|
Finally, I want to extend heartfelt congratulations — and sincere gratitude — to everyone who contributed to the thoughtful, spirited work that led to the creation of a new organizational structure for the College. Beginning July 1, 2026, CHSS will be composed of four schools:
The School of Behavioral and Cognitive Sciences:
The School of Behavioral and Cognitive Sciences advances the scientific understanding of human behavior, the mind, and language-based communication. We take pride in cultivating critical thinking, evidence-based practice, and collaborative discovery in the service of knowledge and the public good.
Anchored by comprehensive programs in Psychology and Linguistics, the School promotes interdisciplinary research and education that examine how people think, feel, learn, interact, and use language. Through world-class scholarship, innovative undergraduate and graduate programs, and meaningful engagement with communities, we prepare students to apply scientific principles to improve individual well-being, strengthen communities, and address complex societal challenges.
The school is composed of the Department of Psychology and the Department of Linguistics.
The School of Social Sciences:
The School of Social Sciences will become a regionally recognized leader in interdisciplinary education, producing graduates who are equipped to address complex societal challenges through critical thinking, ethical reasoning, data-informed analysis, and community engagement. Bringing together the fields of anthropology, history, justice studies, political science and law, and sociology—and working collaboratively across the college and the wider university—the school will foster intellectual inquiry and experiential learning while promoting
rigorous scholarship, inclusive excellence, and public engagement. The school will prepare students to understand and address pressing social, economic, political, and environmental issues through innovative teaching, applied research, and partnerships with public, private, and nonprofit sectors.
Aligned with the University’s mission to advance the common good through access, innovation, and partnerships, the school will expand opportunities for students to engage deeply with questions of inequality, governance, culture, justice, and social change while preparing them to become thoughtful, ethical, and engaged citizen-leaders. At every opportunity, the school will promote student’s career preparedness.
The school is composed of The Department of Political Science, Law, History, and Anthropology, and the Department of Justice Studies and Sociology.
The School for the Humanities:
The School for the Humanities explores what it means to be human across time, place, and culture. Through the study of languages, literatures, philosophies, religions, and the enduring legacies of classical and global traditions, the school cultivates deep interpretive insight, historical awareness, and ethical reflection.
Rooted in the departments of English; Global Cultural Studies; and Classics, Humanities, and Philosophy, the school offers students transformative encounters with texts, ideas, and beliefs that have shaped human expression and inquiry. Students develop rigorous skills in critical reading, persuasive writing, cross-cultural understanding, and philosophical reasoning—competencies essential for meaningful participation in a complex, interconnected world.
The school is committed to sustaining the central role of the humanities in public life. Through innovative teaching, faculty scholarship, and community partnerships, the School for the Humanities prepares graduates to navigate ambiguity, engage diverse perspectives with empathy, and lead with thoughtful judgment in every profession and civic endeavor.
The school is composed of the Department of English, the Department of Global Cultural Studies, and the Department of Classics, Humanities, and Philosophy.
The School for Interdisciplinary Studies:
Guided by empathy and a commitment to social justice, the School for Interdisciplinary Studies helps students develop the intellectual agility to tackle complex issues from multiple perspectives. By connecting fields of study with intentional rigor, we prepare our graduates for long-term professional adaptability and meaningful community contribution. Students in SIS are not just imagining a better future. They’re building it.
Programs within SIS prepare students for long-term intellectual and professional adaptability. Students develop core competencies in critical thinking, communication, research, collaboration, and ethical decision-making, alongside the ability to synthesize knowledge across disciplines. This combination supports both career readiness and sustained engagement with complex social, cultural, and environmental issues.
SIS emphasizes structured interdisciplinarity: programs are intentionally designed to connect fields of study while maintaining intellectual rigor. Currently, the SIS Advisory Board boasts 11 representatives from units across both campuses. Representation comes from: CEEL, CSAM, Sprague Library, SBUS, CHSS (Justice Studies, Medical Humanities, Interdisciplinary Studies, Religion), Art and Design, Bloomfield College (Dean, and Assoc. Dean/English). Our students are prepared not only to enter evolving professional environments, but to contribute meaningfully within them.
The school includes several interdisciplinary programs and the Department of Writing Studies.
Congratulations CHSS colleagues and thank you for your multi-faceted contributions, your passion, and your unshakable belief in the potential of this institution and its current and future students.
With congratulations and gratitude,
Fatma
| 
