About the Division
Our mission
The Social Sciences Division at UC Santa Cruz is a community of changemakers working to broaden and deepen understanding of people, our societies, and our connections to the natural world.
We do this through applied data analysis, scientific observation, and social theory that addresses the biggest, most complex social and environmental challenges of our time.
Our work
Through 36 undergraduate and graduate programs, we offer an inclusive education in tandem with personalized learning experiences and support that prepares the next generation of leaders to pursue rewarding careers and make a difference. We work together with our students to co-create knowledge in ways that utilize their diverse and unique strengths, bolstering the critical thinking and problem-solving skills needed for leadership in a rapidly changing world.
We hinge our scholarship and research on the study of people, our societies, and our connections to the natural world toward a more equitable, sustainable future. Our faculty and researchers holistically broaden and deepen our understanding of critical issues by combining data analysis and scientific observation with social theory. We invest in relationship building and model ways to be guided by, partnered with, and accountable to the communities that our work touches at every step in the process.
Our impact
As part of a public, nonprofit university, we serve the people of the state of California and their values, including social justice, sustainability, innovation, and equity in opportunity. We equip policymakers, organizers, and advocates in our state and around the world with new insights and tools to increase their effectiveness in bringing about positive social change.
The division plays a pivotal role in the university’s commitment to community engagement, offering students opportunities to collaborate with local organizations and global partners. Our research centers provide crucial insights for communities, practitioners, and scholars worldwide. And we lead campus-wide efforts to meet students’ essential needs, so that they have a strong foundation from which to learn and grow.
Through our research and leading by example, we’re transforming academia to center equity, so that each student can achieve their full potential and academic institutions can build meaningful relationships with communities based on deep mutual respect.
Our people
We are equal parts thinkers and doers. We’re changemakers and visionaries, advocates and innovators, thought leaders and organizers. And we’re resourceful, inclusive, caring, and collaborative in all that we do.
Our faculty members are internationally recognized scholars who are not only leaders in their respective fields but also passionate educators committed to mentoring the next generation of social scientists. Our staff are skilled, experienced, and deeply committed to fostering student success and supporting faculty research. They play a crucial role in managing day-to-day operations, coordinating academic programs, and providing administrative support for research projects to enhance the educational experience for both undergraduate and graduate students.
Our history
The Division of Social Sciences at UC Santa Cruz was established alongside the university’s founding in 1965, with a bold mission to combine academic rigor with a commitment to social justice and public service. As one of the university’s original divisions, it was designed to challenge conventional academic boundaries, fostering interdisciplinary research, and innovative teaching.
Over the decades, the division has grown significantly, expanding its scope and impact through the creation of countless new departments, programs, and research centers. Today, the Division is home to a broad array of disciplines, housed within eight departments and four programs.
Our affiliated colleges
College Nine and John R. Lewis College are formally part of the Division of Social Sciences. Both are residential living-learning communities for undergraduate students.
College Nine’s theme is international and global perspectives, centering society and the human condition to prepare students to be global citizens. John R. Lewis College’s theme is social justice and community, enabling students to consider intersectionality and critical thinking to pursue social change for all.
Both colleges administer the Apprenticeship in Community-Engaged Research Program or (H)ACER, which allow undergraduates to participate in community-engaged experiential learning and research alongside community partners. Each offer monthly themed events, themed residential floors, classes, faculty research opportunities, alternative spring break programs, pathways to graduate with distinction, and a garden club.
