MA in Social Media Communications

DCU is currently finalising plans for a phased and incremental return to campus, with a view to welcoming all students to the DCU campuses in September. Students should plan to attend face-to face classes in Semester 1 2021-2022. Please see https://www.dcu.ie/attendingdcu-students-studying-at-dcu for more information.

Introduction

How are social media linked to the economy? What role do they play in politics? How different is a life lived in and through social media? This MA addresses these and similar questions that have emerged out of the rise of social media, and their increasing domination of the media and communications field.

The MA in Social Media Communications offers a critical examination of the history, operation, ramifications, functions, use and embeddedness of social media in all spheres of life. It is aimed at people who look for a critical reflection on social media, who wish to understand their uses, and also learn how to analyse and mobilize them strategically.

The emphasis of the course is on a social scientific understanding and analysis of the emergence and functions of social media in a globalized networked society.

The course addresses the way in which social media became involved in and change personal lives, habits and identities, social lives, the way in which we relate to and coexist with other people; the way in which we work and live our everyday lives; and life, which changes as a result of the ongoing engagement with social media by politicians, journalists and publics.

The main idea behind this programme is that social media leave nothing untouched, introducing changes, sometimes subtle sometimes more apparent, that must be mapped, studied and understood. Successful use of social media is premised on a deep understanding of their roles and functions and ability to analyse current and emerging practices and trends.

DCU’s School of Communications has just been ranked in the top 200 communications schools internationally. The only ranked Irish media/communications School in the QS ranking.