Sociology has been an integral part of the Cambridge curriculum for over 50 years.
Foundations
In 1968, the University began developing an undergraduate teaching programme in social and political sciences – the Social and Political Sciences Tripos, or SPS.
Teaching began in 1969. Sociology was now an integral part of a multidisciplinary social sciences degree.
The course included four disciplines: sociology, social anthropology, social psychology, and political science. Students would transfer to SPS in their second year of study.
Prominent sociologists were already employed by the University, but the first Professor of Sociology was appointed in 1968. Professor J.A. Barnes held this position until the early 1980s.
Expansion
In 1988, the SPS Tripos was expanded into a full three-year degree. The first year covered a range of social science disciplines, the second and third became more specialised.
The Department of Sociology was formally established in 2004 under the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences.
Present
The four constituent departments of the expanded Faculty of Human, Social, and Political Science (HSPS) now offer undergraduate degree programmes combining Sociology, Politics, Social Anthropology and Archaeology. All departments are internationally recognised as centres of excellence.
The outstanding quality and impact of Cambridge’s teaching and research in the field of Sociology is enhanced year on year.
