Sozioinformatik (B.Sc.) - University of Kaiserslautern-Landau (RPTU)

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Quick Overview

• The Degree Program contains References to AI Methods.
  
  

  Type:	Degree Program (University)
  Degree:	Bachelor (B.Sc.)
  Standard Period of Study:	6 Semester
  Credit Points:	180 ECTS
  Languages of Instruction:	German
  Time Exposure:	full time
  Study Type:	Presence Study
  Start of Studies:	Winter semester

Information about the Content

• Today, software and technology have become an indispensable part of our society. Generative language models like ChatGPT are used everywhere—not only to complete homework assignments or generate recipes, but also for travel planning, translation, and the development of large software systems. Companies utilize Artificial Intelligence for both quality assurance and to assist with HR decisions. And while TikTok and other social media platforms compete for our attention, their algorithms increasingly influence the information we zur Unterstützung bei Personalentscheidungen ein. Und während TikTok und andere soziale Medien um unsere Aufmerksamkeit konkurrieren, beeinflussen ihre Algorithmen zunehmend, welche Informationen wir wahrnehmen und wie öffentliche Debatten geführt perceive and how public debates are conducted.

  Anyone who wants to understand these developments needs more than just technical knowledge.

  This is precisely where socioinformatics comes in. Instead of looking at technology and people in isolation, it focuses on how both are interconnected and how they influence one another.

  During your studies, you will therefore engage with questions such as:

  • What societal impacts can the introduction of new technologies bring about?
  • How can phenomena like filter bubbles, doomscrolling, or AI flops be explained?
  • What can be done to ensure that software not only functions technically, but also achieves its intended impact?

  The degree program combines software engineering with fundamental knowledge in economics, ethics, law, sociology, and psychology. Consequently, a degree in socioinformatics opens up many opportunities for your future career choice. While most graduates go into software development, socioinformatics experts are also highly sought after in politics, public administration, and business thanks to their interdisciplinary training and their ability to handle complex systems and problems. For example, instead of working in software development, you could advise government agencies, audit the use of AI systems, or guide the implementation of new technologies in corporate environments.

  To date, the Socioinformatics degree program is unique within Germany. To enable a comprehensive understanding of the complex interactions between technology and humans, the program teaches:

  • The necessary foundations of computer science, particularly software development,
  • Methods from empirical social research and psychology,
  • Economic and game-theoretical models from the economic sciences, a fundamental understanding of the relevant legal framework,
  • A profound ethical standpoint developed through dialogue with philosophy,

  As well as competencies in systemic thinking and the modeling of complex problems. This is where socioinformatics expertise is forged—learning to conceptualize software engineering and societal integration as a unified whole.

  Through numerous elective options, students can choose their own specialization within socioinformatics and develop an individual profile. For instance, over the course of your studies, you can choose to become a sought-after AI expert, a versatile software engineer, an informed science communicator in the field of digitalization, an analytical political advisor, or an expert business consultant. 

  
  Additional Information:
  Sozioinformatik (B.Sc.) - University of Kaiserslautern-Landau (RPTU)