Digital Media in Human Development (MSc)

Programme structure

The programme of Digital Media in Human Development is interdisciplinary. It combines pedagogical, instructional and neurobiological knowledge and insights. It covers such subjects as:

• learning to read with digital media
• the role of parents in handling digital media
• the scope for digital media to strengthen family interventions and treatment practices for problem situations
• the influence of growing up in a digital environment on cognitive, emotional, motor and physical development together with the role played in this by parents and teachers.

These themes will be addressed in depth from a scientific perspective, where the key principle will be that the new ways in which information and experience are offered have to be consistent with the human information processing system.

Courses

Students in the Master’s specialisation Digital Media in Human in Development study the impact of digital media on child development in different contexts (family, school, society, mental health care) and from different perspectives (child, parent, teacher, clinical care provider). You can find more information on the courses in the prospectus (Studiegids). 

In addition, you are trained in research methods and techniques for research.

Internship

An important part of the master specialisation Digital Media in Human Development is the internship. The internship is either practical – schools, companies, publishers of books and teaching methods, gaming industry, staff development, etc. – or a research internship. You learn to apply your scientifical knowledge and academic skills in a realistic working environment and to operate independently and responsibly in an organization. During your internship you develop your skills in practice or in scientific research.

Master’s project

We believe it is important that during the master project, you can develop and refine your research skills. The specific topic of your project does not need to be directly related to your specialisation. However, your research question should naturally fall within the broad field of Education and Child Studies. We expect our students to share this wide-ranging interest with us. For us, the central focus is that you learn about the research process and challenge yourself to gain new insights and knowledge.

Students can choose from multiple projects, and we do our best to place students in their top choices as much as possible. No matter which project you are assigned to, we support you in your learning process. Concerned about the process? The course Practice of empirical research course will prepare you well. Additionally, there are various resources available within the University.

Starting in February

Starting in February

If you start the MSc in February, you will enter the second part of our programme. You start the master project and the internship. Finding an internship is the responsibility of the student. If you prefer to do the preparatory courses first and then the master project and internship, please start the MSc in September.

Fulltime programme

The MSc is a full-time course. If you want to take longer to complete the program, you can. We recommend students to do the internship at the end of the programme. The study advisor will be happy to advice you.