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.
African Studies
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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.
Neil O'Brian
Assistant Professor of Political Science
Neil O’Brian is an academic expert in U.S. politics focusing on public opinion, political parties, and polarization. His recent work has focused on how people’s perceptions of politics and current events affect their political attitudes. He’s recently published the book The Roots of Polarization: From the Racial Realignment to the Culture Wars (University of Chicago Press).
O’Brian is the second UO researcher to receive an Andrew Carnegie Fellowship. O’Brian is using the fellowship to further explore what he calls the “doctor’s project.” The start of this research began when he identified a partisan divide in the trust people have in their physicians; those on the political right expressed less trust in their doctors than those on the left. This is a recent phenomenon, as data showed no difference in trust in one’s doctor until a shift in 2020-21, during the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic. O’Brian argues the partisan divide over public health measures—such as masking and vaccines—led to less trust in the medicine industry.
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
4:00–5:00 p.m.
Learn more about French Immersion in Angers, an immersive study abroad offered throughout the calendar year. This program is designed for you to immerse yourself in the French language (regardless of language ability) while also learning about French culture, politics, and society. The program offers classes covering many disciplines, with coursework in history, sociology, political science, business, and French culture and civilization. You will study at the Centre International d'Études Françaises (CIDEF) of the Université Catholique de l’Ouest, taking courses with US and other international students.
4:00 p.m.
Join the Department of Geography for the Colloquium Series talk with Timothy Prestby from James Madison University on "Contextualizing Trust in Cartography: A Theoretical and Empirical Approach."
"Maps have long served not only as navigational aids but also as powerful rhetorical tools. Yet, the question of why and when people trust them has received limited attention by cartographic researchers. This talk presents recent advances in the emerging science of map trust. I begin by establishing a conceptual framework for understanding what “trust” in maps entails and how it can be measured in a systematic and reproducible way. Building on this foundation, I examine how specific cartographic design choices—such as color palettes and the representation of uncertainty—shape users’ trust judgments. I conclude by outlining promising directions for future research."
Prestby is an Assistant Professor of Applied GIS at James Madison University. Prestby studies the interplay between psychology and design to understand how people can make sense of geographic information. More specifically, his research centers on interactive map design, data storytelling, and trust in maps. Prestby is also the director for the JMU Map Lab where he directs mapping projects that engage students in handson work that serves communities at local and wider scales.
4:00–5:30 p.m.
Stories that Shape Worlds: Media Ecosystems in Latin America
This colloquium features CLLAS-funded research by faculty member Guillem Belmar Viernes (Linguistics), Omar Barahona (PhD Student, Spanish), and Giovanni Francischelli (PhD Student, Communication and Media Studies), and brings together interdisciplinary work focused on language, media, documentary practice, and cultural power across Latinx and Latin American contexts.
Highlights include:
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Indigenous language documentation and storytelling across print, audio, and digital platforms
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Documentary filmmaking and land conflict in 1960s–70s Mexico
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Contemporary online documentaries, misinformation, and political ideology on YouTube in Brazil
Each presentation will be followed by discussion and audience Q&A, and the event is free and open to the public. Students, faculty, staff, and community members are all welcome. Complimentary beverages and snacks will be available!
It should be a really engaging conversation, especially for anyone interested in topics around documentary storytelling, indigenous linguistics, and misinformation and political ideology in online spaces.
4:00–5:30 p.m.
Presented By: University of Oregon Lundquist College of Business, Finley Davis Private Wealth, RiskBridge Advisors
Thursday, February 5, 2026 4:00–5:30 PM | Main Presentation and Panel Discussion (Free and open to the public. RSVP encouraged. RSVP required for reserved seating by invitation only.) 5:30–6:30 PM | Meet-and Greet Reception (By invitation only. RSVP required.)
Location: Giustina Ballroom, Ford Alumni Center University of Oregon, Eugene, OR
Overview Join leading economist Dana M. Peterson, chief economist at The Conference Board, for an engaging live event exploring the next generation of business. This in-person discussion will examine how innovation, technology, and global economic forces are shaping the future of commerce and leadership.
Topics will include the impact of artificial intelligence (AI), shifts in trade and policy, trends in real estate and workforce development, and the Great Transfer of Wealth, redefining opportunity across generations.
The program will also feature a moderated panel with Peterson, RiskBridge leadership, regional business leaders, and university faculty, offering practical insight into how these trends are influencing decision-making today. About Dana M. Peterson Dana M. Peterson is the chief economist and center leader of economy, strategy and finance at The Conference Board, where she oversees global economic analysis and policy research. With more than two decades of experience in financial economics, Peterson frequently appears in the Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, and CNBC, and is a trusted voice on global growth, inflation, and labor dynamics. Before joining The Conference Board, she served as a North America Economist at Citi, advising institutional clients on macroeconomic trends and investment strategy.