All SPS students take part in the induction semester, where they can discover SPS and on top of that they're eased into a culture that cherishes science and inspires excellence. Subsequently, students will be introduced to various disciplines through seminars, laboratory, and field work. Strong emphasis on independent learning offers abundant opportunities for those motivated to indulge in advanced topics as well as to dabble in scientific investigations.
In total, students complete five modules:
- SP2170, Doing Science: This is the introductory course for SPS. In this module, students learn the techniques of literature searching and reviewing, attend seminars from across the entire institution of science, become comfortable in discussing scientific papers, and meet with their peers and seniors in SPS. After completed this module if students decide to continue SPS, they will be officially considered SPSians.
- SP2171, Discovering Science: In this module, students work in small groups to conduct a comprehensive literature review on a subject of their choice, based on a semester “theme” chosen the previous semester. They also attend lectures examining the theme from all the different areas of science.
- SP2172, Investigating Science: In this module, students work in small groups - generally the same groups they worked with in SP2171 - to complete a research project, using the literature they read in SP2171 to formulate and execute a project of their choosing.
- SP3173, Independent Study and Seminars: Here, students get to make their own module! In consultation with a lecturer, and either riding on a module offered by the Faculty or completely independently, students determine which areas of the subject they would like to focus on, how they will be evaluated for the module, and all the other relevant details. If riding on a faculty module, the student will be deemed to have completed that module.
- SP3174, Project Laboratory: This module is identical to an undergraduate research project (under the UROPS programme), except that the student is expected to take a greater initiative in planning the research to be carried out.
Apart from the modules, students can gain experience and training working for one of the SPS room committees. From their third year, SPS students are given the opportunity of helping conduct the SPS modules, by participating as junior mentors (in their third year) and senior mentors (in their fourth year).