MSc Social Network Analysis / Course details

Year of entry: 2025

Course description

The programme aims to offer a unique comprehensive training in social network analysis (SNA) covering theoretical foundations, research design, data collection techniques, methods for the analysis and visualization of network data, and statistical modelling of networks. At the end of the programme the students will be able to:

  • Design research projects using SNA in a variety of applicative areas.
  • Critically engage with the theoretical foundations of SNA and use them to formulate robust and coherent SNA empirical questions.
  • Collect social network data in online and offline contexts, selecting the right data collection tools and assessing the validity and reliability of the data collection.
  • Apply a wide range of analytical techniques to social network data.
  • Statistically model the mechanisms for social network formation and evolution.
  • Develop network studies and intervention that can be used in private and public sectors.
  • Write social network analysis academic reports

Aims

  • Meet the increasing national and international demand of social network analysis (SNA) in academic social research as well as commercial environment including market research, crime analysis and public health.
  • Contribute to the national and international need for theoretically informed and methodologically skilled researchers in SNA.
  • Train in the necessary skills to understand and contribute to future developments in social network research.
  • Provide advanced, systematic and critical knowledge of theoretical and methodological aspects of SNA in a vibrant and internationally leading research environment.
  • Offer a unique set of skills in data visualization and modelling techniques that are highly valuable in commercial and public sectors, with understanding of the implications for markets and policy.
  • Prepare students for PhD level research careers in academic life or as professionals in government, public and private sectors.

Teaching and learning

  • Face-to-face lectures
  • Workshops
  • Computer-assisted tutorials
  • Student-led presentations and debate
  • Independent study
  • Seminars

Coursework and assessment

A student's year is divided into two study periods: October - December and February - April.

During each of these periods, students sit 60 credits.

Assessments are due after the teaching period, and the Dissertation component is due in September of the following year.

Assessment is normally by a 3,000-word assessed essay or a computer-based coursework for each unit, and a dissertation of between 11,000 and 12,000 words.

Course unit details

You will take five compulsory units:

  • SOCY60361 Social network analysis: concepts and measures
  • SOCY60631 Theories of social relations, networks, and social structure
  • SOCY60292 Doing research with social network data and visualizations
  • SOST71032 Statistical Models for Social Netowrks
  • CRIM70821 Data Analysis with R & RStudio.

You will also take 3 optional modules. Optional modules will give students the possibility of continuing the specialization in SNA (Mitchell centre seminar series, crime and networks), or extending the interdisciplinary training to other social sciences substantive areas.

Possible optional modules are:

  • CRIM71502 Crime and Networks
  • SOCY60360 Mitchell Centre seminar series
  • SOCY71012 Social Capital and Social Change
  • SOST60421 Survey Research Methods
  • SOST70011 Introduction to Statistical Modelling
  • SOST70092 Complex Social Systems and Simulation
  • SOST70151 Statistical Foundations
  • SOST70172 Causal Inference for Policies, Interventions and Experiments
  • DATA70402 Privacy, Confidentiality and Disclosure Control
  • DATA70302 Topological Data Analysis

You will be able to choose from the wider list of modules offered in the MA Sociology, MSc Social Research, and MSc Social Research Methods and Statistics. Choices from other SoSS master modules will be available upon discussion with the Programme director.

You will need to complete a 12,000-word dissertation, on a social network research topic of your choice, in addition to the eight taught course units.

Course unit list

The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.

TitleCodeCredit ratingMandatory/optional
Data Analysis with R & RStudio CRIM70821 15 Mandatory
Dissertation SOCY60000 60 Mandatory
Doing research with social network data and visualizations SOCY60292 15 Mandatory
Social network analysis: concepts and measures SOCY60361 15 Mandatory
Theories of social relations, networks, and social structure SOCY60631 15 Mandatory
Sociology Study Skills support SOCY70000 0 Mandatory
Statistical Models for Social Networks SOST71032 15 Mandatory
Crime and Networks CRIM71502 15 Optional
Topological Data Analysis DATA70302 15 Optional
Privacy, Confidentiality and Disclosure Control DATA70402 15 Optional
Qualitative Research Methods SOCS60230 15 Optional
Protest and Progress: Understanding Movements for Social and Political Change SOCY60141 15 Optional
Creative Methods SOCY60192 5 Optional
Introduction to Qualitative Research Methods SOCY60231 15 Optional
Critical Theory SOCY60282 15 Optional
Social Theory: Structure, Relations and Interaction (SRI) SOCY60332 15 Optional
Cultural Criticism: Sources for a Public Sociology SOCY60342 15 Optional
Mitchell Centre seminar series SOCY60360 15 Optional
Research Design SOCY60401 15 Optional
Research Strategy and Project Management SOCY60412 15 Optional
Philosophical and Methodological Foundations of Social Research SOCY60431 15 Optional
Sociology of Consumption SOCY60551 15 Optional
Understanding Social Change for Environment and Sustainability SOCY60802 15 Optional
Science, Sustainability and Society SOCY60811 15 Optional
Environmental Activism and Advocacy SOCY60822 15 Optional
Environment, Sustainability and Society SOCY60831 15 Optional
Theories of Gender and Sexuality SOCY60991 15 Optional
Urban Sociology SOCY70061 15 Optional
Postcolonial Theory and Politics SOCY70112 15 Optional
Social Capital and Social Change SOCY71012 15 Optional
Survey Research Methods SOST60421 15 Optional
Introduction to Statistical Modelling SOST70011 15 Optional
Complex Social Systems and Simulation SOST70092 15 Optional
Statistical Foundations SOST70151 15 Optional
Causal Inference for Policies, Interventions and Experiments SOST70172 15 Optional
Displaying 10 of 35 course units

Scholarships and bursaries

The School offers a number of awards for students applying for master's study.

To find our more, please visit our master's funding opportunity search page.

Commonwealth Scholarships and Fellowships Plan (CSFP) General Scholarship

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Disability support

Practical support and advice for current students and applicants is available from the Disability Advisory and Support Service. Email: dass@manchester.ac.uk