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.
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
7:30 p.m.
Shakespeare’s immortal comedy of love and intrigue! The people of Messina are determined to celebrate the impending marriage of Hero and Claudio with all-out merry-making, and the Prince (Don Pedro) decides getting the always-sparring Benedick and Beatrice to fall in love is the ultimate prank. Unfortunately, the Prince’s evil brother, Don John, sees a perfect opportunity to stir up trouble, causing a huge uproar that almost destroys everything. Luckily, the inept Constable Dogberry and his band of goofy Watchmen save the day!
By William Shakespeare Directed by Jerry Ferraccio Robinson Theatre (Grand Reopening!)
February 13, 14, 20, 21, 22*, 27, 28, March 1* 7:30pm evening performances and 2:00pm* matinees
2:00 p.m.
Shakespeare’s immortal comedy of love and intrigue! The people of Messina are determined to celebrate the impending marriage of Hero and Claudio with all-out merry-making, and the Prince (Don Pedro) decides getting the always-sparring Benedick and Beatrice to fall in love is the ultimate prank. Unfortunately, the Prince’s evil brother, Don John, sees a perfect opportunity to stir up trouble, causing a huge uproar that almost destroys everything. Luckily, the inept Constable Dogberry and his band of goofy Watchmen save the day!
By William Shakespeare Directed by Jerry Ferraccio Robinson Theatre (Grand Reopening!)
February 13, 14, 20, 21, 22*, 27, 28, March 1* 7:30pm evening performances and 2:00pm* matinees
8:30–9:50 a.m.
The documentary examines the securitization of Vietnamese politics and the rise of Police General To Lam as leader of the Vietnamese Communist Party. Following the screening, a panel discussion will feature producer Laura Brickman, Professor Tuong Vu, and Nguyen Duc Thnh, a graduate student in political science from Vietnam.
Laura Brickman, award-winning journalist with video and print work for South China Morning Post, 60 Second Docs, Insider, BBC, The Kyiv Post and other outlets, is the producer of the recently released documentary The General: Vietnam in The Age of To Lam to be shown in class.
This event, held as part of the University of Oregon course Political Science 345: Politics of Southeast Asia, is open to the general public. For questions or additional information, please contact Professor Vu at thvu@uoregon.edu.
noon
The Department of Anthropology presents a colloquium series talk by Elizabeth Wahab, Society of Fellows Postdoctoral Scholar in Archaeology at Boston University, titled “Of ‘Storied’ Pots and Their Unknown Potters: The Organization of Craft Production in Ancient Igbo Ukwu (9th-15th Century CE), Southeastern Nigeria."
By the start of the first millennium CE, West Africa experienced major social, economic, and political shifts driven by multiple factors, including reconfigurations of trade networks, population growth and urbanization, and technological change. The 1st - 2nd millennium CE is also significant for the intensification of craft production across the region, resulting in diverse material expressions across West Africa. This talk examines pottery production at ancient Igbo Ukwu (9th–15th Century CE), one of the most prominent archaeological sites in West Africa, underscoring the material and technological strategies employed by potters in this ancient society. By focusing on pottery production technologies and use patterns at Igbo Ukwu, this talk demonstrates how the organization of pottery production in this ancient society advances knowledge of craft organization and socioeconomies in ancient West Africa.
Elizabeth Wahab is a Society of Fellows Postdoctoral Scholar in Archaeology at Boston University. Elizabeth studies technology, craft production, and sociopolitical organization in ancient West African societies to further understanding of West Africa’s engagement in globalization processes and the enduring impact of these histories.