Social Sciences

Students conducting research in the social sciences will find themselves trying to solve problems that affect many facets of our society. Social science research at Vanderbilt is interdisciplinary. Students researching the social sciences routinely work in the Vanderbilt University Medical Center and in the Peabody College of Education and Human Development on cross-disciplinary research.

• Research in the social sciences is science. Understanding the quantitative and qualitative methods and theories that inform practice is paramount to being a successful researcher.
• Research in the social sciences is highly varied. For example, students in anthropology may be conducting interviews for field research, while students in economics may be building complex computer models of human behavior and decision-making. Students in the Social Sciences routinely apply for summer research opportunities such as  VUSRP and other research opportunities through the Office of Honor Scholarships. Research experience through these programs can count as part of a student’s Immersion Vanderbilt plan.

Students interested in conducting research in the social sciences should consult the research resources page of Vanderbilt’s College of Arts and Science.