MA in Social Media Communications
Dublin, Ireland
MA
DURATION
2 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
TUITION FEES
EUR 17,200 / per year
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
Key Summary
This MA programme examines the complex impact of social media and the internet in areas as diverse as business, politics and culture. Such knowledge is vital as digital media have become central to communication and information ecosystems, as well as our everyday existence.
Digital media and networked technologies have transformed the ways we share and distribute information, understand the past, participate in politics and interact with each other. The MA in Social Media Communications examines the complex impact of social media and the internet on multiple aspects of social and political life. These questions are vital as digital media have become more central to communication and information ecosystems, as well as our everyday existence.
The digital world has changed the terms of engagement in areas as diverse as business, politics and culture: while it can act as a force for good in democratising participation, cultural production, and sharing, it can also be exploitative, introducing new forms of control and surveillance.
This programme is designed for individuals seeking a thoughtful and critical understanding of social media, along with the skills to analyse and strategically harness them. The main focus of this course is to help students acquire a social science-based understanding and tools for analysing how social media platforms have developed, the power they wield, and how they operate and are governed in our globally networked society.
The MA in Social Media Communications addresses the way in which social media and connected technologies pervade all aspects of our personal lives, habits and identities, the way in which we relate to and coexist with other people, and the way in which we work and do business. It also reflects on the power hierarchies and tensions that result from the ongoing engagement with these networks by politicians, journalists, platform owners and the public.
The programme combines theory and reflection with practical skills and policy insights. It provides you with a wide skill set of cutting-edge digital tools, policy instruments, and qualitative research methods that enable you to pursue a career in digital social research, digital policy-making and governance, or a variety of digital media industries.
Programme Aims
- To introduce students to theories, critical concepts and methods relating to digital media research.
- To investigate and relate institutional, technical and social factors shaping social media practices.
- To critically examine social media practices by a variety of actors, including politicians, businesses, journalists and the general public.
- To analyse the impact of social media in politics, socio-cultural and economic life.
- To enable students to develop effective social media research and communication strategies.
Overview
This programme is designed for individuals seeking a thoughtful and critical understanding of social media, along with the skills to analyse and strategically harness them. The main focus of this course is to help students acquire a social science-based understanding and tools for analysing how social media platforms have developed, the power they wield, and how they operate and are governed in our globally networked society.
The MA in Social Media Communications combines theory and reflection with practical skills and policy insights. It provides you with a wide skill set of cutting-edge digital tools, policy instruments, and qualitative research methods that enable you to pursue a career in digital social research, digital policy-making and governance, or a variety of digital media industries.
Full time programme
Semester 1: Core modules
- Understanding Social Media 10 credits
- Social Media, Journalism and Democracy 10 credits
- Digital Media Campaigns 5 credits
- Research Methods 5 credits
Semester 2: Core modules
- NEW in 2025! Digital Governance and Online Media Regulation 5 credits
- Digital Media Research: Approaches and Methods 10 credits
- Data Communication 10 credits
Semester 2: Optional modules - students choose one of the following modules
- Information, Manipulation and Democracy 5 credits
- Gender and Sexuality in Digital Culture 5 credits
- Media Audiences and Consumption 5 credits
- Public Relations: Issues and Principles 5 credits
Year Long
- Dissertation / Major Project 30 credits
Part time programme
YEAR ONE
Semester 1: Core modules
- Understanding Social Media 10 credits
- Social Media, Journalism and Democracy 10 credits
Semester 2: Core modules
- NEW in 2025! Digital Governance and Online Media Regulation 5 credits
- Digital Media Research: Approaches and Methods 10 credits
Semester 2: Optional modules - students choose one of the following modules
- Information, Manipulation and Democracy 5 credits
- Gender and Sexuality in Digital Culture 5 credits
- Media Audiences and Consumption 5 credits
- Public Relations: Issues and Principles 5 credits
YEAR TWO
Semester 1: Core modules
- Digital Media Campaigns 5 credits
- Research Methods 5 credits
Semester 2: Core modules
- Data Communication 10 credits
Year Long
- Dissertation / Major Project 30 credits
- Ranked in the top 2% of universities worldwide (QS World University Rankings)
- Ranked among the world's top 350 universities (Times Higher Education World University Rankings). Business and Economics (201-250), Arts and Humanities (201-250), Research Environment (301)
- Ireland’s highest-ranked young university, placed 59th globally (Times Higher Education Young University Rankings).
- Ranked 1st in Ireland for Graduate Employment Rate (and 23rd Globally) by QS World University Rankings
- 96% of DCU graduates are in employment or further studies within 6 months of graduation
- Voted no. 1 worldwide for Career Development by Global Student Satisfaction Awards
Explore scholarship opportunities for International Students.
Graduates of this program can be confident of job opportunities and employment in various media-related sectors or communication roles in other industries. They can also expand their career prospects in their current field. This programme is valuable for individuals wanting to update their skills, specialise in the field of communication, or transition into more socially and communicatively focused roles.
Career Prospects
- Social Media Specialist
- Digital Campaign Strategist
- Engagement Coordinator
- Social Media Analyst
- Researcher in Digital Media and Communications
- Online Community Manager
- Digital Policy Officer
- Digital Content Specialist


