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A professor talks with group of students outside a historical building in Croatia

Gordon College

School of Humanities and Social Sciences

Hopeful transformation
for a hurting world

In our trend-driven world it is easy to ignore the wisdom of the past and insights from cultures different than ours. With divisions and injustice all around, our communities need bridge-builders who embody a deep and wide understanding of the world. In the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, we work towards the flourishing of justice and peace. As they dig deep together, our students are equipped to become courageous difference-makers, armed with discernment informed by age-old wisdom to seek reconciliation and imaginative solutions for the present and future.

  1. Explore Majors & Programs
  1. 100%

    of international affairs students

    study or intern abroad

  2. "Best Colleges for English in America"

    –Niche

  3. 25 miles

    from Boston's intercultural scene

Areas of focus

The School of Humanities and Social Sciences offers robust pathways in and out of the classroom for law, peace and conflict studies and writing. Learn more:

Creative Writing students working on local beach Students at a table learning from a professor

Encounter New Perspectives, Expand Your Own

Drawing on the abundant historical and cultural resources of New England, Gordon will deepen your understanding of the world through hands-on experiences. Take a trip to Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts, a walk through the historical district of Salem or a visit to the area’s largest Islamic Center. Study abroad at one of Gordon’s signature programs in Orvieto, Italy; Oxford, United Kingdom; or the Balkans Semester at the European Center for the Study of War and Peace in Croatia. Students can get involved on campus as well.

Run in student government, head up a campus newspaper or literary journal, create your own major through our Pike program, compete in Boston’s Model UN competition or pursue honors through the Jerusalem-Athens Forum.

Students sitting in a circle on the ground in Croatia learning from a professor Student raising hand at a table with other students

Discern Your Unique Path

Our school offers a safe space to ask big questions and wrestle with controversial topics within a supportive community led by our faculty, who are leading scholars and researchers in their fields. Our classes have low student-to-faculty ratios, so you’ll get personal attention and connections with your professors, who will support your vocational discernment from year one. Turn your passion into a practical career through internships at places like the State House, Plimouth Patuxet, Hendrickson Publishers, NPR, Wiley Publishers, The Smithsonian and the U.S. Department of Justice.

After graduation join alumni getting advanced degrees at places like Duke Law and the University of Notre Dame, or start a career at EF Go Ahead Tours, Moderna, HubSpot, London Business School and other renowned institutions.

Faculty

Nationally recognized, personally focused

Gordon faculty are committed Christians, exceptional scholars and catalysts for transformation—both in their fields and in the lives of the students they teach.

All School of Humanities & Social Sciences Faculty

Headshot of Professor Jennifer Hevelone Harper

Jennifer Hevelone-Harper

Chair, Department of History

Chan Shin

Chan Woong Shin

Associate Professor of Political Science and International Affairs

Headshot of Professor Mark Stevick

Mark Stevick

Professor of English

Paul Brink

Paul Brink

Professor of Political Science

Headshot of Professor Kerilyn Harkaway Krieger

Kerilyn Harkaway-Krieger

Associate Professor of English

Graeme Bird

Graeme Bird

Professor of Linguistics

Ruth Melkonian-Hoover

Ruth Melkonian-Hoover

Professor of Political Science and International Affairs

Ian DeWeese-Boyd

Ian DeWeese-Boyd

Professor of Philosophy and Education

Headshot of Dean and Professor Mark Gedney

Mark Gedney

Dean, School of Humanities and Social Sciences

Stephen Alter

Stephen Alter

Professor of History

Headshot of Dean and Professor Mark Gedney

From the Dean

"The School of Humanities and Social Sciences brings together students and faculty committed to reflecting on fundamental questions about who we are as beings created by God to live together in flourishing communities. Philosophical questions about what it means to live just and fulfilling lives are examined in their historical context, in social and political institutions, and in light of the languages that we use to communicate these ideas to the world. This desire to think deeply and communicate clearly about these fundamental questions shapes who we are as a community as we serve the enduring mission of Gordon College."

— Mark Gedney Dean, School of Humanities and Social Sciences

Headshot of alum Kate Stadt.

Hear from a Gordon College grad

"Since my time at Gordon, one thing that’s really benefited me in my career is learning how to synthesize lots of different sources together into a big-picture insight...If you can be curious about everything and constantly learning new things, it will help you in any industry because you have humility about finding things that will put you in a good position to do work that other people can’t or don’t want to do."

— Kate Stadt '11 Manager, Legal & Compliance Enablement at HubSpot

Recent News

Gordon students at Harvard's Model UN.

Posted on April 14, 2025

Representing Faith and Country: Gordon at Harvard’s Model UN

This February Gordon College students attended the Harvard National Model United Nations (HNMUN) as representatives on a variety of committees engaging with current global issues. Students explored the importance of working together and how to engage the global landscape through the lens of faith.

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Hartman at the International Justice Missions center in the Phillippines.

Posted on March 25, 2025

A Heart for Advocacy: Hannah Hartman ’24 on Working with International Justice Mission in the Philippines 

Hannah Hartman ’24 took a literal leap of faith to move to the Philippines and work with International Justice Mission on advocacy for abused children and cultivating hope amidst poverty. 

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BJ talks about food insecurity.

Posted on February 28, 2025

Fighting Food Insecurity: How B. J. Osuagwu ’20 Is Leading Change at Healthy Waltham 

Chukwuemeka “B. J.” Osuagwu ’20 is now the executive director of Healthy Waltham. We sat down with him to learn more about his role and the fight against food insecurity. 

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Where Passion Meets Success

Graduates of Gordon College's School of Humanities and Social Sciences have worked and earned advanced degrees at:

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Students walk in front of the chapel courtyard

Start Your Future at Gordon College

We believe students should be equipped to flourish in an uncertain and changing world. At Gordon College, career-focused academics blend with a life-giving faith community to prepare young Christians to make a difference with hope and confidence.

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