shape future developments. Students hone their skills and understanding in the areas of methodology in social sciences as well as theories to analyze and shape digitization,
- constructively bring together and combine perspectives from different disciplines (computer science, society, law, economics),
- working effectively as part of an interdisciplinary team and address complex problems,
- understanding the social and political impact of digitization and its role in today's culture and society.
Did you know that ...
...this degree program is unique in Austria and closely linked to the JKU's key focus areas of "Digitalization" and "Transformative Change"?
Your Career Prospects
Graduates are highly sought after and in high demand, not only when it comes to understanding complex relationships in digital transformation, but also toactively shape processes without losing focus on highly important connections.
Your responsibilities include project management, consulting, strategy development, research & development, or in science/academia at universities.
You are highly qualified to work at international companies and organizations, government institutions, innovative start-up companies, as well as at established companies, or at non-profit organizations.
On average, graduates in this field find a job immediately after completing the program. After 3 years on the job, their average monthly gross salary is € 3.127.
Register to Enroll
Prerequisites
In order to be admitted to the Master's degree program, you must fulfill the following requirements.
- Language certificate for English level C1
- Prospective applicants should have a base-knowledge understanding of sociology, computer sciences, law, and business.
- Hold a Bachelor's or a Master's degree, in accordance with the following criteria:
Still have questions?
Then contact us!
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Admissions Office
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Those holding a Bachelor's/Master's degree awarded by the JKU in the following majors (or a degree program equivalent in content and scope earned at another university/college) can be admitted to this Master's degree program without any further constraints:
- Sociology
- Social Economics
Those holding a Bachelor's/Master's degree awarded by the JKU in the following majors (or a degree program equivalent in content and scope earned at another university/college) can be admitted to this Master's degree program with an added requirement to pass supplementary examinations in the (maximum) amount of 40 ECTS credits:
- Artificial Intelligence
- Business Administration
- Informatics/Computer Science
- Business Information
- Business & Economics
If you are enrolled in one of these degree programs, we recommend taking courses during your studies that could help minimize the number of any supplementary examinations you would need for this program. The following is a list of potential courses:
Those holding a Bachelor's/Diploma degree (or a degree considered comparable in content and scope awarded by another university/college) in the following subject areas can be admitted to this Master's degree program after passing supplementary examinations in the amount of (maximum) 40 ECTS credits:
- Journalism and Communication Studies
- Media and Communication Studies
- Communication Sciences
- Civic Studies
- Psychology
Still Have Questions?
Do you need help registering or do you have questions about the program? Contact the JKU's Office of Student Information and Academic Advising (SIBS)!
Program Management
If you have any questions about the Master's degree program in Digital Society, please do not hesitate to contact us by making an appointment for an academic advising consultation!
Advanced Degrees at the JKU
After successfully completing the Master's degree program, you can opt to pursue a doctorate degree:
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All Master's Degree Programs
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