Social sciences provide an analytical approach to society’s problems. As a result, faculty and students in the social sciences often focus on complex and intersectional issues such as racism, international conflict and war, climate change, and poverty. Through an objective and empirical approach to these issues, the goal is to generate genuine passion and equip future leaders with the skills they need to address the world’s challenges. Explore majors, minors, concentrations, and academic programs in the social sciences.
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World-Class Faculty in the Social Sciences
Ashley Cordes
Assistant Professor of Indigenous Media in Environmental Studies and Data Science
Ashely Cordes is an academic expert in Indigenous data sovereignty, artificial intelligence, blockchain technology and cryptocurrency. Her research explores how Indigenous communities can leverage technological utilities—such as cryptocurrency and AI—for Tribal economic independence, representational and data sovereignty, and preservation of knowledge systems.
Keaton Miller
Associate Professor of Economics
Keaton Miller is an academic expert in industrial organization, market competition and public policy, with a focus on how businesses, consumers and governments respond to changing regulations.
Miller has worked with economists across Oregon to study the impacts of climate change in Oregon. The group (called Forum on Oregon Climate Economics, or FORCE) worked to communicate how climate change-related issues like wildfire and flooding could cost households, jobs and communities. For Miller, this work is an opportunity for him to apply his expertise with the aim of making a social impact in understanding climate change.
Melissa Graboyes
Associate Professor of History, Global Health Program
Melissa Graboyes is a historian of modern Africa and a global health specialist whose research focuses primarily on medicine and science in the East African region.
Graboyes’ current research projects have been supported by major research funds. Her work on the history of malaria elimination on the African continent is funded by a five-year National Science Foundation CAREER award. A three-year collaborative research project on returning research results from social science disciplines to African participants—removing costly barriers to make findings more accessible—is funded with a three-year NSF award. She is also working on global health research at the local Eugene level through her project on aspects of care for people who inject drugs.
As a mentor, Graboyes works with undergraduate students in research groups. She leads the Global Health Research Group, which helps students gain skills and tools for conducting undergraduate research. The group consists of students interested in global health-related topics, as well as students majoring in a STEM field who are interested in ethics, history and the processes of science.
Schnitzer School of Global Studies and Languages
At the Schnitzer School of Global Studies and Languages, UO students engage with diverse cultures, languages, histories, and lifeways across the world. Students of the social sciences, from Anthropology to Sociology, will broaden and deepen their education in their field by viewing it—and experiencing it—through a global lens. GSL prepares our graduates for life after college with an interdisciplinary curriculum, innovative language teaching, abundant learning opportunities outside the classroom, and paths of study that lead to many options for real-world careers.
Research in the Social Sciences
Research in the social sciences investigates human behavior and the motivations that influence it. Although some of our research occurs in the lab, much of it is conducted out in the field using a variety of methodological approaches, from exploratory to experimental. The results of our research often carry societal-level implications and may point to solutions for addressing local, national, or global challenges.
2024-2025 Sponsored Research in Social Sciences
Between July 2024 and June 2025, researchers in CAS received $83 million to fund 199 research projects, including approximately $6 million for Social Sciences. The research projects, which span divisions and fields of study, represent CAS's commitment to curiosity, discovery, and innovation.
Explore Other Majors and Minors in the College of Arts and Sciences
Meet Our Dean
Welcome to the social sciences division of the College of Arts and Sciences. Within our community, we address some of the world’s problems—big or small—through interdisciplinary research and critical thinking. What drives us is a passion for exploring human behavior and society.
The social sciences provide the necessary foundation for any academic inquiry, from the creative arts to the natural sciences. Inside the classroom, we lead courses that are engaging and thought-provoking, inspiring students to become better citizens of our world and work toward a more inclusive future.
We also believe real-world experience offers some of the most impactful learning opportunities. From internships to study abroad trips that offer new cultural experiences, our students regularly engage in hands-on learning work that reaches across social, disciplinary, and geographic boundaries, allowing them to forge new connections and spark new ideas.
We look forward to changing the world with you.
Bruce McGough
Divisional Associate Dean, Social Sciences
Happening at CAS
Government Partnerships and Financing for Sanitation and the Human Right to WASH
5:00 p.m.Nov
4
5:00 p.m.
Access to water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services is a recognized human right and central to the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal Six, which targets universal access by 2030. Yet millions living in informal urban settlements—projected to house roughly half the world's urban population by 2050—remain without reliable sanitation infrastructure. This it the first of three-panel discussions, one each quarter of the 26-27 academic year to address to engage with this topic. The discussions will specifically use the example of Container-Based Sanitation (CBS) which emerged in the early 2010’s as a scalable, affordable alternative form of sanitation which, in 2019, the WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme formally recognized as improved sanitation, cementing its role in achieving SDG6.
Panelists:
Clarrissa Brocklehurst: Brocklehurst is an affiliated faculty member of the Water Institute at UNC. Brocklehurst was the country representative for WaterAid in Bangladesh, and a Regional Urban Specialist for the World Bank Water and Sanitation Program (WSP) in South Asia. Between 2007 and 2011 she was the Chief of UNICEF’s Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Section, overseeing UNICEF’s water and sanitation programming in 100 countries and playing a role in development of strategy and advocacy for the global water supply and sanitation sector. Brocklehurst is a member of the Board of Trustees of WaterAid UK and the Strategic Advisory Group of the WHO-UNICEF Joint Monitoring Program that tracks global progress on water and sanitation. She is a senior advisor to the global Sanitation and Water for All partnership, and works in a consulting capacity with several sector agencies.
Nancy Ngao: Ngao is the Government Affairs, Policy and Advocacy Lead at Fresh Life, with extensive experience shaping partnerships, policy, and advocacy to advance sustainable sanitation in Kenya. She has led engagement with government and civil society stakeholders, translating policy and research into actionable strategies. Previously, Ngao worked with 4-H Foundation Kenya, ZanaAfrica, and KikeTele on community development, public health, and youth programs. She holds a BSc in Community Resource Management and Public Health from Kenyatta University.
Sponsored by the Global Justice Program, within the Global Studies Institute.
This event is part of International Education Month (IEM) programming. View the full calendar of IEM events here: https://international.uoregon.edu/IEM.
History Department Fall Term Coffee Hour
10:30 a.m.Nov
5
10:30–11:30 a.m.
Please join us Thursday mornings for a free cup of coffee, pastries, and conversation with your history department community! We’re excited to continue this tradition for our history undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, and staff. We hope to see you there!
Politics in Italy Info Session
noonNov
5
noon
Spend the spring term in Tuscany with Politics in Italy! Hosted at the historic GEO Siena Center, this program allows students to immerse themselves in the political landscape of Italy, with exposure to contemporary Italian politics and the relationship between Italy and the European Union. In this info session, we'll dive into courses, excursions, finances, and how to get started on your study abroad journey. Plus, hear from the Politics in Italy faculty leader, Priscilla Southwell!
This event is part of International Education Month (IEM) programming. View the full calendar of IEM events: https://international.uoregon.edu/IEM.
CAS CareerLab Headshots Session
3:00 p.m.Stand out on LinkedIn and beyond with a polished, professional headshot.
Free for all CAS students. No registration needed; wait time may vary.
Nov
5
3:00–6:00 p.m.
Stand out on LinkedIn and beyond with a polished, professional headshot.
Free for all CAS students. No registration needed; wait time may vary.