Digital Media and Society

取得日期：未有保存

https://sheffield.ac.uk/undergraduate/courses/2027/digital-media-and-society-ba

https://sheffield.ac.uk/international/entry-requirements/hong-kong

https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/undergraduate/apply/english-language

The A Level entry requirements for this course are:

English language requirements |

You must demonstrate that your English is good enough for you to successfully complete your course. For this course we require: GCSE English Language at grade 4/C; IELTS grade of 6.5 with a minimum of 6.0 in each component; or an alternative acceptable English language qualification

Digital Media and Society BA | Undergraduate study | The University of Sheffield

Skip to main content

Search sheffield.ac.uk

Close menu ×

Undergraduate study

2027-28 entry

Digital Media and Society BA

School of Sociological Studies, Politics and International Relations

This course is unique in offering you the opportunity to develop a broad understanding of the relationship between digital media and society from a social science perspective. You’ll use innovative digital methods to research digital media in society, and consider what makes digital media products ethical and impactful.

A Levels

UCAS code

Duration

Start date

September

Attendance

Full-time

Course fee

Funding available

Optional placement year

Study abroad option

Visit us

Register for updates

Apply for this course

Chat to a student

Explore this course:

Course description

Why study this course?

Learn from people making a real change

Our academics use their research to inform new and upcoming policy. For example, Dr Ysabel Gerrard’s research into how young people use and experience social media has been involved in groundbreaking policy change for Instagram. We are also home to the Digital Good Network, a research community focused on what a good digital society should look like.

Design your course

This is a flexible degree, offering you the opportunity to specialise in areas such as data, journalism or marketing and consumer society.

Develop skills for your career

Put your learning into practice by taking our dedicated digital work placement module, or attending faculty employability workshops and events.

Explore the ever-growing role digital media plays in shaping society across an increasingly connected world.

Gain a deeper understanding of how social media influences our world, what happens to the information we share online, and the technical, social and ethical considerations behind digital design.

From data-driven storytelling to driving social change, you will analyse how digital media swings public opinion and learn how to build compelling narratives from data within your research. You’ll also have the opportunity to put your knowledge into practice by creating digital products such as websites and data visualisations which focus on the needs of the user.

As you progress through your degree, you’ll be able to specialise in the areas that interest you most, such as social change, inequalities, AI policy, radicalisation and digital health.

In your third year, you’ll draw upon the conceptual and practical research skills developed so far to complete the dissertation on a topic of your choosing. You’ll also have the opportunity to bridge the gap between theory and practice through a professional digital media work placement.

Our staff are experts in their field so no matter what topic you want to specialise in, there’ll be someone who can guide you in your research. Their current research covers topics such as: data policy, Chinese social media, digital consumption, influencer culture, activism, climate change, AI, digital racism and radicalisation, all of which feed into the modules that you will be studying.

Throughout your degree, you will also have the option to select modules from across the Faculty of Social Science so you can tailor your learning to related fields, such as journalism or marketing.

Previous

A selection of modules are available each year - some examples are below. There may be changes before you begin your studies. As you progress through your course, we’ll confirm additional details for the core and optional modules available to you.

Themed routes

As well as the wide range of core and optional modules available to you, we've highlighted the particular modules that we recommend choosing if you want to pursue one of our two themed routes:

Journalism, Media and Communication

Marketing and Consumer Society.

These modules are available to all students. They are also only a recommendation to those looking to theme their studies - not a requirement.

Title: Digital Media and Society BA course structure

UCAS code: L391

First year

Second year

Third year

First yearFirst year

Core modules:

Data Visualisation: Coding and Design

This module consists of three key elements. The first is principles of good graphic design, combined with how graphical representations of data can be used to lie and mislead. The second is learning how to make a wide range of graphs, maps, and figures, for different audiences using a modern and powerful programming language. The third is interpreting visual representations of data, whether from other sources or by students on the module themselves, and using them to answer substantive research questions. This is a hands-on module that allows students to create, understand, and apply data visualisations in the context of social science research. Learners will develop fundamental coding, graphic design, and data literacy skills in parallel during the module, and apply these to real-world data visualisation scenarios.

20 credits

Digital Media and Society I: Core Concepts

Students taking this introductory module will be introduced to core concepts, issues, and debates about the production, use and social impacts of digital media and information technologies in society. Students will learn to develop an understanding of the core theoretical and conceptual approaches to understanding digital media and its impacts on society. Students will also be taught fundamental applied skills in digital media content production, design, and distribution, and will apply these skills in coursework.

Introduction to Media and Communication

This module provides students with an introduction to the complex, dynamic, and fascinating relationship between the media and our contemporary society. It will take students back to some of the earliest academic media theories, later arriving at discussions of cutting-edge communication-related debates. The module covers a wide range of topics, including:

Media ownershipAudience studiesMedia and democracy'Effects' of media and human behavioursCelebrity and influencer culturesSocial media governance

The module will enable students to reflect on taken-for-granted assumptions about the media / society relationship. Students will apply this knowledge to case studies and examples of contemporary media forms, content and institutions, and in doing so they will develop media literacy skills.

This module aims to:A1: Introduce students to the relationship between media and societyA2: Explore and reflect on the strengths and limitations of core sociological theories relating to media in societyA3: Explore a range of empirical media in society case studiesA4: Introduce students to the forces that influence media production and consumptionA5: Introduce students to the role of the media in contemporary social and cultural lifeA6: Assist in the development of independent research and writing skills.

Digital Media and Society II: Contemporary Issues

In this module, students will build upon the learning developed in Digital Media and Society I: Core Concepts.Students will apply the theories and concepts acquired in the prerequisite module to emerging issues, debates, and social concerns, with a focus on the impact that digital systems and AI technologies have on a range of areas, including (but not limited to) wellbeing, the environment, and various industries. Students will implement the technical skills acquired in the prerequisite module in a content management system, learning how to create and customise a range of digital content formats, including AI-generated material. Students will also engage with each others' work in a constructive and industry-relevant fashion.

Introduction to Digital Methods Research

Optional modules:

Lies, Damned Lies and Statistics

There's more and more data around us - in the media, used by politicians or governments, generated by users and businesses. Whether you are a data analyst, social researcher, journalist, or simply an informed citizen, understanding how data is used—and sometimes misused—is a crucial skill. In a world increasingly driven by data, the ability to critically interpret and evaluate statistical claims is more essential than ever.

This 20-credit module aims to demystify data and help you develop your analytical and critical thinking skills regarding data and statistics used in research, businesses, politics, and the media. Through engaging teaching, active learning and examples from research, politics, and the news media, the module will enable you to develop the knowledge and skills you'll need to understand, analyse, and interpret data with confidence, and tell good from bad data.

The module is comprised of weekly lectures as well as interactive computer workshops and is assessed through a written data communication task and a multiple-choice exam — both designed to reflect the types of assessments commonly used in recruitment and relevant workplace scenarios.

Press, Politics and Democracy

This module aims to help you understand how the levers of power operate in regional and national politics and how you can use this information and understanding to hold those in power to account on behalf of readers, viewers and listeners through your news reporting.

Theories of Society

This module aims for in-depth investigations of decisive advances in sociology's theoretical inquiry into social relations, conditions, and processes. You will receive guidance in interpreting key concepts and ideas in a range of different contributions to social theory and in analysing the configurations of those concepts and ideas.

The module will support you in developing the skills to engage closely with complex primary socio-theoretical writings in order to understand, reconstruct, and articulate their essential logical steps and arguments. Moreover, the module seeks to encourage and facilitate critical assessments and discussions of the successes and limitations of different socio-theoretical works. It aims to foster a comparative perspective on the similarities and differences between the theories of society under inspection.

The module will enable you to recognise social theory's potential to help make sense of persistent problems and challenges posed by social relations and conditions as well as to help envisage ways of addressing those problems and transforming the social world.

A series of lectures will set out and scrutinises the conceptual configurations, inferences, and arguments presented in socio-theoretical writings. The corresponding series of seminars will provide an environment for you and your fellow students to collaborate in in-depth interpretations, analyses, and critical discussions of the course content and in honing your skills to reconstruct and compare a variety of socio-theoretical arguments

Sociology of hope, community and social justice

This module aims to introduce and develop students' understanding of the concepts of hope, community and social justice and their related theoretical contexts, challenges and debates.

Drawing on multidisciplinary sociological and social policy perspectives and debates, the module will develop students' knowledge and critical understanding of the concepts of hope, community and social justice and the range of historical and contemporary political and collective actions that have been shaped by transformative approaches and/or pursued these 'better world' ambitions.

The module will adopt a thematic approach to facilitate students' understanding of what hope, community and social justice mean and how these have been defined as well as ensuring students have familiarity and confidence in navigating the theoretical approaches, empirical studies and substantive 'real world' case studies/topic areas associated with these thematic categories.

Making Sense of Education: Facts, Fiction and Data

Politics, practices and media discourses related to Education, frequently invoke 'evidence' or statistical reasoning in an attempt to persuade. These approaches can be deliberately misused or accidentally misleading. This module will equip you with the knowledge you need to become a discerning data user and critic through a mix of active learning, seminars and computer workshops. You will develop practical skills to support your engagement with 'evidence' throughout your studies, explore a range of issues in qualitative and quantitative research design, and create a foundation for your future development as a critical researcher.

Second yearSecond year

Core modules

Digital Media and Social Change

This module will introduce you to a range of core theoretical frameworks in order to understand, analyse and evaluate the complex relationship between digital media and social change. You will focus on two key aspects of the relationship between digital media and social change.

Firstly, you will examine purposeful activist use of digital media to create social change, investigating how new possibilities for participatory communication have been exploited by activists to contest inequalities. Topics you might cover include influential social movements, such as #BlackLivesMatter, to environmental influencers on Youtube and Instagram.

During the second half, you will analyse the large-scale social, economic and political changes created by the internet. This will include assessing the new forms of participation that have been created as audiences become producers, as well as the new forms of surveillance and inequalities that are entangled with these developments.

This module will support you in developing the critical skills needed to discuss and unpack contemporary scholarship, providing vital scaffolding for your final year dissertations.

Advancing with Digital Methods

Building on what you studied in Level 1, this module will help you advance your understanding of new methods for carrying out digital research.

You will be introduced to advanced techniques for doing research on and about digital platforms, including social media. You will be taught how to use advanced tools, techniques and processes, through extensive practical experience in computer lab sessions. Throughout this module, you will be encouraged to evaluate the discussed tools and techniques in the context of their emergence and sometimes rapid decline. You will be asked to address questions of epistemology, information politics and ethics.

By the end you will have gained a deeper understanding on how digital methods are used to create particular kinds of knowledge.

Digital Storytelling

The use of digital media to enhance the effectiveness of a narrative is common in the fields of business, entertainment, cultural heritage, education and journalism. The module provides an introduction to the area of digital storytelling including key concepts and technologies involved in creating/using digital content and how to use digital media to tell a story. Students will be taught practical skills such as how to create and use digital media such as images, videos, and sounds, and how to design and create complex multimedia applications using Adobe Animate CC (an industry recognised platform, using HTML and CSS).

Social Research Design and Methods

Social research methods are an important aspect of higher education in the social sciences, equipping you with practical skills to carry out a research project of your choice.

In this module, you will be introduced to some key approaches and practices of doing social research. You will learn about different methodological approaches often classified as qualitative and quantitative research, as well as practical ways of doing such research using interviews, surveys, focus group discussions and more.

You will be able to apply these skills in crafting a research proposal for your dissertation to be undertaken in Year 3 of the programme.

Optional modules

Media Law for Journalists

This module provides for those wishing to be journalists, or studying journalism, essential knowledge of media law applying in England and Wales, and of regulatory codes which UK journalists should comply with. This law includes that of defamation, privacy and contempt of court, and other law governing court reporting. The codes seek to uphold journalistic standards generally, including protection of people's privacy and of the identities of sources promised confidentiality. The module also demonstrates that UK journalists can assert `human rights' which in law and the codes uphold freedom of expression, including publication of material `in the public interest'.

Sociological Theory and Analysis

The content of this module will build upon your understanding of sociological theory by encouraging you to explore its relevance to key themes and issues in contemporary society.

The course will explore major theoretical works in critical social theory, feminist social thought, the critique of colonialism, and cultural theory. In order to foster your understanding of social theory, you will study the application of core ideas and concepts to substantive issues in modern contemporary society, including the problem of class, gender relations, race, and order and conflict.

Overall, you will gain a critical understanding of the importance and use of modern and contemporary social theory.

The Sociology of Crime

Crime, and the process of criminalisation, are major features of all societies. Since the nineteenth century, sociologists have developed a range of criminological theories to explain 'criminality'.

During this module, you will review the historical development of a range of theoretical approaches to the study of crime and consider how sociologists have studied the primary institutions of social control. You will also investigate and discuss the contribution of the sociology of crime to issues of contemporary significance using a case study model of learning.

By the end of the module, you will appreciate the importance of a sociological approach to crime and criminalisation, and be able to apply criminological theories in order to understand some of the most pressing and topical crime problems of today.

Sociology of Media and Consumer Culture

You will examine the relationship between media and consumer culture.

Some of the key debates you will explore during this module include engaging with various conceptual and theoretical understandings of consumer culture, discussing the relationship between media and marketing, and the impact of media on consumer culture.

By the end, you will have developed a deeper understanding of media, consumer culture, and their wider impacts on society.

Doing Quantitative Sociological Research

This dynamic inquiry-based module will provide you with practical experience of conducting quantitative sociological research that has real-life application to the social world.

Using the latest UK dataset provided by the Office for National Statistics, you will experience the realities of planning and conducting quantitative research, developing your ability to communicate your findings in appropriate formats.

There will be several hand-on workshops where you will be able to develop and practice your skills in using SPSS.

Sociology of Family: Continuity and Change

Using a sociological and anthropological perspective, this module seeks to problematise the concept of 'family' as a natural and universal phenomenon. The content covered will underscore the need to explore the notion of the family as a social and historical construction by examining the diversity of family life in countries around the world.

While acknowledging the impact of social change on different family constructions, you will seek to understand how some family structures remain the same, creating a situation where one society can have multiple family structures. In particular, this module will encourage you to focus on the role of the state in constructing the family and the impact these different constructions of family life have on particular individuals, such as women, children and the elderly.

You expand your skills in applying sociological thinking to everyday life and this will increase your awareness of the ways in which some family constructs are privileged whilst others are marginalised in society. In addition to this, you will gain employability skills by enhancing your practices in critical reflection, and by developing your ability to write in ways that have utility beyond the University.

Children and Digital Cultures

Digital technology has transformed the lives of many, impacting on culture and society. Many young people have quickly seen ways of extending and deepening social networks through their uses of technology, and immersed themselves in Virtual Worlds, Facebook etc and enjoyed browsing on shopping sites. This module examines new technologies and associated social practices impacting on children's lives, considering the nature of new digital practices and how these affect identity, society and culture. Educational implications of new technologies is a developing field of research and students will engage critically with debates within the field alongside examining websites and new practices.

Journalism and Digital Activism for Social Justice

This module explores the representation of social inequities in the media and how journalism and digital activism can advance or hinder social justice. Drawing on academic scholarship about social justice as well as research that engages with gender, race, colonialism, class, disability, LGBTQ+ identity, faith, and sustainability, you will critically analyse how news media and social media can both perpetuate social inequities as well as raise awareness of these inequities, mobilise minority groups, and effect social change. The module places a strong emphasis on intersectionality in order to highlight how a multitude of factors can contribute to social inequities. The module takes a case study approach including news stories and examples from the Global North and Global South. Questions to explore include, 'How can journalism and digital activism amplify the voices of minority groups and challenge dominant narratives?', 'How does the legacy of colonialism influence how media in the Global North represent inequalities and identities in the Global South?' and 'In what ways can journalism reinforce systems of oppression and inequities that exclude, silence, and misrepresent marginalised groups?'. During this module you will not only develop the critical skills necessary to identify discourses that sustain or challenge social inequities, but have the opportunity to create a research-informed advocacy video. This video, which provides an excellent opportunity to develop your journalism and communication skills, will explore an important social justice issue of your choice and include recommendations as to how journalists can effectively cover these issues.

Men, Feminism and Gender relations

During this module, you will critically examine the growing body of sociological and other literature concerned with men and masculinities. The content you will cover will locate this growth of interest within the context of the feminist movement and subsequent writings/critiques of masculinities and patriarchy.

You will be supported and encouraged to connect the covered topics to wider scholarship on gender relations. Some of the key case studies that you will explore include men in sport, men and media, men and health/well-being, men and feminism, as well as men and sexualities. Methodological and epistemological issues involved in the study of men and masculinities will also form part of this module.

This module will also introduce students to the new skill of vlogging, which they will be supported to develop for their assessment.

Sociology of the Body

In the social world, we are understood first through our bodies. This can have an impact on everything from our opportunities for employment to our access to medical care. During this module, you will examine the cultural and societal impact we have on bodies and they have on us by exploring the social contribution of the body and the ways it is controlled and experienced in contemporary society.

Throughout, you will be introduced to key theoretical approaches to the sociology of the body and develop understanding of the social construction of the body. You will have the opportunity to critically explore the range of social factors that can impact the body and identity and discuss how our bodies intersect with our multiple social identities.

Overall, you will develop an understanding of some of the social factors that can shape bodily experience and identity, such as racialisation, gender, ageing, weight, medicalisation, and representation. You will also be encouraged to develop a social justice focused framework for understanding the marginalised body in contemporary society.

In Sickness and in Health: The Sociology of Medicine

Covid conspiracies and care home crises. AIDS activism and autism advocacy. Questions relating to health and illness are amongst the most crucial facing society today. From before people are born until the moment they die, everyone is profoundly shaped by their engagements with medicine.

In this module, you will examine the ways in which engagements with, and understandings of, physical and mental health shape ourselves and our societies. You will explore topics such as: intersecting inequalities in healthcare provisions, patient experiences of ill health, activism and the fight for recognition, contemporary health crises, and the COVID pandemic.

By critically examining these examples, you will develop a nuanced understanding of the role of health, illness and medicine within contemporary society.

Crime, Justice and Social Policy

During this module, you will examine the variety of responses to crime that encompass the use of both crime policy and social policy. Crime policy responses encompass the use of the role of the policy, courts and prisons. Alongside this is the social policy approach which includes health, housing, education, employment, youth and family as a means of crime reduction.

The content you will cover seeks to demonstrate the criticism of 'traditional' crime policy-based responses to crime and the way in which social policy has emerged as an alternative way to tackle the so-called 'crime problem'. You will consider multiple theories of crime which make competing arguments for the use of crime or social policy as a response, the role of criminologists in policy making, and the criminalisation of social policy as an unintended outcome.

This module speaks more broadly to the challenges and dynamics of the policy-making process when seeking to tackle complex societal issues. You will therefore benefit from situating these challenges within specific examples of governmental attempts to tackle crime with direct and indirect policy initiatives.

Understanding 'Race' and Migration

This module explores the meaning of 'race' and migration in various social and political contexts. It aims to develop an in-depth understanding of sociological theories of 'race', racism and migration through an exploration of the development of 'race' as an ideology, as a concept influenced by history and politics, and through its relevance in the contemporary context. The module examines how ideas about race and migration help to shape and determine social and political relations. It also explores the role of race and migration as major sources of social divisions and how racism operates in the reproduction of structural inequalities. These issues are explored through sociological theory, as well as policy and practice areas such as theories of racialised identities, immigration regimes, education and criminal justice.

Social Problems: Policy and Practice

Drawing on current examples and comparative references, you will explore social and ideological constructions of social problems and the role of the state and other agencies in responses to them. This module is team taught which means sessions are delivered by a range of leading experts on different social problems.

Some of the key concepts and themes in social policy and practice that you will cover include inequality, justice and fairness, individual versus collective responsibility, and welfare versus social control. The content of this module mainly focuses on major contemporary issues, including welfare and work, housing and homelessness, and community participation.

By the end, you will be equipped with the necessary critical perspective and skills to understand and explore social problems.

Urban Analytics

This module provides you with an introduction to quantitative and spatial analytical methods, with a specific focus on interpreting and presenting data to better understand urban contexts. It exposes you to a variety of substantive issues surrounding the use of data in practice and aims to enhance your understanding of methods used to analyse urban data in real world contexts. Primarily delivered through a series of computer workshops, you will gain practical experience in accessing a range of different datasets including demographics, property, and land use and will develop and practise skills in analysing data using both spatial and aspatial methods. The analytical and quantitative skills you develop in this module are key to employability and will have applications across your degree and beyond. These include competence in accessing, analysing and presenting quantitative data using both Excel and GIS software.

Ethics: From Theory to Practice

Ethical values shape our world and the lives we lead - from how we relate to our friends and community, to our social and political attitudes, to the aspirations and goals that guide our life choices. But ethics is also challenging. When our values clash, or we face unfamiliar problems, or we reflect on the objectionable values of people in the past, it becomes unclear what to do. Ethical theories attempt to help us solve these problems by giving a precise, unified and systematic account of moral values, ideals and duties.

This module introduces students to a range of contemporary and historical ethical theories. We discuss six broad approaches to ethical theorising, each centred on a core unifying value: altruism, relationships, freedom, agreements, rights and excellence. In doing so we will encounter theories such as Utilitarianism, Contractualism and Feminist Care Ethics, and the ideas of philosophers including JS Mill, Harriet Taylor, Simone de Beauvoir, Immanuel Kant, Thomas Hobbes, Mary Wollstonecraft, Aristotle and Freidrich Nietzsche.

Feminism

Feminists have famously claimed that the personal is political. This module takes up various topics with that methodological idea in mind: the family, cultural critique, language. We examine feminist methodologies - how these topics might be addressed by a feminism that is inclusive of all women - and also turn attention to social structures within which personal choices are made - capitalism, and climate crisis .

Ethnography of Faith, Spirituality and Wellbeing

This module provides a methodological introduction to ethnography, exploring how religion and culture evolve in an era where traditional religious monopolies have given way to a vibrant, diverse 'religious marketplace.' Rather than focusing on institutional dogmas, we prioritise lived religion: the individualistic, everyday expressions of faith and spirituality that shape the contemporary world. You will investigate the intersections of self, faith, and wellbeing, considering e.g. race, disability, gender and sexuality, and the connections between faith, spirituality, wellbeing, in the pursuit of a meaningful life.You will move from theory to practice preparing your ethnography portfolio, evaluating your favorite case studies and conducting original research. No prior knowledge is needed, as the module includes training and assessment workshops, as well as portfolio draft feedback opportunities and consultations to develop your portfolio.

Chinese Business and Management

The objective of this module is to provide students an understanding of China's economic reform and open door policies, and the new free market orientation. While module content is academic rather than practical, this unit is designed to acquaint students with Chinese business environment and practice, and to inform them of issues and problems encountered by international businesses operating in China or doing business with the Chinese. Emphasis is on the Chinese business culture, the state-owned enterprise reform, development of the private sector and management issues of Chinese family firms, foreign direct investment and operating foreign businesses in China, human resource management, Chinese consumer behaviour, and the financial markets. An understanding of these topics is highly relevant to companies targeting the China market and essential background for graduates seeking a career in Far Eastern Business. Students are thus encouraged to develop business-related skills.

Contemporary Chinese Society and Culture

This module introduces students to different ways of thinking about Chinese society and culture. In particular, we focus on sociological, anthropological and geographical approaches to contemporary Chinese society and culture, showing why and how China is important to current theoretical debates in these disciplines.

Population and Environment in China

This module examines the interdependent relationship between population and environment in China. These are vitally important questions, in China and globally, that have attracted research by scholars of contemporary China, and in the wider academic disciplines of human geography and development studies. Through your work in lectures and seminars, you will gain a deep understanding of China's population and environment and its relation to social and economic change and to local and national institutions; and you will develop transferable skills of research, writing and critical analysis.

East Asian Cinema

We will examine key film directors, cinematic movements and industry developments since 1945 from Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Mainland China. This module will introduce you to some of the key cinematic theoretical frameworks such as national and global cinemas, gender, spectatorship and will examine the ways in which selected East Asian films and directors interact with the history and culture of their respective nations. This module is designed to encourage students to critically examine both the text (the films themselves) and the context (the national environment, film festival circuit, film finance) that surrounds any film work.

Digital East Asia

This module introduces students to how digital technologies are re-shaping the way 'East Asia' is imagined and lived. From media that connect major cities in East Asia to the world, to digital Asian cultures outside of the region, we will investigate how East Asia circulates in digital form around the globe. Students will examine social media and online practices, streaming sites, games, and other digital technologies, with a focus on how Chinese-speaking, Japanese-speaking, and Korean-speaking cultures are circulated and produced in the digital era. In doing so, we will examine how new identities, communities and economies form out of the circulation and re-production of digital media. Students will learn about these issues through the application of media research methodologies with an East Asia focus.

Third yearThird year

Dissertation in Digital Media and Society

This unit enables students to undertake an in-depth study on a topic of their own choice, which relates to digital media and society, and is guided by one-to-one academic supervision. It aims to enable students to develop and demonstrate skills in the planning, definition and management of a substantial piece of enquiry on digital media and society. The dissertation may take the form of a theoretical literature-based analysis, an empirical exploration, either through primary or secondary research, or it may incorporate elements of digital media production. The focus and methods are agreed with the unit leader in advance of the unit, to ensure that students have been trained in the use of relevant methods.

40 credits

Digital Media Work Placement

This unit provides students with the opportunity to undertake work experience, develop enterprise and employability skills, and apply their understanding of digital media/society in a chosen workplace. The module requires students to undertake the equivalent of four weeks work experience at a company or organisation which engages with digital media. Through this students will experience the practical demands of a working environment, and they will be required to evaluate their experience. Students experiences will vary depending on the projects in which they are involved and the companies/organisations in which they work. On the module, students will enhance their understanding of the inter-connection between Digital Media, the skills they have developed and their application in the wider world.

Digital Marketing and Consumer Culture

You will examine key sociological perspectives on digital marketing and their broader impacts on consumer culture. The content of this module will situate the emergence of data-driven marketing within a broader social history of marketing practices and discourses. Example topics covered may include, but are not limited to, social media, eCommerce, and on-demand platforms, geo and location based marketing, influencer marketing, and video games. You will gain the skills and knowledge needed to critically understand the social implications and power dynamics of digital marketing and their impacts on everyday life.

Global Data Industries

Platforms and digital technology corporations now double up as the data industries, especially with their focus on data accumulation, storage, management and governance. Similarly, the emergence of data annotation and labelling firms in countries in the Global South, the rise of data centres across countries, and the emergence of governance frameworks that enable or regulate these industries make them important entities to be studied.

Through this module, you will acquire an understanding of datafication, its infrastructural and commercial dimensions, all of which undergird the development of the data industries.

You will learn how to critically analyse the experiences of human labour and work, as well as sustainability in the context of the data industries in diverse contexts. You will also gain more experience in comprehending policy, governance and regulatory developments in relation to these industries.

Organised Crime and Illicit Markets

This module will introduce you to the growing field of organised crime studies. This rich area of research encompasses many disciplines from criminology and sociology to history, economics and politics. At the heart of organised crime studies are attempts to understand how, why and when illicit marketplaces are created and sustained and the roles of various actors within these markets.

You will have the opportunity to explore how governments and law enforcement agencies have tried to respond to organise crime by investigating a range of case studies specific to illicit marketplaces. You will also analyse the role of the media and the influence of popular culture on the way organised crime is defined and understood.

By exploring the primary literature, which covers the historical and contemporary developments in organised crime, you will be equipped to engage with sociological debates surrounding the development of this type of criminality, particularly its (alleged) increasingly transnational nature over the past two decades.

Digital Identities

This module explores how identities are being reimagined in a digital age. It provides students with an in-depth understanding of internet and social media technologies' roles in people's identity negotiations, the relationship between digital media and social life, and offers theoretical grounding for students to critically assess their own digital identities. It reviews debates about identity formations from the earliest digital media moments while also considering contemporary concerns like: identity concealment on social media platforms; a phenomenon called 'content moderation' (to ask which digital identities are not allowed); and the extent to which digital media users can (and want to) enact 'authentic' identities. But the module also asks why people might disconnect from digital technologies altogether, as these choices - especially in areas with high levels of internet and smartphone uptake - form a key part of who a person is and how they live their lives.

Protest, Movements and Social Change

During this module, you will gain deeper insight into how we study protests and movements and their impact on social change.

The content will take a historical overview, tracing the development of theoretical and empirical approaches to the study of social movements, matched with historical and contemporary case studies of movement from around the world.

By focusing on what functions movements play in society, as well as how they have been studied, you will become equipped with the tools to both analyse movements, and engage with sociological debates surrounding larger questions of inequality, identity, democracy and social justice.

Whiteness, Power and Privilege

This module explores the importance of studying whiteness in order to understand racism as a system of power relationships. You will learn about why the construction of whiteness has become a key focus in debates about race and ethnicity, and critically examine some of the key themes to emerge in this field of study.

Some topics you will explore include the historical origins of 'white studies' and the representations of whiteness in literary and visual culture. You will also examine the racialised, classed and gendered boundaries of whiteness and explore the relevance of space and place to understanding the operation of racialised power and privilege.

You will gain awareness of racism as a global issue of inequality and injustice and enhance your understanding of barriers to inclusivity. You will apply the knowledge gained from the module to a topic of your choice.

Reimagining Care: Families, Services and Policies

An increasing number of people made vulnerable by experiences of disability, old age, or family circumstances, rely on care and support provided by social care services or family and friends. Despite this, we are surrounded by narratives of social care systems in crisis, including bankruptcy of local authority providers, chronic care worker staffing shortages, poor outcomes for service users and for carers, and so on. We are also witnessing changes in the nature of care, with increasing opportunities provided by new technologies. In this module, we ask why care is facing so many challenges and consider evidence-based solutions.

Drawing on the ongoing research of the ESRC Centre for Care (hosted by the University of Sheffield), you will consider a series of issues and contexts explored in our own research, practice and personal experiences. Content will cover a breadth of childrens' and adults' care, including the varied care needs of people with physical disabilities or learning difficulties, vulnerable children, and older people supported at home or in residential care. You will also investigate the roles and experiences of those who provide care and support in the form of family carers and the paid care workforce.

Through these topics, you will be expected to engage in wider sociological and policy debates, including the meaning of 'care', funding and affordability, the mixed economy and inequality of care provision in order to imagine policy alternatives.

Journalism in Film and Fiction

The ways in which journalists are portrayed in popular culture can help moderate public feeling about both news gathering and news gatherers. Positive or negative representations of the ways in which news is brought to audiences are central to how (or whether) journalism functions within a democracy.

This module offers students an engaging and insightful exploration of how the worlds of journalism and storytelling intersect in the realms of cinema, TV and literature. The interdisciplinary course delves into the portrayal of fictional journalists and considers the ways in which these portrayals may help build public narratives around issues such as trust.

Through analysis of representations of the media, the module identifies common tropes, stereotypes and the influence of contemporary popular culture to depict journalists and their roles within a social context.

The module provides students with a unique opportunity to explore the dynamic interplay between the reality of being a journalist and fictionalised accounts by helping to enhance critical thinking and media literacy skills while gaining a deeper understanding of the impact of journalism on society and the ways in which these representations help shape our understanding of the world around us.

Intimacy and Personal Relationships

The module explores approaches to theorising and studying intimacy and personal relationships. Beginning with the Individualisation thesis and its critics, the module will go on to explore recent moves towards conceptualising personal relationships in terms of embeddedness, relationality, intimacy and linked lives. Students will also explore a range of substantive topics within the field including memory, genealogy, material culture and home, marriage and sexuality, responsibility and care, and friendship.

Queer Identities in the Media

You will be introduced to queer theory in order to discuss the role of different media in how gender and sexuality are constructed, represented and expressed.

The content will trace activist and academic origins of the word 'queer' and explore queer (self-)representations in mainstream and alternative media, such as newspapers, films, zines, blogs, social media and dating apps. You will also investigate how different representations promote or challenge the binaries of male versus female, masculine versus feminine, and heterosexual versus homosexual, as well as how they promote gender and sexuality transnationally.

This module will enable you to think critically across a range of social sciences disciplines. It will introduce you to different methodologies and provide a grounding in interdisciplinary social science research.

Algorithms, AI and Society

Algorithmic systems, AI, machine learning and other data-driven technologies are transforming society. They are having wide-ranging effects which are far from straightforward. Their use results in harms as well as benefits, and algorithmic systems and AI feed into and are fed into by inequalities.

You will critically interrogate claims that AI, automation and algorithms will simply lead to a better society. You will be asked to explore the negative effects of related change and the ways in which algorithmic and AI systems are not experienced equally by all. Throughout, you will review theoretical literature on AI-in-society and on algorithmic culture, focussing on high profile accounts of their social consequences in areas such as education, welfare, social care, big tech and the media.

By the end of this module, you will have gained a systematic knowledge of contemporary and advanced level debates relating to algorithms and AI.

Sex Work: Rights, Regulation and Resistance

Sex workers across the globe often experience stigmatisation, marginalisation and criminalisation. Drawing on a large and growing body of international scholarship, you will be introduced to the complexities and diverse realities of sex work.

You will engage in content that explores the various sex markets, gendered differences in the buying and selling of sex, violence, exploitation and trafficking, sex worker-led activism and resistance, and the regulatory modules used across the globe to govern sex industries.

By the end of the module, you will be equipped with a critical understanding of a range of theories and concepts that help to make sense of the social, cultural, and legal dimensions of sex work.

Digital Health

You will explore the social implications of digital technologies in health, considering what these mean for our experiences of health and illness as patients and as citizens, for the work of health care professionals, and for the provision of health care.

During this module, you will investigate a range of contemporary developments, such as self-tracking and gamifying health, telemedicine and care at a distance, health information on the net, electronic patient records, illness, death and dying on the web, and health activism and online patient groups.

Across the topics of investigation, you will consider questions about the changing representations and cultures of health and illness, whether we can all be medical experts now, who has responsibility for health, how we relate to health care professionals, the commodification of health data and the relative benefits for state and industry.

What it means to be human

New technologies and new scientific knowledge make powerful claims about 'human nature' that are reconstructing how we understand ourselves. At the same time, they also give us new potential to reshape our bodies and brains. This module aims to critically engage with these developments using concepts from a number of sociological traditions. Can biology tell us anything meaningful about social interaction or racial and gendered differences, or about ability and disability? What are the criteria by which we determine 'the human' and who decides what these shall be? How are the boundaries between humans and machines changing? What is the human impact on the environment? Should we use new technologies to enhance ourselves? The module will provide students with the opportunities and tools to grapple with these and other important questions.

Education@Sheffield

In Education@Sheffield students are invited to explore and evaluate the rich and diverse research taking place within the School of Education. Through a series of seminars presented by active researchers, students are encouraged to critically engage with research - and the researchers themselves - in the fields of educational and childhood studies. The Education@Sheffield module enables students to acquire a critical understanding of various themes, settings and methodologies which shape contemporary educational research.

Free Speech and Censorship

Free Speech and Censorship critically explores the historical and contemporary status of freedom of speech and expression and the limits and constraints on this liberty. The module covers topics as varied as the philosophies of free speech; the history and significance of free speech; the legal framework for the protection of free speech in Europe and the US; the limits of free speech and press freedom; debates about harm and offence. Students taking this module should be interested in examining these debates as they apply to contemporary media, legal and political systems. Assessment is via academic coursework on a topic selected by the student and approved by the module leader.

The content of our courses is reviewed annually to make sure it's up-to-date and relevant. Individual modules are occasionally updated or withdrawn. This is in response to discoveries through our world-leading research; funding changes; professional accreditation requirements; student or employer feedback; outcomes of reviews; and variations in staff or student numbers. In the event of any change we will inform students and take reasonable steps to minimise disruption.

Learning and assessment

Learning

You'll learn through a mix of interactive lectures and seminars, with time for independent study. There is an opportunity to undertake a work placement in the final year of the course.

We invest to create the right environment for you. That means outstanding facilities, study spaces and support, including 24/7 access to our online library service.

Study spaces and computers are available to offer you choice and flexibility for your study. Our five library sites give you access to over one million books and periodicals. You can access your library account and our rich digital collections from anywhere on or off campus. Other library services include study skills training to improve your grades, and tailored advice from experts in your subject.

Learning support facilities and library opening hours

Our digital media and society degree is unique in bringing together expertise from across Sheffield's Faculty of Social Sciences.

Digital media experts from the School of Sociological Studies, Politics and International Relations, the School of Information, Journalism and Communication and the School of Education all contribute to this innovative programme. This means that you have the opportunity to study digital media developments in relation to a range of fields.

Assessment

You'll be assessed through a combination of coursework and exams. Coursework may include:

creating websites and data visualisations

writing blogs

producing podcasts, vlogs and online zines.

policy analysis

Research projects

Our assessments ensure that you develop key skills to prepare you for the world of employment after your studies, such as communication, problem solving, critical thinking, digital literacy, group work and independence, and digital data gathering.

Entry requirements

With Access Sheffield, you could qualify for additional consideration or a contextual offer - find out if you're eligible.

Standard offer

Access Sheffield offer

A Levels + a fourth Level 3 qualification

BBB + B in the EPQ

International Baccalaureate

33; 32, with B in the extended essay

BTEC Extended Diploma

BTEC Diploma

DD + B at A Level

Scottish Highers

Welsh Baccalaureate + 2 A Levels

Access to HE Diploma

Award of Access to HE Diploma in a relevant subject, with 45 credits at Level 3, including 30 at Distinction and 15 at Merit

Routes for mature students

Award of Access to HE Diploma in a relevant subject, with 45 credits at Level 3, including 24 at Distinction and 21 at Merit

Equivalent English language qualifications

Visa and immigration requirements

Other qualifications | UK and EU/international

Pathway programme for international students

If you're an international student who does not meet the entry requirements for this course, you have the opportunity to apply for an International Foundation Year in Business, Social Sciences and Humanities at the University of Sheffield International College. This course is designed to develop your English language and academic skills. Upon successful completion, you can progress to degree level study at the University of Sheffield.

If you have any questions about entry requirements, please contact the school.

Graduate careers

As a digital media and society graduate you could find yourself working within digital media organisations, agencies or games companies, working in roles such as UX (User Experience Design), usability studies or user research.

Alternatively, you could choose a career in marketing, communications and PR, for example working as a digital media manager or social media account manager for a local or city council, in a museum or theatre, or working for a charitable organisation.

Our graduates work in a range of sectors including broadcasting, the police service, teaching and social work. They are also employed in local government, the civil service, charity and campaign organisations and market research.

Some have carried out graduate training with national and international companies, and are employed around the world. Many go on to masters courses in sociology and social policy and other areas such as human resources.

You could pursue a career in marketing, communications and PR, or work in museums, theatres or charitable organisations.

As an international student, I wanted an opportunistic, yet manageable city where I was able to focus without the stresses of city life

Hana Okasha

Graduate,

I wouldn’t change my experience for anything

Suki Cheung

PR and Communications,

Department statistics

Top 20 in the UK for sociology

Complete University Guide 2025

Top 25 in the UK for sociology

The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025

World top 100 for both sociology and politics

QS World University rankings by subject, 2025

94% of our politics and international relations research is rated in the highest two categories and 98% of our sociology research is rated in the highest three categories

Research Excellence Framework 2021

We’re proud to be one of the UK’s top providers for research and teaching. Our academics are recognised internationally for their expertise, contributing to national and international policy and working alongside organisations around the world to address society’s major challenges.

Each brings cutting-edge research into your studies and uses their professional expertise to support your learning and development.

During your time with us, you will

tackle contemporary challenges - all our courses are designed to engage with and discuss the most pressing challenges, with our research-active staff bringing in their expertise to your learning

develop your own expertise - we offer a range of optional modules so you can tailor your degree to your own interests

receive comprehensive support - with a wide range of support available, including academic tutors and dedicated support services, you will be supported throughout your time with us and beyond

engage with diverse and interactive teaching - a mix of teaching formats ensures you'll learn in new and innovative ways throughout your course

be career confident - develop key skills for the world of work and gain professional experience with placements, internships and other employability opportunities

Our staff are based in The Wave, the home of the Faculty of Social Sciences, and across the road in Elmfield. The Wave offers the newest lecture theatres on campus, plenty of collaborative and private study spaces and a cafe.

Elmfield features state-of-the-art seminar rooms and a communal student room to study and socialise. Teaching may take place across both buildings, as well as other buildings on campus which are only a short walk away.

University rankings

A world top-100 university

QS World University Rankings 2027 (82nd)

Number one in the Russell Group for student voice

National Student Survey 2026

92 per cent of our research is rated as world-leading or internationally excellent

University of the Year for Student Experience

The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2026

Number one Students' Union in the UK

Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2024, 2023, 2022, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017

Number one for Students' Union

StudentCrowd 2025 University Awards

7th best University for Work Experience

Higherin 2026-27

Student profiles

When I discovered Digital Media and Society at Sheffield, it felt as if I had hit the jackpot!

Katy Turnbull

Sheffield just has this warm aura about it that hooks you in - ask anyone who's studied here

Anesu Matanda-Mambingo

Welfare and Sustainability Officer,

Fees and funding

We have a fixed fee guarantee in place for undergraduate overseas students, meaning that your tuition fee will not increase during your studies. Tuition fees for undergraduate home students may increase during your studies in line with our Terms and Conditions upon Acceptance of an Offer policy.

Tuition fees

Fee status help

Additional costs

The annual fee for your undergraduate course includes a number of items in addition to your tuition. If an item or activity is classed as a compulsory element for your course, it will normally be included in your tuition fee. There are also other costs which you may need to consider. These costs may increase due to price increases outside of the University’s control, if you defer entry or if you choose to change course.

Examples of what’s included and excluded in undergraduate fees

Funding your study

Depending on your circumstances, you may qualify for a bursary, scholarship or loan to help fund your study and enhance your learning experience.

Use our Student Funding Calculator to work out what you’re eligible for.

£2,500 per year scholarships for international students

We're offering automatic scholarships worth up to £10,000 to overseas fee-paying students starting their studies in September 2026 - no additional application required.

Placements and study abroad

Placement

You may have the opportunity to add an optional placement year as part of your course, converting the three-year course to a four-year Degree with Placement Year.

A placement year will help you to:

gain an insight into possible careers

develop a range of transferable skills

build a professional network

get a feel for what you do and don’t like doing

add valuable work experience to your CV

gain experience of applying for jobs and interview practice

apply elements of academic learning in the workplace

Study abroad

Spending time abroad during your degree is a great way to explore different cultures, gain a new perspective and experience a life-changing opportunity that you will never forget.

You can apply to extend this course with a year abroad, usually between the second and third year. We have over 250 University partners worldwide. Popular destinations include Europe, the USA, Canada, Australia, Singapore and Hong Kong.

Find out more on the Global Opportunities website.

University open days

We host five open days each year, usually in June, July, September, October and November. You can talk to staff and students, tour the campus and see inside the accommodation.

Open days: book your place

Online events

Join our online information sessions to find out more about different aspects of University life.

Online information sessions

Subject tasters

If you’re considering your post-16 options, our interactive subject tasters are for you. There are a wide range of subjects to choose from and you can attend sessions online or on campus.

Upcoming taster sessions

Offer holder days

If you've received an offer to study with us, we'll invite you to one of our offer holder days, which take place between February and April. These open days have a strong department focus and give you the chance to really explore student life here, even if you've visited us before.

Campus tours

Our weekly guided tours show you what Sheffield has to offer - both on campus and beyond. You can extend your visit with tours of our city, accommodation or sport facilities.

Campus tour: book your place

Make sure you've done everything you need to do before you apply.

How to apply When you're ready to apply, see the UCAS website:

www.ucas.com

Not ready to apply yet? You can also register your interest in this course.

Contact us

Start a conversation with us – you can get in touch by email, telephone or online chat.

Contacts for prospective students

The awarding body for this course is the University of Sheffield.

Recognition of professional qualifications: from 1 January 2021, in order to have any UK professional qualifications recognised for work in an EU country across a number of regulated and other professions you need to apply to the host country for recognition. Read information from the UK government and the EU Regulated Professions Database.

Any supervisors and research areas listed are indicative and may change before the start of the course.

Our student protection plan

Terms and Conditions upon Acceptance of an Offer

Department

Extra info box

Find an undergraduate course

Similar courses you might be interested in |

2027-28 A-Z

The University of Sheffield

Western Bank

Sheffield

© 2026 The University of Sheffield

UCAS 及院校官網均未列指定科（核對日期 2026-10-29，https://sheffield.ac.uk/undergraduate/courses/2027/digital-media-and-society-ba）

院校只公布範圍；競爭較大科目可能要求更高成績，請向院校確認

競爭較大的課程可能要求更高；請向院校確認。