As of this week the Social Science major has officially been approved for academic study at the NYU Shanghai campus. The Undergraduate Program Committee at NYU New York met last Tuesday, Nov. 3, and after months of deliberation and revision, they finally approved the major. Professor Andrea Jones-Rooy has been a long-time advocate of the idea and has finally, with the help of her team of faculty and supporting students, established the anticipated major. The major’s development started in the fall of last year and took NYU Shanghai administration a whole year to get it through New York processes. This is the first major independently proposed by either NYU Abu Dhabi or NYU Shanghai. With excitement and satisfaction, Professor Jones-Rooy commented on the lengthy process and thanked certain individuals for pushing the major along: “The major wouldn't have been possible with the help of key individuals. First, Joanna Waley-Cohen and John Robertson were instrumental in developing the major and have been incredibly supportive all along. Ryan Poynter, our contact person with the UPC in New York was also tremendously helpful, reviewing drafts of the proposal, giving feedback on the curriculum, and even editing the proposal all the way down to the last minute. Last -- and most importantly -- the major would never have happened if it weren't for Oscar Fossum. It was a major many of us wanted, but nothing happened to make it a reality until he kept showing up at my office pretty much every day last fall and asking how the major was coming and what he could do to help.” Potential Social Sciences will have the opportunity to opt into the major immediately, regardless of their college year. The major has been designed with current students in mind, meaning that even juniors who are studying somewhere on the Global Network will be able to complete it. It is also important to note that in addition to the most recent major, NYUSH will be offering a minor in Social Science. The Minor will require that a student take only 4 courses taken in any of the offered social science disciplines. There are going to be five principal areas that students can opt to focus in on: Economics, Political Science, Psychology, Anthropology and Sociology. There is also an option of an upper-level “Focus” track that will solely depend on student’s ambitions. By taking classes in a particular sphere of interest, that can be as broad or as narrow, students can design their own path through social sciences. Anything from a focus on Psychology to a unique, self-designed track such as Development Studies or Neural Bases of Political Behavior will be possible. This flexibility will allow students to further engage with their schedules and work out an unconventional, interdisciplinary academic track. Ultimately, Social Science students will each be assigned a faculty adviser, who will help the student navigate through the major and create an academic plan. The approved track will appear on student's transcript. The intention behind this major is that students should very easily be able to adapt it to their individual interests. Interdisciplinary study is not only possible, but also encouraged. Due to its flexibility, when choosing a study-away site, students do not have to feel restrained by countless requirements. While the social sciences have previously been neglected by academics at NYU Shanghai, this monumental step brings relief and satisfaction to a significant portion of student body. Further information about the major is soon to follow from the administration. Those who are interested can get in contact with their advisers or contact Andrea Jones-Rooy. This article was written by Lana Kugli. Please contact [email protected] to get in touch. Photo Credit: Travis Grathwell