Social Sciences

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Adam Lau

The 15 departments and programs that comprise the Social Sciences Division are each among the most distinguished in the nation. The transformational work done by the award-winning faculty and students illuminates the tectonic changes in the global economy, climate, technology, and governance we inhabit today. We pursue questions of the long durée: how do we create the good society? How is language acquired?

As the largest academic division on campus, our size and breadth offer scholars and students an unparalleled opportunity to range far and wide in their search for solutions to individual, social, and global problems.

Featured Event

The Annual Stone Lecture: Slouching Towards Utopia

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Berkeley Psychology Celebrates 100 Years

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People, Departments and Programs

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The Baxter Liberty Initiative

The Social Science Matrix

The James M. and Cathleen D. Stone Center on Wealth and Income Inequality at UC Berkeley

Did You Know?

  • The Social Science division is the largest and most diverse on campus, with 20 percent of the faculty and 25 percent of student enrollments. Our size and breadth enable us to offer a range of theoretical approaches and empirical methodologies for understanding human society.

  • Our 15 departments and programs are consistently ranked at the top in the nation: US News & World Report's 2022 Best Graduate Schools named the departments of sociology and psychology #1 in the country, and political science and psychology ranked #4.
  • Our internationally recognized and award-winning faculty are standouts in their fields: among our current faculty are Nobelists, MacArthur "Geniuses," and Guggenheim Fellows.
  • Our alumni also go on to become leaders and changemakers all over the world; this year, three Berkeley Social Sciences alumnae were named MacArthur Fellows for their invaluable research and contributions.
READ: Social Sciences Book Gallery
WATCH: Social Sciences Youtube Channel
JOIN: Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in Social Sciences
CELEBRATE: Teaching and Service Honors & Awards
Beyond analyzing and solving problems, in the social sciences we also ask the question, What kind of society do we want to live in? What is a 'good' society?
Raka Ray, Dean of the Division of Social Sciences

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