Course Selections

The MSc programme combines mandatory and elective courses. Two required courses in Semester 1 are Interdisciplinary Futures, taught by Dr. Linda O’Keeffe, and Data and Artificial Intelligence Ethics, Law and Governance, taught by Dr. John Zerilli. The first develops critical and creative interdisciplinary thinking skills, while the second explores connections between ethics, law, and policy in AI and data-intensive technologies.

The elective selection process proved challenging. The programme offers numerous compelling options, including Circular Economy, which examines product lifecycles and uses a collaborative, flipped classroom approach. Students work in groups reviewing organisational business models to identify practices that reduce waste, maintain resource use, and lower environmental impact.

I selected eight electives across two semesters using a specific decision criterion. Rather than choosing based on interest level, I considered “which I thought best represented my future self.” I adopted a coding principle: “Be kind to your future self,” emphasising thoughtful decision-making for future reference. Having envisioned myself as a practitioner-focused data ethicist rather than a theoretical one, I prioritised courses supporting practical skills for building beneficial futures.