Educational Pathways

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Whether it's majoring in Political Science, minoring in Human Rights, earning an Honors through the Center on Democracy, Development, and the Rule of Law, or co-terming in Public Policy, there are several educational pathways for you to pursue civic learning and expertise in issues related to democratic society and governance.

Political Science

Students who major or minor in political science will learn how political decisions are made and will develop analytic skills useful in careers in government, business, professional schools, and not-for-profit organizations.

To complete the major in political science, students focus on one of five tracks: Justice and Law; Political and Economic Development; Elections, Representation, and Governance; International Relations; or Data Science.

Explore a Major or Minor in Political Science

Public Policy

The Public Policy undergraduate major or minor develops the skills necessary to evaluate the effectiveness of policies, understand the political constraints faced by policy makers, and appreciate the conflicts in fundamental human values that often animate policy debates.

The co-terminal M.A. in Public Policy - available to Stanford undergraduates whether or not they major in Public Policy - is designed to impart the basic analytical tools of public policy analysis, or to permit Public Policy majors to specialize in an applied field of policy analysis.

Explore a Major, Minor, or Co-Term in Public Policy

International Relations

The undergraduate program in International Relations is an interdisciplinary major or minor allowing students to pursue study in world politics - including courses in political science, economics, history, and language - focusing on issues such as international security, economic development, and democratization. Students must spend at least one quarter overseas.

The major prepares students for careers in government and the corporate sector, and for admission into graduate programs in law, business, economics, and political science.

Explore a Major or Minor in International Relations

Global Studies

Stanford Global Studies undergraduate majors, minors, honors, and certificate programs explore global, regional, and domestic factors involved in contemporary politics, culture, and history. Most students study overseas and acquire fluency in a second language as a part of their degree program.

Undergraduate research is supported through a number of fellowship opportunities as well as the International Relations Summer Research College, where students work closely with faculty on current research projects.

Students pursue careers in a wide range of fields, including government, nonprofit, business, technology, and consulting or go on to graduate school in law, business, or academic Ph.D. programs.

Explore a Major or Minor in Global Studies

Urban Studies

Urban Studies is an interdisciplinary program that combines academic approaches with real-world experiences. If you’ve ever wondered why people live in cities, how the built environment shapes behavior, or how to address complex problems like urban poverty, climate change, or educational inequality, Urban Studies may be for you.

The major or minor provides the opportunity to explore one of five specialized options: Global Urban Culture and History; Race, Ethnicity, and Urban Life; Urban Education; Urban Society and Social Change; or Urban Sustainability, with an emphasis on Community-Engaged Learning courses.

Explore a Major or Minor in Urban Studies

Data Science and Social Systems

The B.A. degree in Data Science & Social Systems enables students to develop a triple fluency: expertise in statistical and computational methods, domain knowledge across the core social sciences, and a deep and interdisciplinary understanding of an important social problem.

Majors in Data Science & Social Systems will complete a gateway course, courses in a set of core areas, a specialized pathway, and a capstone in which students explore real-world examples and have opportunities to apply modern computational and statistical methods to address key social challenges.

Explore a Major in Data Science & Social Systems

Philosophy

The undergraduate program in Philosophy trains students to think clearly and critically about the deepest and broadest questions concerning being, knowledge, and value, as well as their connections to the full range of human activities and interests. The Philosophy major presents students with the perspectives of past thinkers and introduces students to a variety of methods of reasoning and judgment formation, and includes core areas and subfields such as political philosophy, applied ethics, and moral philosophy.

Students may earn a B.A. in Philosophy that explores traditional areas of philosophy or pursue a concentration within the major in Philosophy and Literature or History and Philosophy of Science.

Explore a Major, Minor, or Co-Term in Philosophy

Sociology

The mission of the undergraduate program in Sociology is to provide students with the skills necessary to understand and address social problems and inequalities in global, institutional, and interpersonal social relations.

Students may choose to major or minor, including the Sociology minor sub-plan in Poverty, Inequality, and Policy.

Sociology provides an intellectual background for students considering careers in business, social services, public policy, government service, international nongovernmental organizations, foundations, or academia.

Explore a Major, Minor, or Co-Term in Sociology

Communication

A Communication degree from Stanford prepares you to understand the ever-increasing power of media, media technologies, and communication processes in everyday life. It also gives you skills that employers value – skills ranging from the ability to conduct complex quantitative social analyses to the ability to write clear and compelling prose.

The major or minor allows you to pursue different tracks, including Digital Media Studies; Journalism; and Political Communication, the exploration of how communication shapes what governments do and affects the lives of their citizens.

Explore a Major or Minor in Communication

Economics

The undergraduate program in Economics aims to acquaint students with the economic aspects of modern society, familiarize them with techniques for analyzing contemporary economic problems, and develop an ability to exercise judgment in evaluating public policy. The program introduces students to macro- and microeconomic theory, teaches them to think and write clearly about economic problems and policy issues, and apply essential economic analysis tools.

Economics Majors have diverse interests. To best prepare students with the skills necessary to reach their future academic and career goals, the Economics department offers two separate degree paths: the Bachelor of Arts and the Bachelor of Science.

Explore a Major, Minor, or Certificate in Economics

History

A degree in History prepares you to cultivate a crucial set of skills that not only help navigate the past, but to make sense of the modern world and the diverse peoples and ideas that you will confront within it. History courses at Stanford allow you to develop critical, interpretive thinking, analytical writing, and effective oral communication skills.

History coursework at Stanford is supported by mentorship from our world-class faculty and through unique research opportunities, enabling undergraduate students to pursue successful careers in business, journalism, public service, law, education, government, medicine, and more. Learn what Stanford History majors and minors are doing after graduation .

Explore a Major, Minor, or Co-Term in History

Human Rights

This interdisciplinary minor program provides students with invaluable mentorship from experienced human rights scholars and practitioners while tying together the diverse threads of rights-oriented work and study.

The minor provides structure to diverse academic offerings on human rights-related topics, encouraging students from across the University to understand how human rights are interconnected across seemingly disparate disciplines.

Explore a Minor in Human Rights

Ethics in Society

The Minor in Ethics in Society is open to students from any major who wish to explore the ethical dimensions of urgent challenges facing our society today. Whether it is the fairness of immigration policies, the social consequences of climate change, or the moral challenges that homelessness poses for a just society, a Minor in Ethics in Society can help students acquire the tools needed to arrive at well-reasoned and well-informed positions on a wide variety of controversial topics.

Explore a Minor or Honors in Ethics in Society

Center on Democracy, Development and the Rule of Law Honors Program

The Fisher Family CDDRL Honors Program aims to provide an opportunity for eligible rising seniors focusing on focusing on democracy, economic development, and rule of law subjects from any department to earn an Honors in Democracy, Development, and Rule of Law. Students are eligible for the program from any department or interdisciplinary program interested in writing their senior theses on a subject touching upon DDRL with a global impact. Students will work to complete their thesis under the guidance and consultation of CDDRL faculty but may have a primary thesis advisor from their own department.

Explore the CDDRL Honors Program

Honors Program in International Security Studies

The Center for International Security and Cooperation (CISAC) Honors Program in International Security Studies provides an opportunity for seniors from all undergraduate schools and majors to conduct rigorous, scholarly research on international security issues, and to graduate with Honors in International Security Studies.

Students are admitted to the Honors Program on a competitive basis, with applications due winter quarter of junior year. Alumni of the program cite multiple strengths, including the inclusion of undergraduates in CISAC's vibrant intellectual environment, highly personalized attention from faculty, the program's unique focus within the university and beyond, and the program's interdisciplinary character.

Explore the CISAC Honors Program