Social Sciences
Geography, History, interdisciplinary Business Psychology, interdisciplinary Environmental Planning and Policy, International & Global Studies, Political Science, Psychology, interdisciplinary Social Enterprise, interdisciplinary Sociology / Anthropology
Social Sciences
The University of Maine at Farmington’s Social Sciences area incorporates a diverse range of academic areas: Geography, History, interdisciplinary Business Psychology, interdisciplinary Environmental Planning and Policy, International & Global Studies, Political Science, Psychology, interdisciplinary Social Enterprise, and interdisciplinary Sociology / Anthropology.
Our Geography program helps you to understand the relationship of people and places and the interaction between the physical and human environments. It is designed to encourage you to pursue Geography in areas such as culture, space and identity, health and environment, development perspectives and practices, geospatial information technologies, and planning and regulation. Our state of the art Geo-Spatial Information lab integrates GPS and GIS through hands-on learning. Internships with government agencies, international and domestic travel courses help prepare you for graduate school; jobs with federal, state and local governments; and environmental consulting and mapping software companies.
Farmington’s History program realizes there are many ways to interpret historical events and their impact on the present as well as the future. So we try to push you outside your own cultural and social comfort zone to examine past events from a fresh perspective. In our History program students work with faculty in small classes and gain hands-on learning experiences: collecting oral histories, assisting local historical societies, traveling to historical sites, and more. History students at Farmington are well prepared for careers in the public or private sectors or to go on to graduate school.
Farmington's interdisciplinary Business Psychology program combines the teaching of psychological dynamics and solid business practices, allowing you to become effective and savvy businessperson in today's global market. Business Psychology helps you to gain a deeper knowledge of human behavior — which in turn allows you to better understand what motivates people to buy products and services.
The interdisciplinary Environmental Planning & Policy program gives you an understanding of planning, policy issues and analytical skills as they relate to the environment. Hands-on experience is gained through field and lab work; the use of GPS, GIS and image analysis software; national and international travel courses; research projects; and the opportunity to present at public forums and to have internships with public agencies or private companies. And of course many of our Environmental Planning and Policy students go on to graduate school.
Our interdisciplinary Social Enterprise program deals with important global issues such as civic engagement, human rights, economic development, health, the environment, and education. Students in the interdisciplinary Social Enterprise program adapt principles from several distinct areas: Entrepreneurship, Nonprofit Administration, Management, Social Activism and Social Accountability and channel them as a way to make positive social change in the world.
The interdisciplinary Sociology / Anthropology program at Farmington prepares you for a lifetime of learning about people, cultures and societies. Here we take a diverse, multicultural and global approach to our courses while showing students how to work for positive social change. Our interdisciplinary Sociology/Anthropology program emphasizes the importance of civic engagement, of being active members of the community. You’ll participate in volunteer work, internships, service-learning opportunities and conducting research that can benefit a specific community.
Farmington's International and Global Studies program inspires you develop a greater understanding of the diverse cultural, economic and political systems in the world. To help you better focus international issues, you’ll also study anthropology/sociology, business economics, foreign languages, geography, history, and political science. International Studies students will also study abroad, which can include Farmington's own formal exchange programs with institutions in England, France, and China, or exchanges in other foreign countries. You will also become proficient in a foreign language such as Chinese, French, German, or Spanish.
Political Science combines the study of politics and government (domestic and international) with courses from other areas, such as anthropology, economics, geography, history, psychology or sociology. Here, you’ll gain a better understanding of how political considerations are influenced by culture, society, history, location, personality and the economy. Our small classes allow you to collaborate with faculty on research, present at national conferences, get involved in political campaigns, work with grassroots organizations, and participate in domestic and international field trips. Our Political Science program has also proven to be an excellent springboard for those interested in going on to law school.
Our popular Psychology program (one of the largest programs on campus) provides a strong foundation in Psychology where creative thinking and intellectual independence are encouraged. Exciting course work and supportive faculty help prepare you for careers in all areas of psychology as well as social work, human services, research, business, law. Our Psychology faculty work closely with students to prepare them for further study, and our Psychology graduates have gone on to attend some of the nation’s top graduate schools.
