Feinstein School of Social and Natural Sciences

SSNS offers degree options for both undergraduate and graduate students in the fields of social or natural science. An SSNS education provides a foundation for careers and further study in scientific research, healthcare, environmental stewardship, data and technology, education, and more. Across our programs, you’ll strengthen your ability to evaluate information, solve problems, and approach unfamiliar questions with evidence and an open mind. 

You don’t need to know exactly where your curiosity will lead. Start by exploring what matters to you.

Put your learning to work in the world.

Our waterfront campus on Mount Hope Bay is more than a beautiful setting—it is a place for discovery. Through the Center for Economic and Environmental Development (CEED), students participate in marine research and community partnerships that connect healthy coastal ecosystems with sustainable industries. From aquaculture to aquatic animal health, learning reaches beyond the laboratory into the lives and livelihoods of coastal communities.

That connection between knowledge and impact extends across SSNS. Psychology students collaborate with community organizations, while Public Health students complete field experiences addressing contemporary health challenges. Here, asking “What can we learn?” goes hand in hand with asking “How can it help?” 

Encompassing social sciences like sociology, politics, psychology, and natural sciences like math, physics, and environmental science, our departments house programs that develop well-rounded students with the skill set to succeed in their careers or future study.

Build connections that help you grow.

At SSNS, learning is personal. Our faculty work closely with students inside and outside the classroom, building relationships that connect teaching, research, and mentorship. You’ll learn with people who invite your questions, challenge your thinking, and help you develop your ideas. 

Bring your perspective, your ambitions, and the questions you haven’t figured out how to answer yet. Whether you arrive with a clear direction or are still exploring, our goal is to help you find both a sense of belonging and the confidence to take your next step.

Considering a health profession? Our Pre-Health Professions Advising program offers individualized guidance on course selection, career exploration, relevant experiences, and applications to graduate and professional schools. 

Visit Pre-Health Professions Advising for resources on how you can explore your options for health professions pathways.

Don’t just learn about discoveries. Help make them.

You don’t have to wait until graduate school to take part in research. SSNS offers opportunities to work alongside faculty on research projects as early as your first year, turning curiosity into questions you can investigate. 

Depending on your interests, you might explore how memory works, analyze data to uncover a hidden pattern, or investigate a pressing public health issue. Through research, internships, and field experiences, you’ll practice gathering evidence, testing ideas, and explaining what you find. These are opportunities to discover not only how your field works, but also what kind of work excites you.