Faculty of Politics, Psychology, Sociology and International Studies
Encyclopedia
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
was created in January 2009 out of a merger of the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences and the Centre of International Studies.
The Faculty houses three departments: Politics and International Studies, Social and Developmental Psychology, and Sociology. It also incorporates the Centre for Family Research. 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 who want to be psychologists follow a curriculum approved by the British Psychological Society, while those with a passion for politics can take advantage of links with such departments as Economics and History, and those with interests in Sociology can draw on Anthropology and Geography.
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 (Politics, Psychology, Sociology, or a combination of disciplines) ensure that students graduate with appropriate intellectual and professional skills.
At the postgraduate level, there are established one-year M.Phils in Sociology, Social and Developmental Psychology, and International Studies. A new M.Phil in Politics was launched in 2008. Ph.D students conduct research within a wide range of subjects within Politics & International Studies, Psychology and Sociology. The Psychometrics Centre, which is also based within the PPSIS Faculty, also supports a number of Ph.D students.
The Faculty is currently spread across two sites. The PPSIS Library and the Departments of Sociology and Social and Developmental Psychology are on Free School Lane at the New Museums Site
New Museums Site
The New Museums Site is a major site of the University of Cambridge, located in the centre of the city, on Pembroke Street and Free School Lane, sandwiched between Corpus Christi College, Pembroke College and the Lion Yard. Its postcode is CB2 3QH...
. The Department of Politics & International Studies is currently at 17 Mill Lane, and is moving to new purpose-built accommodation on West Road in 2011.
Members of the Faculty
University & College Teaching Officers in the PPSIS Faculty- Melissa Hines, Professor of Psychology and Director of the Hormones and Behaviour Research Group
- Michael Lamb, Professor of Psychology and specialist in developmental psychology
- Susan Golombok, Professor of Psychology and Director of the Centre for Family Research
- John Rust, Professor of Psychometrics
- John ThompsonJohn Thompson (sociologist)John Brookshire Thompson is a Sociology professor at the University of Cambridge and a fellow of Jesus College. He has studied the influence of the media in the formation of modern societies, a subject on which he is one of the few social theorists to focus...
, sociology - Andrew GambleAndrew GambleAndrew Gamble FBA, AcSS, FRSA is a British author and academic. Since January 2007 he has been Professor of Politics at the University of Cambridge...
, government, politics & political economy - Christopher HillChristopher J. HillChristopher John Hill, DPhil, FBA , is Director of the Centre of International Studies and Sir Patrick Sheehy Professor of International Relations at the University of Cambridge...
, international studies - Juliet MitchellJuliet MitchellJuliet Mitchell is a British Psychoanalyst and socialist feminist, who was a fellow of Jesus College, Cambridge and Professor of Psychoanalysis and Gender Studies at Cambridge University. In 2010, she's appointed to be the Director of the Expanded Doctoral School in Psychoanalytic Studies at...
, gender studies - David RuncimanDavid RuncimanThe Hon. David Walter Runciman is a British political scientist who teaches political theory at Cambridge University and is a fellow of Trinity Hall, Cambridge, where he was educated following Eton College....
, politics - Glen RangwalaGlen RangwalaGlen Rangwala is a University Lecturer and fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge University in England. Trained in political theory and international law, he completed a doctorate on political and legal rhetoric in the Arab Middle East...
, specialising in Middle East politics - John Dunn, political theory
- Göran TherbornGöran TherbornGöran Therborn is a professor of sociology at Cambridge University and is amongst the most highly cited contemporary Marxian-influenced sociologists. He has published widely in journals such as the New Left Review, and is notable for his writing on topics that fall within the general political and...
, social theory - Sylvana TomaseliSylvana Windsor, Countess of St AndrewsSylvana Palma Windsor, Countess of St Andrews , is the wife of George Windsor, Earl of St Andrews, the eldest son and heir of Prince Edward, Duke of Kent. Lady St Andrews was born in Placentia, Newfoundland and Labrador, the daughter of Maximilian Karl Tomaselli, formerly of Salzburg, and Josiane...
- Ruth ScurrRuth ScurrDr Ruth Scurr is a British writer and historian.She was admitted to Oxford University to read English but changed after a year to study Politics and Philosophy. She went on to study for a Master’s degree in Social and Political Theory and then completed a doctorate thesis on the political thought...
Members of the Faculty elsewhere in the University
- Gareth Stedman JonesGareth Stedman JonesProfessor Gareth Stedman Jones is a British academic and historian.Educated at St Paul's School and Lincoln College, Oxford, where he read History, Stedman Jones went on to Nuffield College, Oxford to take a DPhil....
, History (Political Thought) - Alan MacfarlaneAlan MacfarlaneAlan Donald James Macfarlane FBA FRHistS is a renowned anthropologist and historian and a Professor Emeritus of King's College, Cambridge. He is the author or editor of 20 books and numerous articles on the anthropology and history of England, Nepal, Japan and China. He has focused on comparative...
, Anthropology - Quentin SkinnerQuentin SkinnerQuentin Robert Duthie Skinner is the Barber Beaumont Professor of the Humanities at Queen Mary, University of London.-Biography:...
, Christ's College (History of Political Thought) - William BrownWilliam Arthur BrownWilliam Arthur Brown, CBE is an academic specialising in the field of industrial relations and the current Master of Darwin College, Cambridge.-Education and Academic Career:...
, Economics - Marilyn StrathernMarilyn StrathernDame Ann Marilyn Strathern, DBE, FBA is a British anthropologist who was Mistress of Girton College, Cambridge from 1998 until her retirement in 2009...
, Anthropology - Lord Runciman, Trinity College
- Simon Baron-CohenSimon Baron-CohenSimon Baron-Cohen FBA is professor of Developmental Psychopathology in the Departments of Psychiatry and Experimental Psychology at the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom. He is the Director of the University's Autism Research Centre, and a Fellow of Trinity College...
, Experimental Psychology - Sandra DawsonSandra DawsonDame Sandra June Noble Dawson DBE, was Master of Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge University and is KPMG Professor of Management Studies at the Judge Business School. She was also Director of the Judge Business School from 1995 to 2006...
, Management Studies (currently Chair of the Faculty Board)
Teaching
Tripos (BA/MA)A Politics, Psychology and Sociology Tripos
Tripos
The University of Cambridge, England, divides the different kinds of honours bachelor's degree by Tripos , plural Triposes. The word has an obscure etymology, but may be traced to the three-legged stool candidates once used to sit on when taking oral examinations...
(previously known as Social and Political Sciences, "SPS") has been running at Cambridge University, in some form, since 1970. For undergraduates, the course is initially multi-disciplinary, encompassing Politics, Psychology, and Sociology. Additional options available in the first year include Social Anthropology, Economic History and Archaeology.
Postgraduate (MPhil/PhD)
The Faculty teaches four masters programmes in Sociology, Social and Developmental Psychology, Politics, and International Studies. It also contains around 200 students studying for doctorates at any one time.
Applications
The number of applicants per place for Politics, Psychology and Sociology is one of the highest in Cambridge, with an average of over 6 applications for each place.As of 2008-2009 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.
Notable alumni
- Kari BlackburnKari BlackburnKari Boto née Blackburn was a BBC reporter and senior executive who specialised in Africa.-Personal life:Blackburn was born in Somerset on 30 March 1954to Irish educationist Robert Blackburnand Esther Archer....
, BBC producer - Patrick Barkham, journalist
- Jimmy CarrJimmy CarrJames Anthony Patrick "Jimmy" Carr is an English-Irish comedian and humourist. He is known for his deadpan delivery and dark humour. He is also a writer, actor and presenter of radio and television....
, comedian, - Dr Stella CreasyStella CreasyDr Stella Judith Creasy is a British Labour Co-operative politician who has been the Member of Parliament for Walthamstow since 2010.-Education:...
, Labour MP for WalthamstowWalthamstow (UK Parliament constituency)Walthamstow is a borough constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election.- 1885–1918 :... - Johann HariJohann HariJohann Hari is an award winning British journalist who has been a columnist at The Independent, the The Huffington Post, and contributed to several other publications. In 2011, Hari was accused of plagiarism; he subsequently was suspended from The Independent and surrendered his 2008 Orwell Prize...
, journalist - Jim KnightJim KnightJames Philip Knight, Baron Knight of Weymouth is a British Labour Party politician, who was the Member of Parliament for South Dorset from 2001 until 2010, when he lost his seat. Knight held several ministerial posts during his time as an MP including Minister for the South West and Minister for...
, LabourLabour Party (UK)The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
MP and Minister for Schools and Learners - John HealeyJohn HealeyJohn Healey is a British Labour Party politician, who has been the Member of Parliament for Wentworth and Dearne since 1997, and former Minister of State for Housing and Planning. In 2010 he was elected to the shadow cabinet and appointed shadow health secretary...
, LabourLabour Party (UK)The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
MP and Minister for Communities and Local Government - Gautam MalkaniGautam MalkaniGautam Malkani is a journalist for The Financial Times, and the author of the novel Londonstani. He has worked on the FT's UK news desk in London as well as in the Washington bureau. He is currently the head of the newspaper's Creative Business section....
, novelist and Financial TimesFinancial TimesThe Financial Times is an international business newspaper. It is a morning daily newspaper published in London and printed in 24 cities around the world. Its primary rival is the Wall Street Journal, published in New York City....
journalist - Maddy Savage - BBC TV and radio reporter
- Ben SchottBen SchottBen Schott is a British writer, photographer, and author of the "Schott's Miscellanies" and "Schott's Almanac" series.- Early life & university :...
, writer and photographer - Tilda SwintonTilda SwintonKatherine Mathilda "Tilda" Swinton is a British actress known for both arthouse and mainstream films. She has appeared in a number of films including The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Burn After Reading, The Beach, We Need to Talk About Kevin and was nominated for a Golden Globe for her...
, Oscar-winning actress