Our School
Rice University's School of Social Sciences is a vibrant, inclusive community of scholars, students, and educators committed to connecting our teaching and research with policy for the betterment of society. We are seven departments with one mission: to tackle society's greatest challenges with an unconventional vision toward shaping a future that we can all thrive in, both individually and collectively.
Our Students
The School of Social Sciences serves the largest number of undergraduates, with over a third of Rice undergraduates choosing a major in the social sciences. One of the goals of the school is to give undergraduate students opportunities to have real life experiences so they are able to make informed decisions about what they would like to do after they graduate. To accomplish this goal, the school has created the Gateway program for students to participate in professional practica and research. At the graduate level, five of our seven departments have Ph.D. programs. Each of these programs achieves excellence by concentrating on selected areas for education and research. The School of Social Sciences also offers professional master’s programs in Energy Economics, Global Affairs, Human Factors and Human Computer Interaction, Industrial and Organizational Psychology and Social Policy Evaluation.
Our Faculty
Social Sciences faculty are finding evidence based strategies and solutions to society's greatest challenges. Our faculty understand that their research has the potential to improve the lives of others through partnerships with the government, public schools, and local hospitals. One of the many reasons students choose Rice is because of faculty who take an interest in students and enjoy teaching. Nowhere on campus is that more evident than the School of Social Sciences, where our faculty consistently exhibit their student commitment by winning teaching awards and creating a fascinating learning environment that engages students to think critically.