Master in Spatial Designs and Society

Spatial Designs and Society (SDS) is concerned with design in relation to consumer objects, places and design processes. We draw on human geography, anthropology, sociology and design studies.

About Spatial Designs and Society

NB: In 2021 Roskilde University changed its range of master's programmes. As of 1st of July 2021 Spatial Designs and Society is no longer on offer for new students. The last study start is in September 2021.

You will conduct ethnographic fieldwork and become an expert in analyzing uses of designed objects and designed places out in the real world. The ethnographic training involves various qualitative social science methods as well as the use of photography, film and new media. Additionally, you will develop visualization, mapping, design thinking and presentation skills. The programme collaborates with consultancies, strategic innovation agencies, architectural offices, design studios and municipalities, and you will learn how to conduct research and write reports according to commercial briefs. You will acquire unique analytical and communicative skills, understand consumer practices, detect and advise on emerging trends and needs, and learn to make your research relevant and usable for practitioners and design processes.

SDS will prepare you for jobs in a world where there is much focus on human-centered design, on making designs more sustainable and places more liveable.

Career

SDS educates graduates able to act as consultants, researchers and managers and they find work within consultancies, research institutions, design agencies, municipal planning departments and cultural institutions, etc. Typical tasks include research and development, advising, project management, creative process facilitation, business development and communication. Given that the graduates will be fluent in English, they will be attractive to companies that work with international clients.

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Facts about the programme

• Degree: Master of Science (MSc) in Social Sciences in Spatial Designs and Society
• Language of tuition: English
• Spatial Designs and Society is an integrated Master’s programme.

Modules

The programme has a scope of 120 ECTS. The programme consists of four modules:

• Module 1: Design objects and designed places from a consumption perspective
• Module 2: Design processes and social change
• Module 3: Studies of design in practice
• Module 4: Thesis

Each module corresponds to 30 ECTS. The Master’s programme is structured in such a way that the content of the modules builds upon one another, so as to ensure the progression and depth of the programme. The modules should therefore be taken in the indicated order.

Furthermore the programme is presented in English.

Please note: The table shows an example of a course of study. Courses, projects, internships and studies abroad with credit transfer may vary for each student. See current courses at study.ruc.dk

1. Semester

• Course: Ethnography and Spatial Analysis (5 ECTS)
• Course: Consumption and Use of Design in Every Day Life (5 ECTS)
• Course: Experiences and Designed Places (5 ECTS)
• Project: Spatial Designs and Society (15 ECTS)
  
  

2. Semester

• Course: Design as a Socio-Technical System (5 ECTS)
• Course: Design Processes and Entrepreneurship (5 ECTS)
• Course: Critical Urban Studies (5 ECTS)
• Projekt: Spatial Designs and Society (15 ECTS)

3. Semester

• Course: Consultancy in Practice (5 ECTS)
• Course: Ethnography and Visualisation (5 ECTS)
• Elective Course: Fx Field Course (5 ECTS)
• Project: Spatial Designs and Society or project oriented internship (15 ECTS)

4. Semester

• Projekt: Thesis in Spatial Designs and Society (30 ECTS)

If you have specific questions about the Spatial Designs and Society study programme, please send an email to sds-info@ruc.dk