Division of Social Science
Wide-ranging expertise
The faculty of the FAS Social Science division are experts in politics, economics, society, and the human mind. Their methods are cutting edge, ranging from data-driven statistical analysis to ethnography and fieldwork; from polling and surveys to neuroimaging. Their work leads to new understandings of social and political systems and the nature of human interaction and thought.
The divisional dean of Social Science is Tony Smith.
Social Science departments and programs
The FAS is home to seven social science departments: Anthropology, Economics, Linguistics, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology, and Statistics and Data Science. In addition, several programs are cross-divisional, bridging Social Science and Humanities.
News
Study uncovers lost ‘golden age’ of languages
A new study coauthored by Claire Bowern, Professor of Linguistics, suggests that tens of thousands of languages were spoken between 1,000 and 3,000 years ago.
From Gender Inequality to Dementia Care: Emma Zang on the Social Forces That Shape Our Lives
Emma Zang, Associate Professor of Sociology, Biostatistics, and Global Affairs, examines how social environments, policies, and family dynamics shape health, aging, gender inequality, and people’s lives across generations. Learn more about her research in this Q&A.
Meet three new FAS faculty members
This new video highlights three scholars — Cosmochemist Damanveer Grewal, Egyptologist Victoria Almansa-Villatoro, and Data Scientist Johan Ugander — who joined Yale’s Faculty of Arts and Sciences in the Fall of 2025.
A poor fit: Why fashion industry regulations fall short
Meital Peleg Mizrachi, Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Economics, explains why fashion regulations worldwide fail to adequately protect garment workers and the environment.
At the forefront of economics
Can the field of economics help to achieve greater equality? Rohini Pande, economist and Director of the Yale Economic Growth Center, believes economists should consider notions of justice, not just efficiency. As part of a large study, she and her colleagues, along with researchers from the Inclusion Economics initiative, are currently surveying over 5,000 Indian women to better understand a major gender disparity in mobile phone use in the country and whether government policies might be needed to correct the imbalance.
FAS Social Science contacts
- FAS Dean of Social Science; William K. Lanman, Jr. Professor of Economics and Professor of Management
- FAS Dean's Office
- Economics
- Senior Associate Dean
- FAS Dean's Office
- Associate Dean
- FAS Dean's Office