College of Social Studies

The College of Social Studies (CSS) is a rigorous, multidisciplinary major focusing on History, Government, Political and Social Theory, and Economics. Founded in 1959, the CSS is reading and writing intensive, encouraging intellectual independence with weekly essays, small group Tutorials, and a vibrant intellectual environment.

The CSS - 330 High Street

The CSS is temporarily located at 330 High Street while the PAC Building is being renovated.

CSS Tutor News

• Peter Rutland wrote an analysis of Russia-US relations and the current stand-off over Ukraine, for the Program on New Approaches to Research on Security in Eurasia (Jan 2022): https://www.ponarseurasia.org/us-russia-relations-the-year-of-living-dangerously/.

He also published a review essay on the Putin regime in Perspectives on Politics (Dec 2021):

https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/perspectives-on-politics/article/understanding-putins-russia-and-the-struggle-over-ukraine/B98AC79A5B3F1816107BFFEEF02AB6FF


• Check out Daniel Steinmetz-Jenkins' latest interview for The Nation, which is with the political theorist Helene Landemore and concerns her important work on open democracy: https://www.thenation.com/article/politics/helene-landemore-open-democracy/

CSS Alumni News

From The Wesleyan Connection - December 8, 2021: The White House, via Politicians Post, announces that Dr. Lael Brainard ’83 was nominated by President Biden to serve as vice chair of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. “We can’t just return to where we were before the pandemic, we need to build our economy back better, and I’m confident that Chair [Jerome] Powell and Dr. Brainard’s focus on keeping inflation low, prices stable, and delivering full employment will make our economy stronger than ever before,” Biden said. (Nov. 22).