University of California, Irvine. School of Social Ecology

The Program in Social Ecology at the University of California, Irvine (UCI) was founded in 1970. The program was the first of its kind in the University of California (UC) system. This multidisciplinary program was first conceived of by UCI psychology professor Arnold Binder. From its inception the program aimed to provide direct interaction between the intellectual life of the university and the recurring problems in the physical and social world. It emphasized field study as an integral aspect of the educational experience. The program became the School of Social Ecology in 1992. The School of Social Ecology at UCI has four departments: Criminology, Law and Society; Environmental Health, Science and Policy; Psychology and Social Behavior; and Planning, Policy, and Design. The school is an interdisciplinary academic unit whose scholarly research and instruction is informed by and contributes to knowledge in the social, behavioral, legal, environmental, and health sciences. Social ecology undergraduate students benefit from multidisciplinary instruction in the classroom and are also given opportunities to engage in field-based learning. Graduate students work closely with faculty in the classroom and on significant research projects. Through the School of Social Ecology a number of community-university and industry-university partnerships have been forged with research groups, focusing on gang violence prevention, community health, risk perception and management, and international environmental cooperation. More than 250 organizations and corporations have participated in the school's field learning experience. A number of endowed chairs have been created within the School of Social Ecology, including the Thomas and Elizabeth Tierney Chair in Peace Research (1987); the Heinz Family Chair in Economics and Public Policy of Peace (1988); the Warmington Chair in the Social Ecology of Peace and International Cooperation (1989); and the Roger W. Johnson and Janice M. Johnson Chair in Civic Governance and Public Management (1998).

Historical Background

The Program in Social Ecology at the University of California, Irvine (UCI) was founded in 1970. The program was the first of its kind in the University of California (UC) system. This multidisciplinary program was first conceived of by UCI psychology professor Arnold Binder. From its inception the program aimed to provide direct interaction between the intellectual life of the university and the recurring problems in the physical and social world. It emphasized field study as an integral aspect of the educational experience. The program became the School of Social Ecology in 1992.

The School of Social Ecology at UCI has four departments: Criminology, Law and Society; Environmental Health, Science and Policy; Psychology and Social Behavior; and Planning, Policy, and Design. The school is an interdisciplinary academic unit whose scholarly research and instruction is informed by and contributes to knowledge in the social, behavioral, legal, environmental, and health sciences. Social ecology undergraduate students benefit from multidisciplinary instruction in the classroom and are also given opportunities to engage in field-based learning. Graduate students work closely with faculty in the classroom and on significant research projects.

Through the School of Social Ecology a number of community-university and industry-university partnerships have been forged with research groups, focusing on gang violence prevention, community health, risk perception and management, and international environmental cooperation. More than 250 organizations and corporations have participated in the school's field learning experience.A number of endowed chairs have been created within the School of Social Ecology, including the Thomas and Elizabeth Tierney Chair in Peace Research (1987); the Heinz Family Chair in Economics and Public Policy of Peace (1988); the Warmington Chair in the Social Ecology of Peace and International Cooperation (1989); and the Roger W. Johnson and Janice M. Johnson Chair in Civic Governance and Public Management (1998).