Social Sciences
Social Sciences students learn to gather evidence, test ideas, and understand people in context. The department pairs classic disciplines with one program you will not find anywhere else: the major in Judgmentalism.
5 ways to study social sciences.
Psychology
Study mind and behavior through research methods, theory, and applied practice.
Sociology
Examine how groups, institutions, and inequalities shape everyday life.
Political Science
Analyze governments, policy, and power in the United States and abroad.
Economics
Apply economic theory and data analysis to markets, policy, and choice.
JudgmentalismSignature
The rigorous study of how people form, express, and act on evaluations of one another.
What is Judgmentalism?
Judgmentalism is the systematic study of how individuals and institutions form, express, and defend evaluations of others, and what those evaluations do to the people and communities involved.
Students in the major learn to observe carefully, separate evidence from assumption, and understand the ethics of evaluation. Graduates go on to careers in research, mediation, human resources, journalism, criticism, law, and public policy.
- Seven-course majorIntroduction, three electives in evaluation and culture, methods, ethics, and a senior seminar.
- Original researchEvery major designs and completes an independent study in the senior seminar.
- Pairs well withPsychology, Sociology, Philosophy, English, and Political Science.
A sample of what you’ll study.
These are representative courses. The full catalog is available from the Registrar, and offerings vary by semester.
Sample courses
- PSY 101Introduction to PsychologyMajor topics in cognition, development, personality, and social behavior.4 credits
- SOC 101Introduction to SociologyCulture, institutions, stratification, and social change.4 credits
- POL 101American GovernmentThe Constitution, Congress, the presidency, and the courts.4 credits
- ECO 101Principles of MicroeconomicsSupply, demand, and the behavior of consumers and firms.4 credits
Judgmentalism major
- JUD 101Introduction to JudgmentalismAn overview of the field: what a judgment is, how it forms, and why it matters.4 credits
- JUD 210First Impressions and Snap EvaluationThe first seven seconds: how quickly we decide, and how often we revise.4 credits
- JUD 245The Raised Eyebrow: Nonverbal DisapprovalGesture, posture, and expression as carriers of evaluation across cultures.4 credits
- JUD 310Comparative Cultures of CritiqueHow different societies express, restrain, and ritualize criticism.4 credits
- JUD 335The Ethics of EvaluationWhen is judging others justified, and what do we owe the people we judge?4 credits
- JUD 350Research Methods in JudgmentalismSurvey design, observation, and experimental methods for studying evaluation.4 credits
- JUD 420Senior Seminar in JudgmentalismA capstone seminar and independent research project.4 credits
Other departments.
Humanities
Language, literature, history, and the ideas that shaped how we think and live.
ExploreNatural Sciences & Mathematics
Laboratory-based learning, field research, and quantitative reasoning.
ExploreArts
Studio practice, performance, and creative inquiry across visual art, music, and theatre.
ExploreReady to take the next step?
Start your application, explore financial aid, or get in touch with our admissions team.