Rice University School of Social Sciences

Rice School of Social Sciences is an academic school on the Rice University campus. It serves the largest number of undergraduates, with over a third of Rice undergraduates choosing a major in the social sciences. It is composed of seven departments: anthropology, economics, linguistics, political science, psychology, sociology, and sport management. At the graduate level, five of the seven departments have Ph.D. programs. Each program concentrates on selected areas for education and research. The School of Social Sciences also offers professional master’s programs in Energy Economics, Human Factors & Human Computer Interaction, Global Affairs, Industrial & Organizational Psychology, and Social Policy Evaluation.

Rachel Tolbert Kimbro currently serves as the Dean of Social Sciences. Former deans include Susan McIntosh (interim, 2019-2021), Antonio Merlo (2016-2019), Lyn Ragsdale (2007-2016), Robert Stein (1996-2007), James Pomerantz (1988-1996), and Joseph Cooper (1979-1988).