I've been thinking a lot about what cross computing interdisciplinary courses around social media could be like, when I came across this recommended by a friend. I was quite pleasantly surprised at how fantastic it sounds - almost makes me want to go back to school and be a student again, to be able to have this as an option. I thought this might be of interest to many on this list. Here is the Call for Applications. Apologies if you have already looked at it. *What does social media look like in the future? What will you create? *At Goldsmiths, University of London, we offer an MA/MSc in Creating Social Media <http://www.gold.ac.uk/pg/ma-creating-social-media/> that provides students with practical and critical skills to shape the future of social media. The MA/MSc is a collaborative theory/practice programme across the Centre for Cultural Studies <http://www.gold.ac.uk/cultural-studies/> and the Department of Computing <http://www.gold.ac.uk/computing/>. Based on global examples, we explore the technological and intellectual questions that have risen to prominence with the social web. We critique existing approaches and tools, and plan, develop, hack and implement new applications and campaigns. We not only analyse: we create. New social media platforms, at their best, develop new online forms of connecting, relating, sharing and organising. Effective and innovative social media creation, therefore, involves deep theoretical and practical knowledge of both software development and social processes. Participants in the MA/MSc will become proficient in · Computing skills in software development for new social media platforms, mashups, apps, and tools. This includes both coding and data skills, and a hacker approach (students with non technical background are brought up to speed with a specially developed bootcamp) · Theories of social processes and methods to research them. Adapting social media to a variety of technological contexts and to the needs of specific communities. Creating social media interventions that address social processes in new ways. · Surfacing the assumptions and limitations embedded in software. Critically assessing contemporary discourses about social media and social change. Building software tools that enable different forms of social practice, and launching them successfully. The course draws together students from all around the globe, and from a wide spectrum, some with a technical background, and others whose main focus has been communications, culture, society or politics. We accept applicants until August 31 – but best apply as soon as possible. Start: Sep 2012 (for those without technical background) or Oct 2012 (with) Apply by: August 30 2012 latest Duration: 1 Year full-time or 2 years part-time Final Degree: MA or MSc (depends on focus of the thesis) Website: http://www.gold.ac.uk/pg/ma-creating-social-media/ Contact: g.bachmann@gold.ac.uk -- Nishant Shah Director (Research), Centre for Internet and Society,( www.cis-india.org ) Asia Awards Fellow, 2008-09 # 00-91-9740074884 http://www.facebook.com/nishant.shah http://cis-india.academia.edu/NishantShah