School of Social Sciences

Understanding human experience and exploring how and why society works

The study of social sciences helps us understand the social world. The School of Social Sciences at UWA bridges social, physical and environmental sciences, with a range of different disciplines, all engaged in understanding the human condition.

From political science and communication to archaeology and linguistics, we collaborate across government, community and industry to develop responses to major societal opportunities, challenges and injustices.
As a student, you can apply your education to benefit communities around the world, applying your expertise to one sector or industry such as government, finance or media, or you can choose to explore broad topics such as social change or relationships between citizens, community and state.

Our school is a hub for engagement in the Indo-Pacific region. Through innovative research and transformative education, our students forge critical understandings of local, regional and global issues.

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Our disciplines

Anthropology and Sociology

This area seeks to better understand people and the societies in which they live and work.

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Archaeology

Archaeology is the study of human life, thoughts and actions through materials left behind.

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Asian Studies

Asian Studies critiques and interrogates Western theories of social, economic, political and cultural development.

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Linguistics

Language is at the core of what it means to be human and is central to how we interact with others in our lives.

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Media and Communication

Media and communication tools are transforming the way we think about our identities, relationships and communities.

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Political Science and International Relations

Our research and teaching explores the politics and governance of our complex, dynamic and globalised world.

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Our research news

NEWS

Archaeologists discover rock engravings in the Pilbara

Archaeologists from the University of Western Australia (UWA) working with the Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation and Rio Tinto have discovered that Indigenous people were not the only ones to leave their mark in the Dampier Archipelago.

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NEWS

Gap year and millennials

New research investigates the long-term effects of overseas experiences on young Australians

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News

Wine sales to assist archaeology research in WA

A WA winery will provide a $1000 research grant and additional funding based on the sale of their specialist Batavia red wine for archaeology honours students at UWA.

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News

Nyungar language continues to live and breathe

Make the most of every opportunity and who knows where it will lead is the sentiment from outstanding community leader Len Collard, who won a fellowship to the Yumalundi NIRAKN (National Indigenous Research and Knowledge’s Network) program late last year.

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Our research strengths

We pride ourselves on our supportive and collaborative research environment, pooling our expertise to work for the greater good. This is reflected in our cross-disciplinary research strengths, which bring together researchers from across the school at all stages of their career.

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Social and Political Development

This Social Sciences research explores how societies, communities, politics and systems of governance generate and respond to change.

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Migration and Mobilities

People travel for migration or tourism, moving permanently or temporarily, individually or with families, by choice or through force. Mobility is something that defines humankind, crucial to our biological and social evolution.

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Social equity and justice

Social equity and justice explores underlying issues that create injustice within and among societies in the global order. This research promotes an awareness of how more just institutions can be achieved within the wider society and global context.

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Media

Analysing the uses and effects of media to communicate, manipulate, challenge and engage. From the exploration of the theory and practice of the internet, to video production, gaming, analyses of public communication, reality TV and representations of beauty online, we are interested in how media impacts our lives.

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Australian identities across time and space

Australian Identities Across Time and Space explores what it means to be Australian now, in the past, and what it may mean in the future.

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Affiliated centres

 

Contact

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Access

Arts and Law Student Office, open weekdays 8.30am to 4.30pm

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