The Social and Political Sciences Program (SPS) is one among several degree programs in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS) at International University of Sarajevo (IUS). SPS offers specialized courses from political sciences, history and sociology. Therefore, a degree in the SPS program is interdisciplinary and it offers to students a modern and interdisciplinary curriculum. Such curriculum introduces students to core courses in politics, comparative government and political theory. Then, SPS provides students a critical understanding of the social and historical factors that have shaped the modern world. In SPS program the complementary historical and sociological courses are designed to enrich major degree in political sciences. By studying the people, institutions, ideas and events, history examines thought, expression and human experience. In SPS program the study of contemporary, cultural, ethnic, economic, military and political history is complementary to the study of political sciences and sociology. Moreover, sociology focuses on studying the groups, social institutions and social thematic areas. Therefore, social theory, the family, education, politics, work, religion, crime and deviance, diversity and inequality, socialization and interaction, globalization and social change are interrelated with political and historical processes and are thus included in SPS program.
The first year SPS students complete introductory courses that are purposefully designed to provide to students fundamental knowledge in language, political sciences, history, sociology, psychology, law, economics, mathematics and basic research skills. Such courses from humanities and social sciences allow students to be versatile and adaptable to the requirements of globalized world.
SPS degree students must complete specialized courses under faculty, required, core and area elective courses. Such courses deal with wide spectrum of knowledge related to; the relationship between politics, media, religion, political economy and international organizations; political sciences research methodology; social and political thought; the European Union and European political processes; International law and diplomacy; public budgeting and finance; history of economic thought; statistics for social sciences; modern and contemporary history; political sociology; and social movements. Before graduation students also complete their bachelor theses and internship program.
SPS program provides an opportunity to students to gain essential knowledge and skills from complementary disciplines such as political sciences, sociology and history. Knowledge gained from these disciplines enable students to fulfill their civic roles in public life and such interdisciplinary knowledge will be vital for their further specialization at the graduate level.
Students are expected to analyze the development and function of government, public policy, the political behavior of individuals and groups, social institutions and historical processes. In addition to developing their reasoning, analytical, critical and creative skills, graduates from this program will be equipped with problem-solving, research, communication and writing skills. Overall, upon the successful completion of the SPS program students will have the critical knowledge, understanding and skills required to pursue a career in academia or in the public and private sectors.
|