Learn in-demand digital research skills for career advancement.
Digital communication technologies have revolutionized societies around the world and changed how we study social interactions. Data from digital technologies allow us to gain unprecedented insights into human behavior, social networks, and social inequalities.
UNT’s Digital Social Science graduate degrees and certificates provide advanced, interdisciplinary training in the social dimensions of digital technologies. These programs provide students with new perspectives and ways to study social trends and interactions using digital research tools such as web scraping, text mining, network analysis, and social simulations. UNT DSS alumni and faculty work as data analysts for companies including FedEx, the Neiman Marcus Group, Maximus, SVI, Esri, and Interos Inc. as well as the University of Bremen (Germany), Middlesex University (London), and the University of Hawaii.
Start Small. Then Go Big.
You can begin DSS graduate training with a four-course graduate certificate, then decide whether to stop there or apply those four courses to a master’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies, Sociology, or Business. All four courses (12 credits) count toward UNT master’s degrees in these fields. You may then choose to continue to a PhD in Marketing, Sociology, or another field.
What It's Like
The Digital Social Science core courses are taught at UNT-Frisco in hybrid format, generally in one evening session per week. Courses from other UNT departments that count toward DSS concentrations, certificates and degrees may be taught in person or hybrid at UNT-Frisco, UNT-Denton, or online. The DSS learning experience is unique; students come from a variety of academic and industry backgrounds, and learn from each other throughout the semester. The vibrant interdisciplinary nature of Digital Social Science allows students to make the best possible decisions about their coursework and academic and professional plans.
Academic Background
The Digital Social Science core courses (INSD 5200, 5210 and 5220) are designed for students with social science and humanities backgrounds who want to learn digital research skills such as web scraping, data mining, and network analysis. The core courses do not require any statistical or computer science background. Students need to be self-starters who are excited to learn cutting-edge theories and research methods that they can apply in academic and industry research positions.
Visit the Registrar's website for more information on course registration dates and payment deadlines.
Digital Social Sciences Courses Offered
All courses are offered in person at the UNT at Frisco campus.
- INSD 5200 (3 hrs) - Digital Social Science
- INSD 5210 (3 hrs) - Information Theory
- INSD 5220 (3 hrs) - Digital Research Methods
- INSD 5203 (3 hrs) - Social Science Text Mining
- INSD 5230 (3 hrs) - Social Network Analysis
How can Digital Social Science fit in your degree plan?
The Digital Social Science program is a graduate academic certificate. The four courses in the Digital Social Science program also fit into existing master’s degrees as a focus area, such as the Interdisciplinary Studies or the Master of Business Administration. This robust program can enhance any degree, talk to your graduate advisor to learn how to add it to your degree plan.
Graduate Certificate
Master’s Degrees
- Interdisciplinary Studies (MS only) with a concentration in Digital Social Science
- Sociology (MA or MS)
Digital Social Science as an MBA Focus area
- Master of Business Administration
Meet The Digital Social Sciences Team
Program Coordinator & Instructor
Gabe Ignatow, Ph.D., is a Professor in the Department of Sociology and the Digital Social Science Program Chair. He is the author of Sociological Theory in the Digital Age, Text Mining, and An Introduction to Text Mining.
Program Developer & Instructor
Elif Bulut, Ph.D., is a Digital Social Science Instructor and Program Director with research experience in big data analysis and computational social science. She has extensive experience working in and teaching R and Python. Dr. Bulut teaches courses on data mining and social network analysis, among other topics.
Digital Social Science Instructor
Suheyl Gurbuz, Ph.D. is a Digital Social Science Instructor and Data Scientist with experience in machine learning, business analytics, and computational social science. He has extensive experience working in and teaching Python. Dr. Gurbuz teaches digital research methods.
