The Master of Arts comprises 90 ECTS credits and is composed of three parts:
A core programme of compulsory courses giving entitlement to 45 ECTS credits;
Elective courses worth 15 ECTS credits;
A dissertation (which may or may not be related to an internship) equating to 30 ECTS credits.
The core programme comprises three modules. Module 1, “Theoretical foundations of survey research and of opinion formation” provides an in-depth understanding of definitions and theories underlying the concepts of public opinion and social, political and consumer behaviour. Module 2, “Survey research methodology” covers the various tools and techniques required to organise a survey with respect to both quantitative and qualitative methods. Module 3, “Analysing and presenting survey data” focuses on the analysis of survey data and the visualization of results. It also provides an introduction to advanced methods of statistical analysis.
Structure Core programme (minimum 45 ECTS) Module 1: “Theoretical foundations of survey research methodology and of opinion formation”
The field of survey research methodology
Analysis of social structure and social behaviour
Social psychology of opinion formation
Approaches and methods in consumer research
Module 2: “Survey Research Methodology”
Survey research methods and data production
Survey research methods in context: quality and comparison issues
Introduction to survey statistics
Questionnaire development and questionnaire design
Module 3: “Analysing and presenting survey data”
Statistical analysis for survey research
Introduction to data management and statistical software
Factorial methods and cluster analysis
Exploratory techniques, data visualization and data presentation
Elective courses (15 ECTS) To be chosen from Masterlevel courses offered by Universities across Switzerland. The courses must be complementary or have an affinity to the POSM program and will be validated by the scientific committee.
Master thesis (30 ECTS) The master thesis can be related to an internship.
Important information
Degree Master of Arts (MA) in Public Opinion and Survey Research
ECTS Credits 90
Duration 3 semesters (fulltime) or according to the regulations of the Faculty of immatriculation.
Teaching language English and, for the elective courses, languages of the Universities at which courses are given (German or French).
Enrolment Applications are to be submitted within the deadline to the Admissions Office of one of the partner Universities.
Mobility The course takes place on three University sites and involves mobility on the part of students.
Admission requirements Candidates must hold a Swiss Bachelor’s degree in one of the following fields: Sociology, Political Science, Media and Communication Sciences, Psychology, Political Economy, Finance, and must have a basic knowledge of statistics or quantitative methods. Degrees from other domains or from foreign universities will be considered and enrolment may be permitted conditionally upon additional requirements.