The social sciences track of the University Programme
Introducing students to Sciences Po's core subjects
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) to learn French or discover French culture through a new perspective. They can also take an academic and professional skills workshop (8 hours and 1 ECTS).
Social Sciences courses 2024
The detailed schedule for each course will be available about 3 weeks before the start of the programme.
Download the provisional schedule for the Social Sciences track in June 2024 (PDF, 64 KB).
Download the provisional schedule for the Social Sciences track in July 2024 - ONLINE (PDF, 50 KB).
June Session 2024
- 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.
To learn more about the two courses he is teaching this summer, here's an interview with Professor Ferragina.
- Professor: Tatiana Coutto
- Discipline: Political Science
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 Media and Politics (PDF, 117 KB).
Download the course syllabus for Media and Politics (PDF, 132 KB).
To learn more about this course, here's an interview with Professor Tatiana Coutto.
- 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 Global Crises (PDF, 170 KB).
Download the course syllabus for Diplomacy in Global Crises (PDF, 259 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, 113 KB).
Download the course syllabus for World Politics (PDF, 148 KB).
July Session 2024
- Professor: Emanuele Ferragina
- Disciplines: Sociology, Social Policy
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.
Download the course overview for A Rising Invisible Majority (PDF, 148 KB).
Download the course syllabus for A Rising Invisible Majority (PDF, 282 KB).
To learn more about the two courses he is teaching this summer, here's an interview with Professor Ferragina.
- 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.
Download the course overview for The Age of Economists (PDF, 143 KB).
Download the course syllabus for The Age of Economists (PDF, 167 KB).
To learn more about this course, here's an interview with Professor Duhamel.
- 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, 127 KB).
Download the course syllabus for Contemporary Challenges to Democracy (PDF, 164 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, 111 KB).
Download the course syllabus for Human Rights Advocacy (PDF, 129 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.
Download the course overview for Human Security (PDF, 145 KB).
Download the course syllabus for Human Security (PDF, 169 KB).
To learn more about this course, here's an interview with Professor Tadjbakhsh.
- 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.
Download the course overview for Racism, Identity and Diversity (PDF, 161 KB).
Download the course syllabus for Racism, Identity and Diversity (PDF, 151 KB).
To learn more about this course, here's an interview with Professor Chebel d’Appollonia.
- 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 and Climate Action (PDF, 118 KB).
Download the course syllabus for Sustainable Development and Climate Action (PDF, 198 KB).
