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Core courses of the social sciences track
Introducing students to Sciences Po's core disciplines
Social sciences track overview
The social sciences track offers students the opportunity to delve into a fundamental subject of the Sciences Po curriculum.
Students in this track can choose one core class of intensive study, which includes 36 contact hours per month on our Parisian campus.
Summer courses are offered in the following areas of study: international relations, political science, economics, history, and more.
All social sciences classes are taught in English. As part of the application process, candidates who are not native English speakers need to demonstrate an advanced level of English.
Learn more about how to demonstrate English language proficiency on the Eligibility page.
To go further, students in the social sciences track can add an elective course (24 hours and 3 ECTS).
DATES
- June session: June 2nd - June 27th, 2025
- July session: July 1st - July 25th, 2025
Social Sciences courses 2025
Download the general schedule for the Social Sciences track - June session (PDF, 77 KB).
Download the general schedule for the Social Sciences track - July session (PDF, 76 KB).
The detailed schedule for each course will be available about 3 weeks before the start of the programme.
The syllabi will be available in February.
June Session 2025
- Professor: Caterina Froio
- Discipline: Political Science, Sociology
In this course, students will develop a solid conceptual knowledge of the role of media in contemporary politics, from theoretical and empirical perspectives.
Download the Course Overview for Internet & Politics (PDF, 164 KB).
Download the Syllabus for Internet & Politics (PDF, 333 KB).
- Professor: Emanuele Ferragina
- Disciplines: Sociology, Political Economy
This course will help students will understand how inequalities and social risks are tackled differently across the globe.
Download the Course Overview for Tackling Inequality and Social Risks (PDF, 156 KB).
Download the Syllabus for Tackling Inequality and Social Risks (PDF, 584 KB).
- Professor: Charles Tenebaum
- Disciplines: International Relations, Political Science
Times of renewed global crises and growing instability call for renewed diplomatic efforts and creativity. Building on the history of diplomacy, its actors, and its practices, this course will provide students with the necessary tools to better understand and analyse the contemporary issues and challenges of the “art of negotiation”. The course includes discussions, encounters with diplomats and debates, to equip students with techniques of diplomatic negotiation.
Download the Course Overview for Diplomacy in Times of Global Crises (PDF, 192 KB).
Download the Syllabus for Diplomacy in Times of Global Crises (PDF, 356 KB).
- Professor: Hélène Thiollet
- Disciplines: International Relations, Political Science
Relying on both theoretical and empirical (case studies) approaches, this course will help students craft their own analysis of world politics. It offers an interdisciplinary perspective of international issues, using the methods and frameworks of a variety of social sciences fields, including sociology, history, comparative politics, international relations, and political economy.
Download the Course Overview for World Politics (PDF, 142 KB).
July Session 2025
- Professors: Mathieu Couttenier, Jean-François Maystadt
- Disciplines: Economics, Political Science, Sociology
The course delves into the economics of conflict, focusing on the causes and consequences of conflict from an economic perspective. Students will develop proficiency in logical and structured problem analysis, reading and interpreting econometric tables, and gain a profound understanding of the intricate interplay between economics and politics.
Download the Course Overview for Economics of Conflict (PDF, 176 KB).
- Professors: Jan Rovny, Ronja Sczepanski, Earl Wang
- Disciplines: International Relations, Public Policy
The aim of this course is to explore the role of the European Union in a rapidly shifting global ladnscape, shaped by the competing influences of internal European social and political dynamics, as well as global engagement with major powers, particularly the United States and China.
Download the Course Overview for The European Equation (PDF, EN, 155 KB).
- Professor: David Duhamel
- Disciplines: Economics, History
This course is an overview of how economic thought has risen over the centuries, and how since WWII, it has influenced neighbouring disciplines such as political philosophy, common law, political science, sociology, and psychology.
To learn more about this course, here's an interview with Professor Duhamel.
Download the Course Overview for The Age of Economists (PDF, 198 KB).
Download the Syllabus for The Age of Economists (PDF, 291 KB).
- Professor: Steven Van Hauwaert
- Disciplines: Political Science, Sociology
The goal of this course is to understand the core components of democracy in a wide range of geo-political settings. Students will identify, measure, and compare various challenges to democracy and get insights into important contemporary issues and debates.
Download the Course Overview for Contemporary Challenges to Democracy (PDF, 191 KB).
Download the Syllabus for Contemporary Challenges to Democracy (PDF, 313 KB).
- Professor: Eugénie Mérieau
- Disciplines: International Relations, Law
The goal of this course is to prepare students on how to successfully engage in human rights advocacy in various settings (courts, NGOs, United Nations), while being able to critically reflect on key legal and philosophical human rights controversies.
Download the Course Overview for Human Rights Advocacy (PDF, 139 KB).
Download the Syllabus for Human Rights Advocacy (PDF, 184 KB).
- Professor: Shahrbanou Tadjbakhsh
- Disciplines: International Relations, Public Policy
This inter-disciplinary and interactive course introduces students to a broader conception of “security,” one which concerns itself not just with the stability of the state, but also with preventing and alleviating risks to people’s survival, livelihoods, and dignity.
To learn more about this course, here's an interview with Professor Tadjbakhsh.
Download the Course Overview for Human Security (PDF, 234 KB).
- Professor: Ariane Chebel d'Appollonia
- Disciplines: International Relations, Public Policy, History
This course address key questions raised by persistent racism and discriminatory practices in increasingly diverse societies – from a historical, multidisciplinary, and comparative perspective.
To learn more about this course, here's an interview with Professor Chebel d’Appollonia.
Download the Course Overview for Racism, Identity and Diversity (PDF, 226 KB).
Download the Syllabus for Racism, Identity and Diversity (PDF, 340 KB).
- Professor: Tancrède Voituriez
- Disciplines: Public Policy, Economics, International Relations
This course will help students to understand the rationale for and challenges behind sustainable development and climate action. Students will also be able to develop a critical sense of the drivers of actions and the factors of inaction in this area.
Download the Course Overview for Sustainable Development (PDF, 154 KB).
Download the Syllabus for Sustainable Development (PDF, 310 KB).
- Professor: Emanuele Ferragina
- Disciplines: Sociology, Social Policy, Political Economy
The goal of this course is to equip students with critical tools to analyze the transformation of the political economy and the welfare state in contemporary societies.
To learn more about the two courses he is teaching this summer, here's an interview with Professor Ferragina.
Download the Course Overview for A Rising Invisible Majority (PDF, 225 KB).
Download the Syllabus for A Rising Invisible Majority (PDF, 491 KB).
