Main Content
Discover. Interpret. Change the world.
At UW Tacoma, learning is a path to changing your world. Whether you seek to understand how societies function, intend to build more just communities, desire a college education with plentiful internship opportunities, or simply need to develop essential skills for the modern workplace, the Department of Social Sciences offer amazing possibilities for changing your life and the world around you.
We offer degrees in Psychology, Law & Policy, Politics, Philosophy, and Economics (PPE), History, Ethnic, Gender, and Labor Studies (EGL), Economic Policy Analysis (EPA), and Interdisciplinary Arts & Sciences. The curriculum provides students with a wide range of opportunities to pursue interdisciplinary study, interact with local communities, acquire an education grounded in Global Studies, and form connections throughout the South Sound.
SOCS By The Numbers
| MAJORS | MINORS | REGULAR FACULTY | ACTIVE MAJORS | SOCS GRADUATES, LAST DECADE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | 10 | 42 | 500 | 4000+ |
| SOCS CAREERS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Law | News Columnists | Political Consultant | Archivist |
| Data Analytics | Nonprofits | Clinical Practice | Crisis Management |
| Policy Analyst | Librarian | Judicial Office | and More... |
| Government Affairs | Public Health | Management | |
| Market Research | Human Resources | Criminal justice | |
Message from the Chair: Investigate, Interpret, Intervene
Our department is home to seven majors including Psychology, Law & Policy, Politics, Philosophy, and Economics (PPE), History, Ethnic, Gender, and Labor Studies (EGL), Economic Policy Analysis (EPA), and Interdisciplinary Arts & Sciences as well as ten minors. Our curriculum deliberately draws from expertise in multiple fields to ensure every student develops critical thinking skills, receives exposure to different topics and methods of inquiry, and gets abundant preparation for careers after graduation. The department maintains small class sizes, enables students to directly participate in research with faculty, and offers intensive thesis and independent study opportunities. As Department Chair, I am deeply committed to ensuring that our students receive the best education we can provide and that our faculty maintain the highest standards for mentorship, student support, and equational quality.
Whether you are a prospective student or one of our majors, I urge you to fully avail yourself of our department's resources and opportunities. Ask questions! Meet regularly with your professors. Learn about the connections we have to the state legislature and other public offices, discover more about our work with community partners and local businesses, ask about our study abroad opportunities, or inquire the unique possibilities for working with faculty in the field. Now more than ever, students should explore every possibility for enhancing their education. Fortunately, our department boasts an incredible faculty who are committed to educational excellence, accessibility, and a well-rounded experience for all of our students.
Please feel free to connect with me, our faculty, and our department staff if you have further questions about department's degrees and programs or if you require other support.
SOCS FACULTY & NEWS
Carolyn West
Judging Justice Symposium 2026
The Gender & Justice Commission partnered with the Minority & Justice Commission (MC) for the MC's annual Supreme Court Symposium on June 10t at the Temple of Justice in Olympia. Gender & Justice Commissioner Dr. Carolyn West (above) gave a powerful presentation on understanding survivor-defendants through a lens of race and culture. Her session, "Sorry, we have to take you in" featured a video from the Survivors First Program, with first- hand stories of survivor-defendants in Washington. A special thanks to Gender & Justice Commissioner Elizabeth Hendren for sharing her expertise to help in the planning of the Survivors and Victims' Needs and Preferences Expert Presentations portion of the day.
Legislative Internship Opportunities
The department of Social Sciences sponsors students in pursuit of the Washington Legislative Internship. This internship is a prestigious (paid) opportunity to work directly in the state legislature during the Winter quarter and receive class credit. Check out this article to see our alumni's incredible experiences!
Michelle Montgomery
Community-Engaged Project
Michelle Montgomery is honored for her leadership of the Indigenous Speaker Series and Community Engagement project in partnership with the Northwest Maritime Center and the Haida Sails Resurgence Project. This work supports Indigenous maritime cultural revitalization through collaborative research, public programming and multigenerational learning opportunities. The initiative also expands Indigenous representation in maritime education and youth programming, strengthening connections between cultural knowledge, community engagement and academic scholarship.
