Big Data and Digital Futures (Taught)

Join Warwick's Big Data and Digital Futures MSc/PGDip and learn to critically engage with big data. The Centre for Interdisciplinary Methodologies works across disciplines, drawing from the Arts, Humanities, Social Sciences and Sciences, to answer employers' demands for a new generation of researchers.

Course overview
This degree responds directly to the growing demand across research fields and by employers in society for a new generation of postgraduates who can critically engage with big data theoretically, methodologically and practically. In contrast to many big data-focused degrees (such as Data Science or Data Analytics) where the emphasis is almost exclusively on data practices and computational tools, this degree underpins key practical skills with a range of theoretical approaches to data.

How is our world influenced by big data? How are our lives represented in big data? This course will enable you, whatever your disciplinary background, to understand and act in a society transformed by data, networks and computation and develop a range of interdisciplinary capacities.

Our course offers you:

• Core knowledge in statistical modelling and programming for data-driven careers

• An extensive understanding of the relationship between big data technology and society

• Practical and critical application of these techniques to cutting-edge methods across the data spectrum

• Python and R programming skills (using RStudio)

• Introductory Data Science and Machine Learning / AI techniques, including Generative AI

• Statistics in Social Science (up to multiple linear regression and logistic regression)

• Advanced Statistics (generalised linear models, multilevel modelling and casual inference)

• Basics in Social Network Analysis, Web Scraping, Reproducible Analysis, Data Visualisation, SQL, Deep Learning, Agent-Based Modelling

• Writing and communication skills for analysis/discussing technical content

• Critical academic research skills with an interdisciplinary focus

This information is applicable for 2025 entry. Given the interval between the publication of courses and enrolment, some of the information may change. It is important to check our website before you apply.