Research. Understand. Change.
When you study social sciences at WSU, you learn from professors whose research and outreach are dedicated to understanding what makes people and societies tick. And you have opportunities to join them in their research.
Here are just a few examples of what your professors — and their students — are working on.
Improving the political process
Political science professor Travis Ridout is working to increase the transparency of the electoral process through the Wesleyan Media Project, a nonpartisan initiative to comprehensively track and analyze political ads run by candidates, parties, and special interest groups.
Students are deeply involved in the research.
Field schools and research labs
Anthropology students can get priceless experience in the field and in research labs.
The University's anthropology field schools run for six to eight weeks in the summer at locations throughout the Western U.S. and involve hands-on projects, seminars, and faculty-led archaeological digs.
Professors like molecular anthropologist Brian Kemp often bring students into their research teams.
Changing the future of aging
Neuropsychologist Maureen Schmitter-Edgecombe brings psychology and computer science together in developing "smart home" technology.
This work promises more than just apartments filled with sensors and computers — it offers new hope that people with cognitive impairments (whether age-related or otherwise) can enjoy longer, healthier, and more independent lives in their own homes.
The Smart Environments project used part of its $1.2 million grant from the NIH to offer a nine-week research program for undergraduates in the summer of 2013, and may do so again.
The Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program at WSU offers opportunities to motivated students in many science-based disciplines, including social sciences.