Our Master’s Program (MA) offers a unique experience for graduates of modern universities in Russia and abroad. Nowadays, graduates in various disciplines recognise the need to develop additional competences for pursuing a successful career in modern society. The experience of technical universities in Saint Petersburg indicates that many engineers seek to pursue a second degree in socio-economic disciplines, while the experience of courses and summer schools covering data analysis and programming proves their popularity among social and humanitarian science students. 

More and more applicants of MA programs have a good command of R and Python programming languages. Engineers, linguists, and psychologists apply for the admission to Master programs covering human-computer interaction. At the same time, many graduates of SPb campus (Political Science and World Politics, Sociology and Social Informatics, Public Sector Management and Analytics and others) already hold a high level of competence in programming languages and their implementation thanks to two minors: Data Processing and Analysis and Python Programming Basics (120 students each). The available mater’s programs on campus fail to meet their needs for growth, and they leave HSE to pursue further level of education.

The program is based on integrating and merging substantive theory and methodological practice. Basic human behaviour analysis, social and political process analysis, as well as comparative social and political analysis will complement technical disciplines providing students with a solid data science techniques background. The latter will include R and Python programming languages, statistical methods, machine learning, network analysis, and computer-assisted textual analysis. Training on modelling and the use of experiments in political science will provide a sound connection between substantive political science and methods of numerical analysis. 

Our MA program will be delivered as a research one with a heavy emphasis on research and projects and preparing publications. In particular, students will be encouraged to submit academic coursework and thesis as articles prepared according to the standards of international academic journals and conferences in the computer sciences. The campus has already successfully implemented such recommendations within Bachelor and Master programs in Sociology. Publications will help to obtain high-paying jobs to students aiming to pursue digital economy career and assist students pursuing academic routes to embark on postgraduate studies. The program involves 2+3 degree track.

Project work and blended learning will constitute the core of the program. The lectures will be web-based; there will be made extensive use of Coursera and EdX courses, while the program will focus on students' practical experience with data, seminars discussing the latest computational social science literature, and supervising students’ project work. Mastering particular theories will be based on specific social and political analysis issues, while mastering methods will be based on the use of real datasets. 

Our graduates will develop universal, general professional, and professional competencies (as defined in the sections of the Education Standard (ES) for the fields of study).

Professional competencies (PC) (intended program results):

• Capable of using relevant research findings in political science and related disciplines, applying political science to solve practical problems in professional activity (PC-1),
• Capable of working with contemporary scientific literature (including in English), analysing the state of and trends in the development of political science (PC-2),
• Capable of using modern databases of empirical data (including foreign databases) in scientific and research activities, independently creating databases for the implementation of research and practical problems (PC-3),
• Capable of analysing empirical data (political, economic, and sociological research) using contemporary qualitative and quantitative methods and relevant software (PC-4),
• Capable of producing and analysing mathematical models of socio-political systems and processes (PC-5),
• Capable of developing scientific and applied research design, including team research, based on contemporary political science methodologies and general scientific approaches (PC-6),
• Capable of planning and running political campaigns (PC-7),
• Capable of arranging and carrying out political science expertise on socially important projects (PC-8),
• Capable of professional communication with state and municipal authorities and administration (PC-9),
• Capable of creating and using normative documents within the scope of their professional responsibilities (PC-10),
• Capable of self-directed production of integrative analytical materials (reviews, notes, papers, reports, recommendations, etc.) and proposals for decision-makers in the political area (PC-11).

Combination of all universal, general professional, and professional competences acquired by the graduates ensures their ability to carry out professional activities within at least one field or area of professional activity or to address professional problems of at least one type as defined in the ES.

The core of the program lies in three areas:

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• Data Analysis and Statistics
• Analytics for Government and Society

Core courses provide training in the fundamental aspects of applied data science, social research, and modelling of social and political phenomena. Key skills to be developed by students include model thinking and modelling. Program courses integrate training in predictive modelling and causal reasoning with knowledge of a wide range of analytical methods. This develops students’ ability to apply methods in a meaningful and accurate manner.

The program introduces model thinking to students step by step – from general courses on social research methods to empirical practice of the skills they have acquired. Students may progressively select courses to form individual learning route, with a greater focus on mastering advanced data analysis techniques or immersing in social and political theory. During the second year, all students will proceed to actively apply their data analysis skills to real-world problems in social sciences, industry, and politics solutions development.

The program is implemented as a research MA with a strong emphasis on research and projects and preparing publications. This is achieved through a strong design component, which is students’ participation in project seminars, group projects, and research seminars during the two years of study. The results of this work are reflected in research projects and graduation thesis, which are encouraged to be written as research articles. The scope of research and development areas includes the following topics:

• Evidence-based Policy
• Open Data for Social and Political Sciences
• Computer Modelling of Social and Political Processes
• Comparative Studies of Political and Social Attitudes
• Social Iinterventions, Evaluation, and Impact

This degree programme of HSE University is adapted for students with special educational needs (SEN) and disabilities. Special assistive technology and teaching aids are used for collective and individual learning of students with SEN and disabilities. The specific adaptive features of the programme are listed in each subject's full syllabus and are available to students through the online Learning Management System.

All documents of the degree programme are stored electronically on this website. Curricula, calendar plans, and syllabi are developed and approved electronically in corporate information systems. Their current versions are automatically published on the website of the degree programme. Up-to-date teaching and learning guides, assessment tools, and other relevant documents are stored on the website of the degree programme in accordance with the local regulatory acts of HSE University.

I hereby confirm that the degree programme documents posted on this website are fully up-to-date.

Vice Rector Sergey Yu. Roshchin

Summary of Degree Programme 'Data Analytics for Politics and Society '