Social Sciences
View a list of departments in social sciences & global programs.

What a world in crisis can learn from disaster-struck communities
Coastal communities in North Carolina have been hit by several major hurricanes and tropical storms within the past decade. Already burdened by ongoing disaster recovery, these communities are now facing a global pandemic.

Light, liberty and the promotion of black art, history and culture
Massey Award winner Joseph Jordan embodies the University’s “Lux, Libertas” motto and makes the Stone Center a vital part of campus.

A Message from Dean Rhodes
This has been a deeply painful and disturbing week for our nation, with the video that has emerged of George Floyd and his horrible death in police custody in Minneapolis.

Excavating the past to serve the future
Massey Award winner Steve Davis has dedicated his life to preserving the history of North Carolina’s Native American peoples for future generations.

Gig workers face more risks than most during pandemic
(photo by Jackson David for Pexels) New York City is home to approximately 150,000 gig workers — independent contractors who perform odd jobs through online platforms like Rover, Task Rabbit, GrubHub, DoorDash, Uber, and Lyft. While an essential part of the economy, such workers are more exposed to the virus and often lack the protections afforded to permanent employees such … Read more

Calculating COVID-19’s educational costs
Cassandra R. Davis studies the impact of natural disasters on schools and communities. Now the public policy professor is turning her attention to the impact of another kind of disaster — a global pandemic — on first-generation college students.

One strange semester, part 2
More impressions, insights and lessons learned by faculty during spring’s historic shift to remote teaching.