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September 3, 2009
Dear First-year Student:
If you have an interest in
the social sciences, we would like to invite you to consider the College of
Social Studies. We are now accepting applications to the College, so this is a
good time to find out more about the program.
The CSS offers a distinct
approach to the social sciences. First, and most obviously, it is a
multidisciplinary program of study in government, history, economics, and
philosophy. Because social reality does not come carved up into neat
compartments corresponding to academic disciplines, we believe that students
will develop a better understanding of the subject matter and the nature of each
discipline by considering it in relation to the others.
Perhaps more important, the
College also offers a distinctive pedagogy that centers on the weekly tutorial.
We place great emphasis on writing and discussion, so our classes are very
small. During your sophomore year, your work in the College would consist of
three small (no more than 10 students), intensive tutorials in government,
history, and economics, and one larger (30 students) colloquium in modern social
theory. You probably know how hard it is to find classes of this size in the
social sciences at Wesleyan. We keep our classes small to make it possible for
you to work closely with each other and with your professors, and to develop
your writing and analytical skills.
Our pedagogy is also
distinctive in its emphasis on students' responsibility for their own
education. In the CSS, you will write papers on a subject before you have heard
your professor discuss it, so you will be given the opportunity to develop your
own approach to it, your own synthesis of the materials you have read. You will
receive ample support from participating in small, informal groups with other
students, from the teaching assistants assigned to each class, and from your professors.
But the final product will be yours.
There's a lot more to learn
about the College, and if any of this is of interest to you, please come to the
information session on Monday, November 17th at 7:00 PM. In addition to talking
about the College we will be serving refreshments. Applications can be picked
up at the CSS office, 408 PAC, or at http://www.wesleyan.edu/css/recruiting/cssapplication.html. They are due by
Friday, March 27, 2009. You are welcome to come to our social hour on Friday
afternoons at 4:00, to chat informally with students and faculty in the
College. If you would like to talk with us, feel free to contact us.
- Information Cession TBA: CSS Common Room (4th floor, PAC) -- a panel information
session conducted by current CSS students.
- Application Deadline TBA: CSS applications due (2:00 p.m.), PAC 408.
- Mondays at noon:
CSS Monday Lunch in the Woodhead Lounge.
- Fridays at 4:00:
CSS Social Hour in the CSS Common Room (4th floor,
PAC).
Co-Chairs
Cecilia Miller
cmiller@wesleyan.edu
Peter Rutland
prutland@wesleyan.edu
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