About SSD

Few institutions in the 20th century have shaped our views of society, economy, and culture as profoundly as the Social Sciences Division of the University of Chicago. Whether we are measured by Nobel Prizes, departmental rankings, or sheer intellectual impact, we have been repeatedly recognized as a leader in the pursuit of knowledge and the achievements of our faculty, graduate, and undergraduate students.

Exchange and Debate of Ideas

The Social Sciences Division now comprises the Departments of Anthropology, Comparative Human Development, Economics, History, Political Science, Psychology and Sociology, and also the Committee on Social Thought. In addition, the Division supports interdisciplinary committees and centers for research and education. The research interests of faculty and students encompass an enormous range of subjects from economic theory to linguistic anthropology to neuroendocrinology.

Out of the variety of disciplines and approaches has come a number of “Chicago Schools” of thought. These Schools do not share any particular content or approach; rather, their common characteristic is the highest level of theoretical innovation and critical debate among competing ideas. The quintessential forums for exchange and debate of ideas are the workshops, attended by faculty and graduate students, on themes as diverse as ancient societies, American politics, and demography.

Vibrant Intellectual Life

Since our foundation in 1892, the University of Chicago has been a research institution with large graduate programs. The Social Sciences Division now has about 1,440 students from around the world enrolled in our doctorate and master’s programs. Our relatively large community of graduate students makes possible a vibrant intellectual life including hundreds of research seminars, dozens of workshops, and intense individual discussions. Our large doctoral programs have made the University the “teacher of teachers,” while our master’s programs in the Social Sciences, International Relations, Middle Eastern Studies, and Latin American Studies—all offer students a valuable opportunity to deepen their knowledge through courses taught by world-renowned experts.