Welcome to the College of Social Sciences!

Our faculty and staff welcome you to join us in an exciting quest--to understand our world. There has never been a time of such social complexity and diversity as we face today, at the dawn of the new millennium. And there has never been a greater need for people with the perspectives, knowledge, and skills to address the complexity of human social life.

In the College of Social Sciences, we study the human experience, including the depth of the past and the breadth of the entire planet, in the study of Anthropology, Geography, and History. We study the diversity of human cultures and social experiences through Sociology, Anthropology, and Women's Studies. We analyze economic and political affairs in global perspective in our programs in Economics, Political Science, Public Administration, and International Relations. And we address some of the most pressing social issues of our times in the Department of Criminology. We offer depth of study in ethnic heritages, with special focus on African American, American Indian, Chicano/Latin American, Asian American, and Southeast Asian Studies.

We place emphasis on learning practical skills to aid you in your career. Our students do internships in law enforcement, participate in archaeological digs, or do service-learning projects with a non-profit agency. Our students even learn folkloric dance in Los Danzantes de Atzlan, join the Gospel Choir in Ethnic Studies, or set weather balloons off at the crack of dawn. Economics students visit the Federal Reserve Bank or play the stock market game. Students can assist on research projects or organize a social change project. Fellows of the Maddy Institute have opportunities to work in the legislature or public agencies.

Master's degrees in Criminology, History, International Relations, and Public Administration have prepared our alumni to take leadership roles in teaching, business, and public service.

Whatever a student's major, they enjoy our witty and talented faculty and our caring staff as they discover our social world.

Thanks for visiting our web site. We hope you will visit us on the campus of California State University, Fresno, too!

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COLLEGE ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND ACTIVITIES

Dr. Janice Peterson and Dr. Antonio Avalos
Department of Economics
Dr. Peterson and Dr. Avalos recently received a
$60,000 grant from Wells Fargo to assess
financial literacy among Hispanics in the
Central Valley. The study aims to better
understand the budgeting, spending, saving,
loans and credit, financial and retirement
planning, investment and other financial
practices among Hispanics in the region.
The results will help the financial
services sector better appreciate customers’
needs, avoid inappropriate use of products,
and inform education, regulatory and social
policy about the need to improve financial
skills for customers

Department of History
This year the History Department has
received word that a second $1.8 million
Teaching American History (TAH) grant has
been funded, which will allow us to fund
a new cohort of MA students.
The TAH grants have allowed the Department
to become more visible in the teaching community,
to expand its outreach at the K-12
level, and to participate in debates about
history education.