Foster interdisciplinary innovation among social sciences and global studies

University Priority

Bringing Scholars Together

When different disciplines interact with one another, new solutions emerge.

The reconstruction of the Jacobs Center into Northwestern’s social science and global studies hub will stimulate new collaborations for liberal arts, policy research and more.

School of Education and Social Policy

SESP is an interdisciplinary school of influential scholars and dynamic students who examine the well-being of people and institutions across the lifespan. Together, the school's contributions across the landscapes of education and policy are catalysts of broad and meaningful change for individuals and systems alike.

Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences

Weinberg brings a multitude of disciplines together under its roof for interdisciplinary teaching, learning and research. Weinberg's emphasis on interdisciplinary thinking equips students and researchers to engage complex problems with creative solutions.

Roberta Buffett Institute for Global Affairs

The Buffett Institute fosters interdisciplinary research and teaching about the world beyond the borders of the United States. It supports cutting-edge international scholarship and global engagement across Northwestern’s undergraduate, graduate and professional schools.

Institute for Policy Research

IPR is an interdisciplinary public policy research institute that works closely with other schools and departments. It stimulates and supports social science research on significant public policy issues and disseminates the findings widely—to students, scholars, policymakers and the public.

Meet Some of Our Experts

It takes great minds to work together and find new solutions.

Meet the inspiring faculty who are behind the ideas and actions that improve society. From classrooms to Congress, our experts make a difference in the world.

Nichole Denise Pinkard

Pinkard partners with cities to connect parks, libraries and schools, creating equitable access to both formal and informal learning opportunities for all.

Sally Nuamah

Nuamah’s research sits at the intersections of race, gender, education policy and political behavior.

Laura Brueck

Brueck’s scholarship focuses on anti-caste Hindi literature, global intersections of race and caste, popular Indian literary genres, and translation theory and practice.

Highlights

Learn about Northwestern’s interdisciplinary innovations.

Refreshing collaborative spaces

Proximity generates impactful work. The Jacobs Center renovation will co-locate various departments and programs under one roof to leverage interdisciplinary engagement.

Tackling global issues

The Buffett Global Working Groups are ambitious, faculty-led projects that aim to leverage expertise across the social sciences, sciences and humanities to address the world's most challenging problems.

Studying medicine and international health policy

The Center for Global Health Education supports and administers transdisciplinary global health education at Northwestern and across the globe, providing future practitioners a holistic education grounded in research and collaboration.