Data & Society

Groundbreaking data-driven technologies harbour enormous potential. But they also pose immense social and societal risks. Therefore, students of the English-taught Master's degree programme in Data & Society (MSc) learn to analyse and shape technological developments in the context of human behaviour, social needs, and political conditions. The programme is strongly interdisciplinary and application-oriented. It combines in-depth Engineering, Natural Sciences, and Informatics skills with a thorough understanding of the social, political, and ecological implications of innovative technological developments and their application. Students acquire specialised technical and social science skills in the areas of Data Perspectives, Human & Society, Regulatory, and Sustainable Development. They critically examine data, algorithms and AI-supported decision-making processes, human behaviour and social dynamics, ethical and philosophical considerations of technology, the political and legal framework conditions for the use of technology, and the requirements for sustainable technology use. Graduates of the degree programme are competent engineers and scientists with specific expertise in evaluating modern technologies' opportunities, risks, and regulations. They are able to reflect on, analyse, and assess the economic, ecological, social, political, and ethical dimensions of data-based technologies and manage their use in line with specific requirements. As a result, they are just as well qualified to take on leadership roles in technology-driven companies or public administration as they are to continue their academic work within the framework of a doctoral dissertation. For a comprehensive description of the programme, please refer to the degree programme documentation: Degree programme documentation for the Master’s programme in Data & Society (PDF, German )