Does prison work? Take this further...

Does prison work? By now, you know this is a tricky subject. If you’ve been inspired to delve deeper, here are some suggested subjects you could study at a university like Oxford.

1. Psychology (Experimental)
   1. Psychology has been defined as the science of mental life and its scope includes a wide variety of issues. It addresses such questions as: How do we perceive colours? How do children acquire language? What predisposes two people to get on with each other? What causes schizophrenia? Psychology at Oxford is a scientific discipline, involving the rigorous formulation and testing of ideas. It works through experiments and systematic observation rather than introspection. Find out more. 
2. Human Sciences 
   1. Human Sciences is a diverse discipline which enables students to study the biological, social and cultural aspects of human life, and provides a challenging alternative to some of the more traditional courses offered at Oxford. The school was founded in 1969 in recognition of the need for an interdisciplinary understanding of fundamental issues and problems confronting contemporary societies. Central topics include the evolution of humans and their behaviour, molecular and population genetics, population growth and ageing, ethnic and cultural diversity and the human interaction with the environment, including conservation, disease and nutrition. The study of both biological and social disciplines, integrated within a framework of human diversity and sustainability, should enable the human scientist to develop professional competencies suited to address such multidimensional human problems. Find out more. 
3. Philosophy, Politics and Economics
   1. Studying Philosophy, you will develop analytical rigour and the ability to criticise and reason logically, and be able to apply these skills to questions concerning how we acquire knowledge or make ethical judgements. The study of Politics provides a thorough understanding of the impact of political institutions on modern societies. It helps you to evaluate the choices that political systems must regularly make, to explain the processes that maintain or change those systems, and to examine the concepts and values used in political analysis. Economics is the study of how consumers, firms and government make decisions that together determine how resources are allocated. An appreciation of economics has become increasingly necessary to make sense of governmental policy-making, the conduct of businesses and the enormous economic transformations throughout the world. All three branches of PPE at Oxford have an international reputation, supported by more than 200 renowned scholars. PPE at Oxford is a very flexible course which allows you to study all three branches, or to specialise in two after the first year. Find out more.
4. Economics and Management 
   1. Economics studies how consumers, firms and governments make decisions that together determine how resources are allocated. An appreciation of economics helps to make sense of government policy-making, the conduct of businesses and the enormous changes in economic systems which are occurring throughout the world. Management is concerned with the effective use and coordination of materials and labour within organisations in the pursuit of the organisation’s defined objectives. It considers the interrelationship and interactions between distinct parts of an organisation, and between the organisation and its environment. Management students look at theories, models and frameworks in order to understand how managers behave and consider their role in the process of decision-making. Find out more. 

These are just some ideas, and if you are considering Higher Education you should carefully weigh up your options to choose the course and university that are right for you! You could try further suggested reading and resources.