Studying abroad: how to choose the right Social Sciences course?
What is social science?
The social sciences are a group of academic disciplines that have in common the study of social interactions between individuals, groups and their environments. Political science, international relations, economics, sociology, philosophy and anthropology are among the most popular social science disciplines.
The interdisciplinarity that characterizes these programs is based on cross-disciplinary teaching that opens up broad career horizons for students. The disciplines taught generally include law, history, international relations, geography, economics and political philosophy. Through the discovery and learning of different disciplines, these courses enable students to grasp national and international political systems and to reflect on the resolution of complex socio-economic problems. Throughout their studies, students learn to develop their analytical, writing and communication skills.
For political science and international relations courses, some universities impose compulsory modules in international relations theory and political philosophy or methodology, and then allow their students to customize their program by choosing more specific modules focusing on certain periods or countries, for example. However, this type of curriculum can vary from one university to another, and from one specialization to another. For example, it is possible to study political science from the perspective of international or European relations, notably through the study of an additional language (Spanish, German, Italian, Chinese and many others), and to spend a year studying at a foreign university.
Marie, a student at the University of Warwick studying political science and international relations, tells us about her experience and the reasons behind her choice: «The Bachelor’s degree I have chosen is entitled Politics and International Studies (PAIS) and takes place over three years. The course allows me to discover hitherto unknown subjects such as political science. Some are compulsory, while others can be chosen from a list of optional modules. This means you can choose the subjects that suit you best, from sociology to economics and languages. In the first year, we have two terms of courses, with a third devoted to exam revision.
There were many things that won me over at Warwick! A new, modern campus with a wide range of facilities. A library, a sports hall, several work rooms, restaurants, etc. A wide range of resources is available, including a huge online library. Student life is very pleasant, with numerous sports and cultural associations. Accommodation is on campus for the first year, making it easier to integrate. However, it must be stressed that this system is not suitable for everyone. Indeed, a total of twelve hours of classes per week requires organization, rigor and motivation, as most of the work is done alone with our books. Everything is in English, and the grading methods are different from those used in the past. essays or essays (in my curriculum, anyway).I’m glad I made this choice and I’m looking forward to the next two years! »
Which destination to choose?
To help you make the right choice, here’s a list of foreign institutions (USA, Canada, UK and Netherlands) offering excellent social science programs.
List of foreign establishments
| In the United States | In Canada |
Columbia University Duke University Georgetown University Harvard University New York University (NYU) Princeton University Stanford University University of California, Berkeley University of Chicago University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) University of Michigan, Ann Arbor University of North Carolina (UNC), Chapel HillYale University | McGill University University of British Columbia (UBC) University of Toronto |
| In the United Kingdom | In the Netherlands |
Durham University King’s College LondonLondon School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) University of Bath University of Birmingham University of Bristol University of Cambridge University College London (UCL) University of Edinburgh University of Essex University of Exeter University of Manchester University of Oxford University of St Andrews University of Warwick | Leiden University College (LUC) Amsterdam University College (AUC) Utrecht University College (UCU) University College Groningen (UCG) University College Maastricht (UCM) Leiden University Maastricht University University of Amsterdam Utrecht University Vrije Universiteit (VU) Amsterdam |
Find all the answers to your questions about studying abroad. our book “Etudier à l’étranger après le Bac” (Studyrama Editions).
Vous souhaitez bénéficier d’un soutien plus personnalisé pour concrétiser votre projet d’études à l’étranger ? N’hésitez pas à contacter contact the Your Dream School team!