In an ever-changing landscape of information and communication technologies, Social Sciences has never been more important as it seeks to understand the dynamics of interactions within a society. For students who are particularly interested in this area of study, FASS offers a variety of programmes that will provide a solid understanding of these interactions.

Such programmes include Communications & New Media, Economics, Geography, Political Science, Psychology, Social Work and Sociology.

Communications & New Media

The Department of Communications and New Media recognises the ever-changing new media landscape that takes place worldwide and offers a flexible, innovative and dynamic programme that prepares their graduates exactly for that.

It is the only programme in Singapore and Southeast Asia that offers a concentration in communications and new media studies within a single department.

Students are often encouraged to take up modules outside the department and beyond FASS (e.g. School of Computing and the School of Business) to be more competent.

Students can select between modules such as NM3210 Cybercrime and Society where students will look into the growing usage of ICTs for illegal activities and its countermeasures and NM4230 Communication for Social Change where they will critically examine the role of collective learning, information sharing, public participation and dialogue in designing, implementing and evaluating communication strategies for social change.

To find out more about other modules, click here.

Economics

Offered by the Department of Economics, one of the largest and leading departments of Economics in the Asia-Pacific region, the programme comprises a wide range of specialised sub-fields of the discipline and esteemed faculty members dedicated to impart both knowledge and skills that are applicable to various employment sectors.

Some of the modules that the programme offers include FMA1202D Taking Risks: Economics, Psychology and Biology where students seek to understand how people take risks through the role of biology,

Students can also expect to examine the central business organisations, keiretsu and chaebols that brought economic success to Japan and Korea in EC3375 Economy and Business of Japan and Korea.

To find out more about other modules, click here.

Geography

Established as Asia’s leading Geography department, the Department of Geography offers modules that are organised along four areas of enquiry – environmental processes and change, global political economy, society and culture as well as regional specialisations (with a focus on Asia) and is equipped with the latest facilities to facilitate better learning.

Beyond theoretical learning, students get the chance to travel to countries in the region to conduct field work or take part in home-stays, visits to local universities and key sites of interests such as in GE3230A Field Studies in Geography: Southeast Asia – a module conducted over six weeks in Thailand in partnership with Chiangrai Rajabhat University.

Throughout the course of study, students will be introduced to the functions of the biophysical environment of the city state of Singapore in SSA2215 The Biophysical Environment of Singapore before moving on to explore the role of space in the interplay of different social groups in relation to daily life in GE3241 Geographies of Social Life.

To find out more about other modules, click here.

Political Science

The Department of Political Science, offers a growing number of module selections for students who are interested to specialise in comparative politics, international relations, political theory and public administration.

Students of Political Science are trained to be broad-minded and sophisticated thinkers through modules such as PS2249 Government & Politics of Singapore where they will examine the key areas in Singapore’s domestic politics and issues related to nation building and PS3237 Women & Politics where they will critically examine established political theories and ideologies concerned with gender equality and representation.

To find out more about other modules, click here.

Psychology

The Department of Psychology provides a comprehensive basic academic grounding in Psychology and hones the students’ empirical skills needed to undertake behavioural studies.

The curriculum comprises modules such as PL2131 Research & Statistical Methods which equips students with critical thinking and analytical skills for empirical research and FMA1201N Music on the Brain which provides an insight into the processes involved behind our reception to music.

To find out more about other modules click here.

Social Work

The Department of Social Work curated a programme framework that emphasises on the development of generic clinical expertise to ensure their graduates are ready for the social work profession at the direct-service level.

Students learn through cognitive and experiential knowledge in SW1101E Social Work: A Heart-Head-Hand Connection; visits to social service organisations is an integral and compulsory part of this module.

Students will also explore the nature of mental health and human dysfunction in SW3217 Mental Health and Illness and get a hand in developing their own public education campaign through copywriting, graphics and design, visual display and photography exercises in SW3203 Communication & Public Education.

To find out more about other modules, click here.

Sociology

The Department of Sociology offers a comprehensive curriculum comprising a rich diversity of modules that focuses on exciting contemporary issues, ranging from popular culture, media and communications, race and ethnic relations, gender and sexuality.

This rigorous curriculum trains the graduates to analyse and critique the social dimension applicable to various aspects of individual and group behaviour in different social settings and contexts so that they will develop a good understanding of sociology needed to analyse social phenomena.

In FMA1201Q Freshman Seminar: Love Actually? The Social Construction of Romantic Love, students will engage in critical understanding of romantic love and address the impact of class and stratification on contemporary societies in SC2204 Social Inequalities: Who Gets Ahead?

Students will also be able to do a comparative study on deviance in SC3229 Comparing Deviance: Perverts & Scandalous Improprieties.

To find out more about other modules click here.

The Asian region is rich and diverse in culture, religion, history and language. As the region transforms politically and economically, its influence and significance increasingly extend to the other parts of the world.

The Asian Studies is for those who are seeking an area of study that allows them to gain an understanding of the region, its traditions and transformation while simultaneously assessing its role within the context of the world.

FASS provides an extensive range of programmes to equip our students with the skills and opportunities to study an area of their choice in-depth. Offered by various departments, these programmes comprise Chinese Language, Chinese Studies, Japanese Studies, Malay Studies, South Asian Studies and Southeast Asian Studies.

Chinese Language

The Chinese Language programme curriculum offered by the Department of Chinese Studies focuses on three aspects namely the Chinese language and linguistics as well as Chinese-English translation.

Students can look forward to the Visiting Scholar Programme, also offered in the Chinese Studies programme, whereby eminent scholars and distinguished visitors such as famous writers are often invited to teach in the department on a short-term basis.

Over the course of study, students stand to gain from insightful sharing sessions and modules that will introduce them to the development of Chinese literature that originates from ancient times to the Qing Dynasty in CL2121 History of Chinese Literature or uncover topics and issues behind real-life anthropologistic scenarios in CL2291 Chinese Anthropolinguistics among many others.

To find out more about other modules, click here.

Chinese Studies

Also offered by the Department of Chinese Studies, the programme focuses on three prongs – Chinese literature, History and Philosophy.

Students will be trained in both classical and modern Chinese Studies through modules such as CH2223 Chinese Fiction that covers fictional narrative tradition or CH2244 Chinese Women: History & Literature that will give an idea of the life of women in pre-modern and modern eras.

To find out more about other modules, click here.

Japanese Studies

The Department of Japanese Studies is the largest area studies departments devoted to the study of Japan in the Asia-Pacific region.

Other than being exposed to a broad range of disciplines, students will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the culture as they interact with the Japanese community in Singapore.

In modules such as JS2230 Itadakimasu – Food in Japan, students will evaluate the ways that food influence Japan’s state policies, international conflicts and its national identity or study how entrepreneurship determines the dynamics of the country’s economy in JS 227 Entrepreneurship: Self-made in Japan.

To find out more about other modules, click here.

Malay Studies

The Department of Malay Studies adopts a multidisciplinary and comparative approach that covers the broad issues of the Malay society and Southeast Asia.

From learning about issues that concerns the representation of Malay women and men in various socio-cultural and institutional contexts such as in MS3216 Gender in Malay Societies to uncovering themes, ideas and values reflected in classic Malay films in MS4207 Malay Film, students will gain scholarly knowledge and a better understanding of their history and cultural identity within the modern wold context and its challenges.

To find out more about other modules, click here.

South Asian Studies

The South Asian Studies programme offered by the Department of South Asian Studies seeks to provide a broad understanding of the region that comprises India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan and the Maldives which is crucial for dealing with the region in the 21^st century – a time of rapid transformations.

Examples of modules include SN2280 Marriage, Sex, Love in South Asia which will harness students’ analytical skills by uncovering how love and sex are shaped politically, culturally, legally and ideologically or by learning the confluence between geography, environment and divinity in South Asia through the study of the region’s major river system in SN3278 Rivers of India: Divinity and Sacred Space.

To find out more about other modules, click here.

Southeast Asian Studies

The Department of Southeast Asian Studies offers an inter-disciplinary approach which draws on different disciplinary perspectives and methodologies from the humanities and social sciences.

Students can expect a truly, memorable experience as the Department incorporates theoretical modules with the chance to play and study the Javanese gamelan and classical Thai music.

Students will also be introduced to the culture of supernaturalism and its influence in Southeast Asia in FMA1201FS Thinking about the Supernatural in Southeast Asia and are able to investigate the ways illicit substances and behaviours are deeply imbricated in everyday life in Southeast Asia in SE2225 Forbidden Pleasures: Vice in Southeast Asia.

To find out more about other modules, click here.

The study of Humanities can be said as the study of human culture and experiences through explorations of philosophy, arts, history, languages and literature. Using methods that are often highly critical and analytical, students obtain knowledge that helps to make sense of the past and present. The study of Humanities bridges the past and present and in turn helps us to gain a deeper understanding of the world around us.

In FASS, students have the opportunity to read Humanities subjects such as English Language, English Literature, History, Philosophy and Theatre Studies.

English Language

Offered by the Department of English Language and Literature, the programme is great for those who have a penchant for the language and are interested to delve further into its structure, development and functions in the society.

Through modules such as EL 3206 Psycholinguistics or EL4254 Language, Ideology and Power, students will get a chance to explore the development and complex psychological processes behind the usage of language and examine key concepts and ideas by scholars.

To find out more about other modules offered, click here.

English Literature

Also offered by the Department of English Language and Literature, students who take up the programme will be adept in academic writing as well as literary and cultural reading taken from British, American and Film and Cultural Texts.

Currently, a Creative Writing Track is underway. The special programme will possess three strands – poetry writing, playwriting and prose writing.

Students can look forward to modules such as EN 2204 Reading the Horror Film which highlights the importance of genre analysis in film studies and EN 2271 Introduction to Playwriting which equips students with skills and resources needed to write for the stage.

To find out more about other modules offered, click here.

History

The Department of History introduces the subject to students who are particularly interested in pressing issues, political and economic trends, geography and other determinants that shaped the past centuries of human civilisation.

Students will be able to explore social concepts or debunk historical and current phenomenon in modules such as HY 2257 Law, Crime and Punishment in History and GEK 2049/GEH 1013 Pirates, Oceans & the Maritime World.

To find out more about other modules offered, click here.

Philosophy

The Philosophy programme curriculum crafted by the Department of Philosophy inculcate critical thinking skills and an appreciation for philosophical traditions.

From investigating alternative conceptions of the human condition in GEK 1067/GET 1029 Life, the Universe and Everything to grappling classic ancient and modern paradoxes in PH 3246 Paradoxes; students will develop valuable skills that are applicable in various aspects of life.

To find out more about other modules offered, click here.

Theatre Studies

The last of programmes offered by the Department of English Language and Literature is also the first degree-conferring programme in Theatre Studies in Singapore.

The modules offered under the programme entails both the theoretical and practical aspects of Theatre in both Eastern and Western traditions.

Students can expect to examine a wide array of film genres and styles in TS 2243 Film Genres: Stars & Styles as well as analyse and subsequently create a performance through another perspective such as in TS 4216 Feminism & Theatre.

Graduating cohort of the programme will also be able to experience working under the guidance of a guest director to put up a professional theatre production as a company in TS 3103 Play Production.

To find out more about other modules offered, click here.