HSS splits into two schools next year

By Sophia Tan

Starting next academic year, the School of Humanities and Social Sciences will be split into two new schools: the School of Humanities and the School of Social Sciences. PHOTO: VALERIE LAY

STARTING next August, the School of Humanities and Social Sciences (HSS) will be split into two new schools: the School of Humanities (SoH) and the School of Social Sciences (SSS).

SoH will house the Chinese, English, History, Linguistics and Multilingual Studies, and Philosophy programmes, while SSS will comprise Economics, Psychology, Public Policy and Global Affairs, and Sociology courses, the University announced on 31 Oct.

“We have now reached a point where HSS has outgrown its administrative structure which was put in place more than a decade ago,” Professor Alan Chan, Dean of the College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences, said in a press statement about the school’s split.

“The reorganisation of HSS into two schools increases flexibility for future growth, enhances opportunities for collaboration and interdisciplinary research, as well as continuing to fulfil the educational needs and aspirations of our students,” Prof Chan added.

Following the split, each school will have its own Undergraduate Office that will serve as one-stop administrative centres for undergraduate students.

The two new schools will also become “division-less” to enhance interdisciplinary study.
With an undergraduate and postgraduate enrolment of over 3,500 students, HSS is currently the largest faculty in the University.

In an email to HSS students and staff on 6 Oct, a school official reassured students that the restructuring will not affect their curriculum or academic programme.

The statement issued by the school also maintained that “all academic programmes will continue without change.”

The new SoH and SSS websites will be launched in January next year, containing programme information specific to each school.

All information about the programmes on the current HSS website remains valid for prospective students, the statement added.

HSS students whom the Nanyang Chronicle spoke to said that they were surprised by the sudden announcement from the school.

Second-year English student Zahrah Aljufri said that the split might be to differentiate the current HSS courses.

“By drawing the line between what courses constitute as a humanities or social sciences subject, students will be more certain of what academic talks to register for or attend with regards to their new school,” said the 21-year-old.

Second-year Linguistics and Multilingual Studies student Marian Lim, 21, said she was surprised by the classification between humanities and social sciences, as some courses could potentially span both disciplines.

But for first-year Psychology student Jonathan Seow, the restructuring is simply a name change.

He said: “The bigger picture is that this reclassification does not affect my student experience, except that HSS school shirts will probably be a thing of the past.”