Social Sciences Division
At UC Santa Cruz, the social sciences are more than a field of study—they are a commitment to understanding and improving the human condition. Our faculty and students engage the most urgent challenges of our time with curiosity, rigor, and care.
The UC Santa Cruz Social Sciences Division broadens and deepens understanding of people, our societies, and our connections to the natural world. Through applied data analysis, scientific observation, and social theory, we shed light on how we grow, communicate, learn,
and flourish; how we shape and are shaped by our physical environment; how systems of justice, work, politics, food, and health care work and change; and how economics, culture, history, and changing technology shape personal identities, ideals of justice and freedom,
and social choice.
We bring unique strength and purpose to address these urgent problems. Our research can identify the root causes of issues, the most effective solutions to address them, and the best strategies to mobilize people in support of solutions. Toward that end, the Institute for Social Transformation is a catalyst for interdisciplinary and community collaboration, supporting innovative research and student programs with real-world benefits. Nearly half of all UC Santa Cruz undergraduates major in a social science discipline, with responsive and innovative degree programs in fields such as Global and Community Health, Politics, Psychology, Education M.A. and Teaching Credential, and Quantitative Economics and Finance engaging students in practical applied scholarship that serves society.
“The future of our communities depends on addressing key global issues like climate justice, economic inequality, and the future of democracy. Developing and implementing transformative solutions on issues like these is a
large part of what we do and teach in the Social Sciences Division.”
— Herbie Lee, Social Sciences Division Interim Dean
With your support we will:
Expand opportunities for student experiences beyond the classroom. Through internships, community service projects, field study, or independent research, students are challenged to
apply their knowledge, cultivate new skills, and build career connections. Students report that these experiences transform their learning and prepare them for rewarding, high-impact careers that make a difference. Our goal is to offer these opportunities to every Social Sciences
Division student as a centerpiece of applied learning and discovery.
Invest more deeply in community engaged research. Our faculty and students work hand in hand with people across our region and the world—those who tend farms and fisheries, promote public health, and lead community development—to tackle real-world challenges. Together, they co-create knowledge, define problems with care, and develop just, lasting solutions. With your support, we can expand this model of rigorous, community-rooted
scholarship that drives meaningful social change.
Strengthen our world-leading faculty for research on the social dimension of urgent issues, such as in climate resilience, environmental health, AI and its effects, and economic policy options. We will attract and retain a diverse range of scholars who bring expertise and
passion to their work, inspiring students and advancing knowledge creatively
and collaboratively.
Support for Social Sciences
Student support ensures that talented students from all backgrounds can pursue a social sciences education and prepare for careers in public service, policy, industry, and research. We aim to fund 11 scholarships and support more than 11,000 hands-on learning opportunities, including internships and community-based research.
Programmatic support advances research, community engagement, and curriculum development across the social sciences. We seek funding for collaborative initiatives, data-driven projects, and innovative teaching in areas such as economic equity, public policy, environmental justice, and global migration.
Faculty support helps the division attract and retain scholars whose work deepens our understanding of human behavior, institutions, social systems, and ecological connections. We are seeking support to establish three endowed chairs and three professorships.
The Dean’s Innovation Fund provides flexible support for emerging opportunities, faculty-student partnerships, and creative initiatives.
Social Sciences Departments
- ANTHROPOLOGY
- ECONOMICS
- EDUCATION
- ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES
- LATIN AMERICAN AND LATINO STUDIES
- POLITICS
- PSYCHOLOGY
- SOCIOLOGY
Social Sciences Interdisciplinary Programs
- COASTAL SCIENCE AND POLICY
- COMMUNITY STUDIES
- GLOBAL AND COMMUNITY HEALTH
- LEGAL STUDIES