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Why this programme?

Digital Society

We are living in an increasingly digital world. Every aspect of our lives is now affected by digital technologies, from how we communicate and socialise to how we work, learn, create, stay healthy and participate in politics and the economy. The three-year Digital Society bachelor's programme will provide you with the knowledge and skills to understand the relationships between digitalisation and social change.

In this interdisciplinary programme, you will learn to look at the digital society from a wide variety of perspectives by combining theories and methodologies from disciplines such as:

  • media & culture studies
  • arts & literature
  • history
  • philosophy & ethics
  • political science
  • sociology
  • science & technology studies
  • computer, data & information science
FASoS Digital Society 2022 programme

In an increasingly digital world, in which every aspect of our lives is affected by digital technologies, we need experts that understand the relationships between digitalisation and social change.

Advantages & disadvantages of digitalisation

Digitalisation promises tremendous benefits, but it also presents challenges. For example, robots can take on tasks that are dangerous for people but at the same time can put people out of a job. Digital data collection may improve healthcare by providing more personalised treatment, but it may also challenge patient privacy and autonomy. Digitalisation has brought about new forms of social and political engagement, but not everyone has the skills needed to participate so some people are at risk of being excluded.

In this programme, you will explore both the advantages and disadvantages of digitalisation as well as learn to answer pressing social questions such as:

  • How can we best utilise new opportunities for data collection?
  • How can we bridge the divides that are emerging when it comes to data access?
  • What does it mean to be human when we share the world with sophisticated forms of artificial intelligence?
  • How can we identify knowledge and truth amongst the abundance of information?

Through examining these issues, you will learn to critically assess, anticipate and shape the social, cultural and political effects of digital transformations. You will also be capable of understanding the range of possible future implications of emerging digital transformations.

Launch Event Digital Society

In November 2019, the BA Digital Society was officially launched. This video tells you more about the programme.

Launch event Digital Society

Read:

Preparing students for a Digital Society
 Article by Sally Wyatt, former Programme Director

Programme director Katleen Gabriels in the media

Katleen Gabriels has been interviewed by two media channels on Digital Society and Chat GPT (in Dutch).

Skills training

In addition to courses that teach you theoretical knowledge, you will also have skills trainings that help you develop specific sets of skills, including:

  • academic skills: academic writing, qualitative and quantitative methods, interdisciplinary research design
  • professional skills: business and persuasive writing, presentation skills, collaborative working, creative problem-solving
  • digital society skills: managing an online presence, critical analysis of online sources, coding and algorithmic thinking

the_secret_ingredient.jpg

The secret ingredient

During one of our first year courses, Introduction to Digital Technologies, our students were asked to contribute recipes as part of a crowdsourcing project. You can find their contributions in this recipe book, "The Secret Ingredient".

Problem-Based Learning

At Maastricht University, you will be taught using Problem-Based Learning (PBL). In small tutorial groups with a maximum of 15 students, you will analyse challenging questions and cases. Together with your group, you will seek further knowledge and formulate your answers. Instructors only give help as it is needed, allowing you to develop independence and the problem-solving skills you will need in your career. 

This programme will also experiment with digital forms of education within the PBL environment and with the support of Maastricht University’s Institute for Education Innovation (EDLAB). This will give you hands-on experience with the advantages and disadvantages of digitally-mediated teaching and learning methods.

Maastricht University students on Problem-Based Learning

Study abroad, internship or minor

At the beginning of your third year, you will be able to specialise in your field of interest by choosing to study abroad at one of our more than 100 partner universities, conduct an internship (e.g. at a cultural institution, civil society organisation, media organisation) or follow a minor at FASoS or another faculty.

International experience

You will interact closely with people from different cultures in your international classroom, as 85% of the students in the first year come from outside of the Netherlands and 42% of your teachers are international. In addition, during your third year, you will have the opportunity to spend a full semester abroad at one of our (approximately) 100 partner universities. You can also do an internship at an international organisation or a minor at another faculty or at another Dutch university.

Episode #1 | FASoS X Student Talks With Digital Society Student Chiara Munaretto (NFTs & Crypto)

FASoS X Student Talks

FASoS X student talks is a series of interviews with students about their exciting extracurricular activities. In this episode Digital Society student Chiara Munaretto is interviewed.

Bachelor's thesis

At the end of your third year, you will conduct an in-depth study on a topic of your choice related to the digital society. You will receive both individual supervision and peer support. Drawing on the knowledge and skills you have developed throughout the programme, you could explore research questions such as:

  • How does a specific community (e.g. of patients or political interest groups) use digital practices to realise their goals?
  • How far do digital artworks reflect critically on technology?
  • How can digitalised sources enhance public engagement with history?
  • How can digital means be used to generate dynamic consent amongst participants in scientific or medical research?
  • Does the use of social media by politicians differ between presidential and parliamentary democracies (comparing two countries, or two specific elections)?

Some examples of thesis topics, academic year 2021-2022:

  • Smart City Design: A Study of Opportunities and Challenges in the Context of Gender Equality Through the Lenses of Technological Mediation
  • Algorithmic Bias in Medicine: A Study of Discrimination Against Persons of Color in Healthcare AI
  • Reality or Sensation? Brain-Computer Interfaces in the News Media
  • Access Denied: Internet Freedom Advocacy in Times of Conflict. The Case of the Ukraine-Russia Conflict 2014-2019
  • "Meaningful" Human Control in Lethal Autonomous Weapon Systems: Ethical Challenges for International Humanitarian Law
  • Visual Splendour: How do People Communicate About Climate Change on Instagram?

Ties with cutting-edge research

The bachelor's programme may be new but Maastricht University has a strong history of research in the digital society, which is integrated into the programme. This research includes:

You will have excellent study visit and internship opportunities through these research institutes as well as through the Brightlands campuses in Maastricht (health) and Heerlen (data science and smart services).

MaRBLe excellence programme

Through the Maastricht Research Based Learning programme, MaRBLe for short, we offer talented third-year bachelor’s students the opportunity to conduct their own research project. You will be guided by experienced academic staff who will help you further develop your critical thinking and research skills. This will help prepare you for a career in scientific research or research positions in business. 

 More about MaRBLe 

Honours+ programme

University wide Honours+ component
The Honours+ Programme consists of three types of activities. Students attend workshops to develop professional skills; help organize a series of DIY lectures; and co-author contributions to the digital magazine Excellium.
If you complete the Honours Programme successfully you will receive a special Honours Programme Certificate, in addition to your diploma, when you graduate. ECTS credits are not awarded.

FASoS Honours component
The faculty of Arts and Social Sciences offers its most ambitious bachelor’s students the opportunity to take part in the Honours Programme.
You do not need to contact the Faculty if you belong to the top 4 to 5 per cent of students of the first year (based on average grade) who passed all their first-year courses and skills trainings at the first attempt: you will be invited to apply.
Honours programme students are given the freedom to study academic topics in depth. The programme consists of various components, from which you choose two. For example, you could undertake a small-scale, comprehensive six-week project under the guidance of a faculty professor. This could be a small research project or consist of reading and discussing several books. You could also participate in faculty research, choose an individual assignment such as writing a paper, or take a second minor at the Faculty.