The Division of Social Sciences was created in 1986 with the goal of increasing opportunities for interdisciplinary study and research.

Comprising nine academic departments and a wide range of interdisciplinary programs and research units, Social Sciences is the largest academic division at UCSD in numbers of faculty and undergraduate students.

Almost half of all bachelor degrees awarded at UCSD are in the social sciences. And among the top ten majors, no less than five - psychology, economics, communication, political science, and international studies - are social science disciplines.

Social Sciences is home to nationally and internationally recognized faculty, including three Nobel Laureates and four MacArthur "genius" Grant recipients. Virtually all of the division's programs rank in the top 20 nationally and many rank in the top 10.