Explore the Social Sciences

Understanding People

Welcome to the Division of Social Sciences at Hope College – the place to go to better understand how and why people behave the way they do – alone, in school, at work, in the family, and in the global community. The Social Science Division is home to seven academic departments (Communication; Economics, Management & Accounting; Education; Kinesiology; Political Science; Psychology; and Sociology and Social Work). These departments house 12 academic majors, each of which is concerned with better understanding people. The Social Science Division is also home to four special programs designed to help connect Hope College and its students to the community through teaching and mentoring (CASA, PATH, Project TEACH, and Upward Bound). Finally, the division’s Carl Frost Center for Social Science Research helps the community and the campus better understand social problems through its research programs and services.

An education in the social sciences is delivered by caring, world renown faculty in outstanding facilities with an emphasis on learning by doing – all with a global perspective. The largest academic division of the college, Hope’s approach to understanding people is informed and made distinctive because it is rooted in the historic Christian faith – a faith in which students are encouraged to develop as whole persons – mind, body, and spirit.

For more information, contact the office of the Dean For Social Sciences:

Richard Ray, EdD, ATC
Dean for Social Sciences
Professor of Kinesiology
616-395-7903
ray@hope.edu

Cheryl Schairer
Assistant to the Dean for Social Science
Director of Teacher Certification
616-395-7903
schairer@hope.edu