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EnglishWhat the UO Social Sciences Site Says About Its Issues and Approach
Updated
The University of Oregon Social Sciences site (socialsciences.uoregon.edu) describes social sciences as an analytical approach to society's problems, carried out through an objective and empirical approach. The issues it names as central are complex and intersectional: racism, international conflict and war, climate change, and poverty. The stated goal is to generate genuine passion and equip future leaders with the skills to address the world's challenges.
The approach the site describes
The site frames the discipline in three connected parts:
- Analytical, not just descriptive. Social sciences are presented as a way of working through society's problems rather than a fixed body of facts.
- Objective and empirical. The site explicitly ties the method to empirical work, meaning conclusions are meant to rest on observable evidence.
- Intersectional by design. The issues listed are not treated as separate tracks; the site calls them "complex and intersectional," signaling that problems like racism, conflict, climate change, and poverty are studied as overlapping rather than isolated topics.
A useful way to read this: a student interested in climate change would not only study environmental data but also how poverty or racial inequality shape who bears the costs — the kind of linked question the site's framing points toward.
The issues named
The site lists four example issues directly:
| Issue | How it fits the site's framing |
|---|---|
| Racism | A social problem requiring empirical, intersectional analysis |
| International conflict and war | Ties to global and political studies programs |
| Climate change | Connects to climate, environmental, and global health programs |
| Poverty | Overlaps with economics, sociology, and policy-oriented study |
These are presented as examples of the kind of work faculty and students focus on, not as a complete list.
Where the approach shows up in the curriculum
The site connects this framing to a long list of majors, minors, concentrations, and programs, including African Studies, Anthropology, Asian Studies, Black Studies, Climate Studies, Criminology, Economics, Environmental Studies, Ethnic Studies, Geography, Global Health, Global Studies, History, Indigenous Studies, Political Science, Sociology, and Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies. The breadth matters: the intersectional issues above can be approached from several of these programs rather than one.
The site also points to CAS graduate programs and affiliated centers and institutes for readers looking beyond undergraduate study.
What the site does not tell you
The page is an overview, not a catalog. It does not provide course requirements, faculty research details, or admission information for specific programs — those live on the individual department pages linked from the program list. If you are deciding between programs, use this page to identify which departments match the issues you care about, then check each department's own page for requirements and faculty focus.
The news section illustrates the approach in practice: recent items cover a geography alumna pursuing a master's in France, a reproductive health scientist and engineer visiting campus, and professors offering concrete steps for inclusive environmental justice. These are examples of the site's stated emphasis on applied, cross-field work rather than a definitive account of the college.