First, the faculty recognizes the value of systematic empirical observation and quantitative analysis in the study of human behavior. Developments in computer science and in mathematics oriented toward the problems of the social sciences, and the refinement of techniques for the observational, experimental, and statistical study of human behavior, have contributed major new elements to social science. Students in the School of Social Sciences will become familiar with the mathematical, computational, and statistical tools underlying modern social science.

Second, many of the most interesting questions in the study of human behavior cannot be fixed within the traditional disciplinary boundaries. Some of the new and evolving areas which cross orthodox boundaries are political sociology, public policy, cognitive anthropology, psycholinguistics and neuroeconomics. Therefore many courses and course modules are built around these interdisciplinary social science phenomena rather than representing social science disciplines.

Third, the school emphasizes the design of hypotheses and of systems of interrelated ideas as an essential part of scientific pursuit. Consequently, the educational programs place substantial emphasis on understanding social science phenomena through the development of theories that can be used to guide empirical studies.

Sociology involves the study of societies and human groups. It examines social conflict and cooperation, inequality and the social organization of families, communities, workplaces and nations.

The program at UCI covers the breadth of the discipline while giving students opportunities to conduct independent research, participate in an Honors Program, and to take advantage of departmental opportunities in such areas as business, economy and organizations; diversity and inequality; global and international sociology; and social problems and public policy.

Students then take more specialized courses such as race and ethnicity, social psychology, sociology of gender, or political sociology. Courses are enriched by ongoing faculty research on such topics as the work and family of immigrants to the U.S., economic change in Asia, the relation between women and men in different social classes and ethnic groups, and attitudes on sexual behavior.