From the Dean

The School of Education and Social Sciences prepares students to lead and serve by applying their understanding of human thought and development, learning, social structures, and interactions to complex social issues and environments.  Benjamin Franklin suggested, “The great aim and end of all learning is service to society.”  Our aim is to equip people-oriented students with the skills and knowledge needed to better serve a broad spectrum of peoples. 

Within the School structure are four academic departments:  Education; Human Development and Family Science; Psychology; and Sociology, Social Work and Criminal Justice – also, the Early Learning Center and the Harrisburg Institute for Community Research and Collaborative Partnerships.  The School offers majors in Criminal Justice, Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education, Family and Consumer Sciences Education, Human Development and Family Science, Biopsychology, Psychology, Social Work, and Sociology.  It also provides 14 instructional certificates and 17 minors including:  Education, Early Childhood Education, Socio-Cultural Perspectives in Education, Children and Youth Services, Gerontology, Human Development and Family Science, Multicultural Families, Pre-marriage and Family Therapy, Women’s Studies, Community Psychology, Counseling, Psychology, Anthropology, Criminal Justice, Human Services, Sociology, and Urban Studies.  There are approximately 58 full and part-time faculty and staff who serve as mentors, teachers, and models for approximately 20% of the student population of the College.

Student experience and confidence are advanced through the development of skills in inquiry and discovery through our Harrisburg Institute for Community Research and Collaborative Partnerships.  The Institute is a vehicle born out of collaborations that provide community laboratories for integrating knowledge and analytical thinking with real world issues.  The community classroom engages students in problem-based learning that utilizes specialized knowledge and innovative ideas in the service of others. 

We invite you to explore our website, become familiar with our faculty, and to contact our offices for questions concerning the areas of Education and the Social Sciences.

Raeann R. Hamon, Ph.D.

Interim Dean, School of Education and Social Sciences