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Browse Online Programs

Oregon State University Ecampus delivers degrees, certificates and microcredentials online to students all over the world. The goal is simple: to give you greater access to learning opportunities that blend quality, engagement and innovation.

Oregon State is consistently ranked one of the nation's best providers of online education by U.S. News & World Report and other publications.

Choose by topic of interest -and- type

Program Topic

Program Type

34 programs in social sciences available

Undergraduate degrees (11)

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Anthropology

B.A. or B.S.

Overview | Careers | Skills

Study the sciences and humanities and sharpen your critical thinking. You’ll learn to apply cutting-edge theory and methods to solve pressing social problems in a wide range of careers.

Businessman smiling at woman during discussion in office conference room

Economics

B.A. or B.S.

Overview | Careers | Skills

Become a skilled analyst of data, marketing trends and human behavior, so you can help businesses and governments make more informed decisions and influence economic policy for the betterment of all.

Massive roadway with cars splitting a wooded area with deciduous trees and a small city to the east

Environmental Economics and Policy

B.S.

Overview | Careers | Skills

Develop a strong economic skill set – supplemented by education in biological, physical or social sciences – as you prepare for a multifaceted career in environmental analysis.

Group of people in discussion around a circular table with open notebooks and pens

Liberal Studies

B.A. or B.S.

Overview | Careers | Skills

Customize your liberal studies major to meet your unique academic goals. Work with an advisor to develop a cohesive program of study that will foster critical skills for your career.

Aerial view of a marina and ferry terminal in a coastal town. Boats, buildings and a densely-forested area are visible.

Marine Studies

B.A. or B.S.

Overview | Careers | Skills

Navigate social, political and cultural issues of marine systems through the lens of the humanities, arts and sciences — with a focus on sustainability.

Close-up of the United States Capitol building dome with American flag flying in foreground

Political Science

B.A. or B.S.

Overview | Careers | Skills

Investigate the theory and practice of politics and government at a local, national and global level, so you can better understand today’s rapidly evolving political climate and help shape society's future.

Woman taking notes on clipboard while talking to a young child with toys in background

Psychology

B.A. or B.S.

Overview | Careers | Skills

Analyze the scientific and humanistic perspectives of psychology, and come to appreciate human diversity in identifying, understanding and solving complex problems in others’ lives.

Women in business attire talking with other people at event-like setting

Public Policy

B.S.

Overview | Careers | Skills

View the world through multiple lenses thanks to courses in economics, political science, sociology and specialization topics that will empower you to develop workable solutions for emerging issues.

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Sociology

B.A. or B.S.

Overview | Careers | Skills

Study society and human behavior through an exploration of topics such as social inequality, crime and justice, social services and natural resources, equipping you to make an impact on your community.

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Tourism, Recreation and Adventure Leadership

B.S.

Overview | Careers | Skills

Learn how to facilitate outdoor experiences that respect and protect natural resources and cultural heritage. Gain real-world skills from a program focused on sustainability, justice and equity.

Woman in hijab with ear pod headphones holding a paper and looking at a screen

Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies

B.A. or B.S.

Overview | Careers | Skills

Acquire extensive knowledge in social sciences and humanities that focuses on gender issues and women’s experiences. Examine feminist and anti-racist work that contributes to social justice.

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Undergraduate certificates (2)

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Environmental Justice

Undergraduate Certificate

Overview | Careers | Skills

Develop the tools to understand and address the unequal distribution of environmental risks and benefits in a program that combines environmental science with social justice principles.

A close up of a woman wearing a head scarf and ear buds looks into the distance while holding notecards in her left hand.

Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies

Undergraduate Certificate or Minor

Overview | Careers | Skills

Engage in a broad study of gender and women's issues in a program that emphasizes a diversity of experiences through a focus on disciplinary-based knowledge about women's lives.

Undergraduate microcredentials (15)

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AI Fundamentals for Gender, Race and Justice

Microcredential (introductory)

Overview | Courses | Skills

Explore the past and present of AI technology, including its ethics, and explore how the tools of tomorrow could advance fairness, community well-being and social justice.

Smiling woman using a tablet and laptop in an office, analyzing data to explore AI applications in psychology.

AI Fundamentals for Psychology

Microcredential (introductory)

Overview | Courses | Skills

Examine the role of psychology in the development of AI tools and gain hands-on experience in using psychological principles to guide the creation of tomorrow’s technologies.

Two professionals smiling as they review information together on a digital tablet in an office.

AI Fundamentals for Public Policy

Microcredential (introductory)

Overview | Courses | Skills

Develop the knowledge and skills you need to understand, implement and shape how AI influences public policy through accessible coursework, hands-on projects and policy simulations.

A counselor holding a clipboard attentively listens to a young person with bright green highlights in their hair, offering support in a casual, light-filled office space.

Applied Behavior Support Basics

Microcredential (advanced)

Overview | Courses | Skills

Develop the skills to understand developmental milestones, promote inclusive and supportive practices, and apply behavior modification techniques as you support people at all life stages.

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Autism and Neurodiversity: Lifespan Development and Disability Justice

Microcredential (advanced)

Overview | Courses | Skills

Gain insight into human lifespan development and the psychological aspects of disability as you learn how to approach neurodiversity with a focus on empowerment and inclusion.

Adult sitting on the floor with three young children engaged in arts and crafts, surrounded by colorful paper, markers, and building blocks in a bright classroom setting.

Child and Youth Development

Microcredential (advanced)

Overview | Courses | Skills

Gain a broad understanding of human development from infancy through adolescence, including the influence of family, community, school and peers.

Art instructor assisting a child painting on an easel in a bright studio, with colorful flowers in a vase and art supplies scattered around.

Children and Youth With Disabilities

Microcredential (advanced)

Overview | Courses | Skills

Learn how to promote more inclusive support for children with diverse needs and abilities by better understanding the associated developmental, educational and family challenges.

Aerial view showing a stark contrast between two neighborhoods: densely packed homes with metal roofs on the left and well-maintained townhouses with red-tiled roofs on the right, separated by a strip of green trees.

Disparities and Discrimination Through an Economic Lens

Microcredential (advanced)

Overview | Courses | Skills

Take part in the economic analysis of disparities with a focus on theories and evidence of discrimination, sources of employment and wage disparities, and policies to remedy economic inequality.

Two people reviewing financial charts and graphs on a tablet, using stylus pens, with printed bar charts and a laptop on the table.

Economic Foundations

Microcredential (introductory)

Overview | Courses | Skills

Study how institutions allocate resources, the consequences of resource distribution, and learn to analyze decisions in markets and everyday settings.

Two people working together in a garden, closely examining and holding a bundle of dried plant roots among green plants, with a house and trees in the background.

Human Lifespan Development

Microcredential (introductory)

Overview | Courses | Skills

Study the physical, cognitive and social changes that occur in humans from infancy to adulthood while gaining the skills that enable you to support people and communities effectively.

Close-up of a traditional Indigenous totem pole featuring a brightly painted bird figure with bold red, black, and turquoise details, set against a softly blurred background of other carved figures.

Indigenous Studies

Microcredential (introductory)

Overview | Courses | Skills

Study Indigenous experiences and learn how to critically assess colonialism and power dynamics, so that you can respectfully engage and collaborate with tribal communities.

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Introduction to Human Services

Microcredential (introductory)

Overview | Courses | Skills

Learn to support mental health and emotional well-being in individual, family and community contexts. Study human development and the ways social systems impact people across the lifespan.

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Public Policy Foundations

Microcredential (introductory)

Overview | Courses | Skills

Learn how to conduct research, analyze and interpret qualitative data, and present this data to inform new policies, so you can help create workable solutions for issues in the public and private sectors.

A group of people walking along a city street during a public event or march. The central figure has a large rainbow-colored Pride flag draped over their shoulders.

Serving LGBTQIA+ Communities

Microcredential (introductory)

Overview | Courses | Skills

Study key concepts, histories and political frameworks that will help you better understand and engage in applied work and direct services for LGBTQIA+ communities.

Woman speaks to a small group seated in a circle during a thoughtful discussion in a bright, sunlit room

Trauma-Informed Family Practices

Microcredential (advanced)

Overview | Courses | Skills

Gain practical skills in active listening, motivational interviewing and trauma-informed practices to help others work toward resolving deep-seated trauma.

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Graduate degrees (1)

OSU Public Policy graduate, Jessica Nguyen, smiles in the Oregon state courthouse in Salem, Oregon

Public Policy

MPP or Executive MPP

Overview | Careers | Skills

Become an expert in policy theory, design and implementation. Learn how to integrate groundbreaking science and data analysis into emerging policy practices that can influence local, regional and international policy decisions.

Graduate certificates (3)

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Energy Policy

Graduate Certificate

Overview | Careers | Skills

Broaden your knowledge of U.S. energy policy, how it impacts the development of energy markets, and the technologies and resources currently in use and under development.

A man in a suit stands at a podium, speaking to an audience with the American and state of Oregon flags in the background.

Public Policy Analysis

Graduate Certificate

Overview | Careers | Skills

Develop your leadership style and gain advanced research and analytical skills, so you can successfully analyze, design and implement policy change.

An aerial photo of a river cutting through green farmland on one side and homes on the other.

Rural Policy

Graduate Certificate

Overview | Careers | Skills

Address the unique needs of rural communities through targeted initiatives that ensure equitable and sustainable access to healthcare, education, transportation and economic development in rural areas.

Graduate microcredentials (2)

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Autism and Neurodiversity: Development Science and Disability Justice

Graduate microcredential (advanced)

Overview | Courses | Skills

Learn how to support people with autism and neurodivergency through inclusive, evidence-based approaches in a program that blends research, psychology and training.

A person wearing a bright yellow sweater is standing and holding a microphone while speaking to a group of people in a well-lit indoor setting.

Public Policy Leadership

Graduate microcredential (advanced)

Overview | Courses | Skills

Learn social science research methods and gain the analytical skills you need to become a leader in policy design and implementation.