Political and Social Thought Program |
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Program in Political and Social Thought, a well-regarded interdisciplinary program approaching its twenty-fifth year, was launched by a small group of University faculty from several departments committed to the idea of broad social inquiry. It offers to qualified undergraduates the opportunity to pursue the study of society, and the study of politics--conceived both in its broadest and narrowest senses--without being limited by the boundaries, or the methodological preoccupations, of the relevant disciplines. With the advice of associated faculty, independent and capable students can fashion a program of study that reflects both their intellectual interests and goals. Some students construct a program that emphasizes thought and significant thinkers (e.g. John Locke, Karl Marx, Max Weber, John Dewey, Hannah Arendt) or concepts (justice, property, welfare, human rights). Others place greater emphasis on concrete studies---in the past (nineteenth century Christian missionaries in Africa; labor unions in the 1930s auto industry), or in the present (the impact of "welfare reform;" the consequences of South Africa's Truth and Reconciliation Commission). Some students are more theoretically oriented, others more practically inclined; all share a deep curiosity about the content and implications of social and political thought. A key strength of the program is that, within reasonable limits, it can be custom-tailored to the student's interest. Another is its interdisciplinary character, established in the intense year-long core seminar offered in the third year. The student can study politics and society wherever they are best examined for his or her purpose.
Among the departments and programs that have played a considerable role in Political and Social Thought are Government and Foreign Affairs, History, Sociology, Anthropology, Studies in Women and Gender, Religious Studies, Philosophy; more recently, Economics, Bioethics, and English, and have been involved in the programs of our majors.
Contact: PO Box 400786 Charlottesville, VA 22904-4786 Phone: (434) 923-2235 Website: http://www.virginia.edu/pst/ |
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