DACSS Substantive Courses
The courses below are examples count toward the substantive requirement for the MS in Data Analytics and Computational Social Science and are open to DACSS students only.
DACSS 691P: Polishing Your Professional Presence
The course is designed to prepare students for the job market through four units: (1) Identifying Your Talents; (2) Developing Your Professional Presence; (3) Polishing Your Professional Presence, and (4) Developing a Collaborative Mindset. Among other topics, there will be specific workshops with trained professionals and alumni on writing CVs and cover letters, interviewing, creating an elevator pitch, identifying and making the most of personal strengths (using the Clifton Strengths Assessment), building a personal website, and more. There will be many opportunities for engagement and networking with alumni from the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences. Students can contact the DACSS program (dacss [at] umass [dot] edu) for more information.
DACSS 695P: Public Opinion in Politics
What is public opinion? How do we measure it? Where does it come from? Does it, and should it, matter for policies and political outcomes? Whose opinions count? These are fundamental questions for understanding the role of citizens in American democracy and democracy in general. In this course, we learn about how members of the public think about issues and why they think the way they do. We will also examine whether or not political leaders follow "the will of the public" or manipulate public opinion to achieve their aims. In addition, topics from the polls and the news will be discussed in class regularly. There will be many opportunities to discuss the election, understand better and interpret election polls, and explore the deeper reasons why Americans vote the way they do.
DACSS 695SL: Social Life of Algorithms
Algorithmic systems are at the center of today's digital world and mediate communication processes in areas as diverse as social media, journalism, healthcare, and governments. How do algorithmic systems capture, represent, and transmit information about everyday interactions? How do they shape, and are shaped by social, cultural, and political life? What kind of new issues and concerns arise from their ubiquitous use? This course provides a critical introduction to algorithmic systems and how they relate to issues of communication, power, and social inequalities. In addition to reading responses and a midterm essay, students will complete a research project on an algorithmic system of their choice to unpack how they are constructed and used in everyday life.
DACSS 695X: Social Media and Political Communication
Social media continue to evolve and interact with our existing patterns of communication. Individuals, organizations, as well as policymakers are tasked with evaluating the risks and merits of information spread through online social networks. In this course, we will examine the current state of research and key findings on the uses and effects of social media. We will cover a wide range of theoretical perspectives to understand complex issues that emerge in social media platforms, such as big data and ethics, digital youth, and privacy.
DACSS 697N: News and Public Opinion
Digital technology has transformed the news environment and diversified how public opinion is formed and expressed. This course is designed to offer a framework for understanding the broad impact of these changes on citizens as well as the democratic system. We will discuss foundational theories of political communication and address emerging issues in the digital news environment, ranging from the use of artificial intelligence in the newsroom to the changing perceptions of information credibility.
DACSS 697S: Social Influence and Persuasion
Social influence is a powerful driving force for human behavior. Understanding the fundamental mechanism of social influence is essential for strategic communication and decision-making, whether you are in data science, management, or communication. In this course, we will learn why and under what conditions our attitudes and actions can be influenced by those around us. We will explore key theories and research findings in social psychology and economics, and apply persuasive communication techniques through case studies and hands-on projects.
