|
|
|
SPS (Social and Political Sciences)
In a word, this course is about one thing: people. In the first year you study Sociology, Psychology, Politics and Social Anthropology, specialising more as you progress. In your second year you can choose to focus on one discipline or a combination of any two of three. The exception is Social Anthropology which, if you continue, involves a change of department. Here is a summary of the four subjects in the first year:
Sociology (Soc.)
Sociology is the study of modern societies. In the first term you will study the founding fathers of social theory (Marx, Weber and Durkheim), arming you for the second and third terms when you will look at diverse issues such as nationalism, the welfare state, the role of the media, gender, poverty and social class. Sociology seeks to understand human behaviour at the level of general social phenomena and trends and is very important in informing social policy and politics.
Psychology (Psy.)
The study of the human mind, psychology is concerned with the development of cognitive and social abilities and the behaviour and functioning of the individual and small groups. Course topics include the nature/nurture debates, development in infancy, crowd behaviour, group psychology, gender and sexuality development and so on.
Politics (Pol.)
The study of political institutions, the workings of the state and political philosophy. The first term will introduce you to the key thinkers (Hobbes, Sieyes, Constant, Weber etc.) which shaped the development of political theory. The course moves on to deal with issues such as Globalisation, the European Union, War and political philosophy from eminent figures such as Ghandi and Isaiah Berlin.
Social Anthropology (Soc. Anth.)
Anthropology is literally the “science of man” and social anthropology is essentially the study of other cultures and societies. The history of the discipline has its roots in the study of “primitive” societies, but the ethnographic method of participant observation (living among those you study) has been applied to various fields of study. Through an analysis of the ways of life of diverse groups of peoples, we can learn new ways at looking at our own society and gain insights into our shared human nature, if indeed there is one. Topics covered include “stateless” societies, symbolism, change, law and gift exchange.
The strength of SPS as compared to other social sciences degrees is the breadth of course. The different faculties are closely linked and few academics at Cambridge endorse the idea of clear division between the different disciplines, each subject informing the others. Many of the world’s leading thinkers in the field teach, lecture and research at Cambridge and the people who teach you are the same people who write the textbooks! It is also one of the few places in England where students have a chance to study psychoanalysis. SPS is the final answer to anyone who regards the social sciences as “soft”, SPS students having a heavier workload than even medical students at some other universities. In the first year, you effectively learn as much in each of your four subjects as anyone doing straight sociology or politics at other universities. There is of course some overlap so it would be untrue to say that you have a quadruple workload but it’s pretty intense. If you want to know how it all works – why politicians always lie, whether intelligence is inherited or acquired, how people live on the other side of the world and why Americans are always suing people – then SPS is the course for you.
For more information visit www.sps.cam.ac.uk
