Faculty of Human, Social, and Political Science, University of Cambridge
The Faculty of Human, Social, and Political Science at the University of Cambridge was created in 2011 out of a merger of the Faculty of Archaeology and Anthropology and the Faculty of Politics, Psychology, Sociology and International Studies.[1]
The Faculty houses 3 departments: Department of Archaeology and Anthropology,[2] Department of Politics and International Studies [3] and Department of Sociology.[4] Each of these departments has a worldwide reputation for teaching and research, and the undergraduate curriculum (Tripos) is designed to serve both students who have a clear disciplinary commitment at the time of application as well as those who want a broader multidisciplinary degree. Students with a passion for politics can take advantage of links with such departments as Economics and History, those with interests in Sociology can draw on Anthropology and Geography, while those dedicated to pursuing an archaeology career can specialise from the first year or combine this with Biological and Social Anthropology.
Undergraduate students study several disciplines in their first year and then specialise in one or two disciplines in their second and third years. Clearly specified tracks (Archaeology, Biological Anthropology, Politics, Psychology, Social Anthropology, Sociology, or a combination of disciplines) ensure that students graduate with appropriate intellectual and professional skills. Assyriology and Egyptology are also possible specialisations, within the Archaeology track.
At the postgraduate level, there are established one-year M.Phils in Archaeology (including Assyriology and Egyptology), Biological Anthropology, International Studies, Social Anthropology and Sociology. A new M.Phil in Politics was launched in 2008. Ph.D students conduct research within a wide range of subjects within Archaeology, Assyriology, Egyptology, Biological and Social Anthropology, Politics & International Studies and Sociology.
The Faculty is currently spread across several sites. The SPS Library (now affiliated with the University Library) and the Department of Sociology are on Free School Lane at the New Museums Site. The Department of Politics & International Studies is currently located at the Alison Richard Building on the Sidgwick Site. The Department of Archaeology & Anthropology is spread across the Downing Site, New Museums Site, and Henry Wellcome Building.
Contents
Selected members of the Faculty
University and College Teaching Officers in the HSPS Faculty
- Graeme Barker, Disney Professor of Archaeology
- Henrietta Moore, William Wyse Professor of Anthropology
- John Thompson, sociology
- Patrick Baert, sociology
- Andrew Gamble, government, politics & political economy
- Christopher Hill, international studies
- Juliet Mitchell, gender studies
- David Runciman, politics
- Glen Rangwala, specialising in Middle East politics
- John Dunn, political theory
- Göran Therborn, social theory
- Sylvana Tomaseli
- Ruth Scurr
Members of the Faculty elsewhere in the University
- Colin Renfrew, McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research
- Gareth Stedman Jones, History (Political Thought)
- Alan Macfarlane, Anthropology
- Quentin Skinner, Christ's College (History of Political Thought)
- William Brown, Economics
- Marilyn Strathern, Anthropology
- Lord Runciman, Trinity College
- Simon Baron-Cohen, Experimental Psychology
- Sandra Dawson, Management Studies (currently Chair of the Faculty Board)[5]
Teaching
Tripos (BA)
An Archaeology and Anthropology Tripos has been taught at Cambridge for more than a century. A Politics, Psychology and Sociology Tripos (previously known as Social and Political Sciences, "SPS") has been running at Cambridge University, in some form, since 1970. From 2013, the PPS and A&A Triposes will be replaced by the Human, Social, and Political Sciences Tripos (HSPS), which will offer students the opportunity to explore a wide range of multi-disciplinary options before specialising in one or two subjects, or to specialise from the first year, according to their interests.
Postgraduate (MPhil/PhD)
The Faculty teaches seven masters programmes in Archaeology (including Assyriology and Egyptology), Biological Anthropology, International Studies, Social Anthropology, Social and Developmental Psychology, Politics, and Sociology. The Faculty also has around 200 students studying for doctorates at any one time.
Applications
The number of applicants per place for Politics, Psychology and Sociology has traditionally been one of the highest in Cambridge. On average, there are six applications per offered place, though this ratio is better at some colleges such as Murray Edwards. Colleges with particular teaching strength in Human, Social, and Political Science include Queens', King's, Selwyn, Corpus Christi and Trinity.[6] Numbers of applications for the new HSPS BA course remain high across all colleges. Typical offers for the course are A*AA at A Level, or 40–42 points out of 45 with 776 or 777 at Higher Level in the International Baccalaureate.[7]
As of 2008-2009[8] the MPhil in Social and Developmental Psychology received 66 applications, with 7 starting the course in October 2008. The MPhil in Modern Society and Global Transformations saw 99 applicants, with 26 starting the course in October 2008.[9]
Notable alumni
- Kari Blackburn, BBC producer[10]
- Patrick Barkham, journalist[11]
- Jimmy Carr, comedian[12]
- Dr Stella Creasy, Labour MP for Walthamstow [13]
- Johann Hari, journalist [14]
- Jim Knight, Labour MP and Minister for Schools and Learners[15]
- John Healey, Labour MP and Minister for Communities and Local Government[16]
- Gautam Malkani, novelist and Financial Times journalist[17]
- Richard Osman, television presenter, producer and director[18]
- Helen Oyeyemi, novelist and playwright[19]
- Maddy Savage - BBC TV and radio reporter[20]
- Ben Schott, writer and photographer[21]
- Tilda Swinton, Oscar-winning actress[22]
- Chris Naylor, CEO of London Borough of Barking and Dagenham[23]
References
- ↑ Faculty of Human, Social, and Political Science
- ↑ Department of Archaeology and Anthropology
- ↑ Department of Politics and International Studies
- ↑ Department of Sociology
- ↑ http://www.admin.cam.ac.uk/reporter/2007-08/special/05/23.html Members of the Faculty retrieved 2008-09-21
- ↑ http://www.undergraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/apply/statistics ;
- ↑ http://www.hsps.cam.ac.uk/prospective-students/hsps-leaflet
- ↑ [1]
- ↑ [2]
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ http://mcserver.gold.ac.uk/journalism/ma/2008/ma_journalism_jmm/Student_Profiles/Patrick_Barkham.html
- ↑ Wikipedia article on Jimmy Carr
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ http://www.johannhari.com/about.php
- ↑ BBC profile
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ http://www.gautammalkani.com/about_author.htm
- ↑ http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0652066/bio
- ↑ http://www.theguardian.com/books/helen-oyeyemi
- ↑ http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/news/profiles/maddy_savage.shtml
- ↑ http://www.benschott.com/en/benschott.html
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ http://www.lbbd.gov.uk/News/PressReleases/Pages/NewChiefExec.aspx
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