About the College
Students in the College of Social Sciences and Humanities explore intrinsic questions about human nature and behavior, the organization and functioning of societies and cultures, and how humans seek to shape the world they share. These common threads open the world to students, providing them with a broad understanding of the relationships among peoples and nations; global economics and politics; the diversity of languages, literatures, religions, and cultures; and multiple perspectives in urban affairs, public policy, law, criminal justice, and the ethical dimensions of human behavior.
We connect ideas to action through Northeastern's wide array of experiential learning opportunities-our signature co-op program, global experience, research and scholarship, and service learning programs linking course work to community service and community-based research. There are no limits to the richness of experience open to our students. They can take a co-op position at a Boston social services agency one semester, and in another, help build a similar agency in Thailand or South Africa through the faculty-led Dialogue of Civilizations program. Students can help to curate an exhibit at a Boston-area museum, do policy research for a state transportation office, or work with faculty on the ethics of human enhancement technologies. These experiences make coursework come alive, enable students to explore the possibilities of their major, and provide real-world experience that leads to achievement, in graduate school and in the professional world.
The college takes a deeply interdisciplinary approach to education and research. Our Humanities Center fosters progressive, collaborative conversations among politicians and writers, philosophers and scientists, historians and health-care providers, and many others engaged in the work of this college. In addition, we are home to well-established interdisciplinary majors, including International Affairs, Human Services, and African American Studies; minors such as Women's Studies, Urban Studies, and Latino, Latin American, and Caribbean Studies; and a wide range of dual majors.
The synergy between the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice and the School of Public Policy and Urban Affairs strengthens research and scholarship in these areas and elevates Northeastern's profile as a source of significant public policy research and teaching. These connections create outstanding experiential learning opportunities for students in government and law, and enrich the college's interdisciplinary environment.
By combining academic breadth, real-world experience, interdisciplinary learning opportunities, and the expertise of faculty engaged in ground-breaking research at the intersection of academic disciplines, the College of Social Sciences and Humanities provides students with the tools they need to achieve their academic and professional goals.