Centre for Computing and Social Responsibility postgraduate and research study options
The Centre for Computing and Social Responsibility (CCSR) at De Montfort University is home to the MSc Information Systems Management (ISM) and MSc Computing. MSc ISM is broad-ranging, and concentrates on the latest tools, techniques and practices of information systems management.
Covering object-oriented programming, computer systems and networking, advanced database design, web systems, technology change management and integration, and much more.
The course exposes you to the most recent developments in both the theory and practice of modern information systems. MSc Computing is a course which focuses on the latest tools and techniques of modern computer science, ensuring graduates are highly employable in a diverse range of careers.
Computing MSc and Information Systems Management MSc are very closely linked, with a common first semester, giving you the option of changing between these courses at the end of the first semester.
Information Society Doctoral Programme (ISDP)
The CCSR is the only research centre in the UK specialising in the ethical and social issues of computing and information systems.
Members of the centre have been supervising research students since 1993. The centre has established the Information Society Doctoral Programme to concentrate the research student/supervision efforts.
The purpose of the programme is to capitalise and continue to grow our existing research base. It will attract high-quality research students by advertising our research strengths and supervision capabilities.
By providing information to students, applicants, members of staff, internal and external stakeholders and observers, ISDP will raise the visibility of the CCSR and streamline procedures. It will allow us to improve our experiences which will then feed into further research avenues, thereby providing students with an enriched research experience.
The members and researchers of CCSR cover a wide area of research disciplines, topics and approaches. The common thread is that all our research is interested in social, organisational or ethical aspects of information technology.
The following table gives an indication of these areas. The table is neither comprehensive or exhaustive, and novel combinations within and/or between the columns of the table are welcomed. Other areas are also conceivable.
CCSR research disciplines
|
Discipline
|
Topics
|
Approach
|
|
Information systems
|
Social media
|
Quantitative and qualitative research
|
|
Computer sciences
|
Gaming
|
Action research
|
|
Philosophy
|
Privacy
|
Grounded theory
|
|
Sociology
|
Intellectual property
|
Phenomenology
|
|
Law
|
Computer law
|
Analytic philosophy
|
|
Public administration
|
Social impact of technology
|
Critical research
|
|
Business/economics
|
E-democracy
|
Design science
|
|
Politics
|
E-government
|
|
|
Psychology
|
Technology assessment
|
|
|
Medicine
|
IT/IS service provision
|
|
|
Biology
|
E-teaching/e-learning
|
|
|
Engineering
|
MIS/DSS
|
|
|
Education
|
New Pedagogical teaching/learning methods
|
|
Supervision/teaching
Supervision is done in teams consisting of at least a first and second supervisor. In many cases we will have another second supervisor and external advisors. This is due to the interdisciplinary nature of our research, which often requires different areas of expertise.
Students accepted on the programme will be enrolled on a variety of research training courses according to university regulations and requirements and faculty requirements. CCSR's contribution to these courses lies in the area or research ethics.
Additional to university regulations, members of the ISDP will participate in the following activities:
- Student research seminars (where students present their research and discuss it with other students)
- Reading groups (where students can suggest topics and texts for collective deliberation and discussion)
- Mock viva (as preparation for the final examination)
- Participation in ETHICOMP conferences
- Other appropriate activities defined by current research student needs
CCSR has a tradition of providing students with a work space, and access to computers and other necessary resources for research within the centre.
Students will not only be taught, but they will have the opportunity to present their research in progress to appropriate audiences.
For information regarding postgraduate research contact Professor Bernd Stahl, bstahl@dmu.ac.uk.