Important information

The current page lists all courses for the Digital Societ minor programme à 30 ECTS credits. If you are interested or enrolled in the Digital Society major programme à 90 ECTS credits, which consists of four modules, please visit the dedicated major courses information page.

Digital Society Minor programme

The Minor programme consists of two modules.

  • Module 1: Interdisciplinary perspectives on the digital transformation of society
  • Module 2: Theories and Case Studies

Module 1 (DSS 1) with 15 ECTS credits:

Interdisciplinary perspectives on the digital transformation of society

All lectures in Module 1 are mandatory and are offered once every academic year.

Description:

The main objective of this module is to provide a conceptual and practical introduction to the digital society from an interdisciplinary perspective. It combines social sciences, history, and computer sciences so that students can understand the foundations of the digital society and its transformations. In addition, the module introduces digital research methods.

Lectures:

  • Social History of Computing and the Internet (L26.00211, 3 ECTS credits) General outline of technical innovations and their social impact. Usually held in the autumn semester, Timetable 2025/26

  • Foundations of Informatics (SDN.00002, 3 ECTS credits) Introduction to the fundamentals of informatics that enables students from diverse backgrounds to have a general understanding of programming, the function of algorithms and their application. Usually held in the autumn semester, Timetable 2025/26

  • Perspectives in the Social Studies of Technology (L26.00212, 3 ECTS credits) Introduction to the main theoretical and analytical perspectives and approaches in social studies of technology with special emphasis on their interdisciplinary dimensions. What are the main research programmes and domains of study? How have they evolved? Usually held in the spring semester, Timetable 2025/26

  • Digital Transformation in Society and Culture (L26.00213, 3 ECTS credits) Using a lecture series format, interdisciplinary introduction to diverse issues and areas of research. What are the major contemporary challenges in terms of changes in the economy, work, politics, culture, sports, religion, and society as a whole? Who are the major players and their roles, what are the stakes? The lecture series is based on diverse contributors from Fribourg University and external experts. Usually given in the autumn semester, Timetable 2025/26, PDF of the 2024 programme PDF of the 2023 Programme

Seminar:

  • Methods in studies of the digital society (L26.00214 3 ECTS credits) This seminar provides the students with an introduction to the methodological skills required to successfully engage with the programme and be adequately prepared for specific case studies in the module. For 2025/26, held in the autumn semester, Timetable 2025/26

Module 2 (DSS 2) with 15 ECTS credits

Theories and Case Studies

Module 2 offers a series of courses that explore specific topics, case studies and theories that correspond to current trends and public debates. These courses follow a flexible structure that is common in the social sciences and humanities. The courses offer a wide range of study topics to appeal to different student groups and interests. More importantly, given the rapid development of digital technologies, the aim is to keep the courses open and flexible. For this reason, the courses in Module 2 alternate to always allow room for new study topics.

Description:

The objective of Module 2 is to allow the students to deepen their knowledge of certain theories, case studies and issues related to the digital society using empirical research methods. The module focuses on the macro level (society), the meso level (institutions) and how these influence the micro level of digital practices.

Lectures and seminars:

3 lectures or seminars focused on specific transformations/social groups or on specific theoretical approaches (3 x 3 ECTS credits).

These lectures and seminars may deal for example with digital law; the ethics of robotics and artificial intelligence; hacking and cybersecurity; digital infrastructures; democracy and digital media; digital religion; the digital divide and social participation; digital communication; surveillance, control, and censorship; computer games; ethnography of software engineers and hackers; education and digital inequality and so on.

  • Law and the digital society (L26.00282, 3 ECTS credits; + potentially a seminar paper à 6 ECTS credits) Legal systems must adapt to new challenges, such as protecting personal data, regulating government use of facial recognition, and promoting a sustainable digital economy. The law's role is to balance the benefits of technology with the need to protect individuals and society from potential harms. Usually given in the autumn semester, Timetable 2025/26

  • Challenging Digital Society (SP, L26.00282 3 ECTS credits; + potentially a seminar paper à 6 ECTS credits) Timetable 2025

  • From Censorship to algorithms: politics, religion and culture (L26.00282, 3 ECTS credits) This lecture series with contributors of various disciplines firstly introduces historical case studies. In the second part it focuses on recent phenomena connected to social media, practices of internet censorship, new technological forms of social control. Timetable 2025/26

Full offer, updated every semester A list is provided for every semester. Please contact the study advisor to discuss your options. Possible courses and seminars SA-2025, Possible courses and seminars SP-2026

Seminar paper

1 seminar paper (=research paper) related to a seminar (6 ECTS credits)

Study plan

Download the study plan.

Digital Society on social media

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digitalsociety_unifr on Tik Tok

Disclaimer

This website exists for informational purposes only. Solely the official study plan is binding.