Master of Arts Program in Social Sciences Homepage | Master of Arts Program in the Social Sciences

Define Your Path. Go Further, Faster.

MAPSS delivers elite social-science training and personalized mentorship in one transformative year, placing graduates in top PhD programs and global careers.

MAPSS is a one-year master's program that allows students to explore the full breadth of the social sciences at the University of Chicago.

With access to courses across not only the Division of the Social Sciences but also the University of Chicago, and the flexibility to design an individualized curriculum or pursue a formal concentration, students shape their academic path in alignment with their long-term goals. Faculty mentorship, rigorous training, and a collaborative intellectual community make MAPSS a launchpad for both PhD study and impactful careers.

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Why MAPSS at UChicago

Explore what makes MAPSS unique across four key areas of the student experience.

Design Your Social Science Curriculum

Choose from six social science disciplines or mix fields to suit your research interests. Whether you're pursuing a formal concentration or an individualized track, MAPSS offers academic flexibility and multiple thesis formats to match your goals.

Explore Programs of Study

Learn From and With Experts

Work closely with world-class faculty and benefit from the preceptor model—your personal PhD-trained advisor for academic and thesis support.

Meet Our Faculty & Preceptors

Global Experiential Learning

Whether you're preparing for PhD programs, policy work, or private sector roles, our in-house Career Services team offers tailored coaching, workshops, and job search support.

Career Development Resources

Global Impact & Strong Career Trajectories

Experience Hyde Park and Chicago while accessing writing support, research workshops, and a vibrant campus community that supports both academic and personal growth.

Student Resources

MAPSS by the Numbers

77%

PhD Placement Rate

MAPSS places more students for funded PhD study than any MA program in the world.

73 %

 of 2023 graduates secured fully funded PhD offers

For the 2023 admission cycle, at least 88 of 120 MAPSS applicants (73 %) were successful in securing fully funded doctoral offers.

27+

Countries Represented

Over 300 students enrolled annually from 27+ countries, representing a wide variety of academic backgrounds

88%

employed within 6 months

MAPSS alumni pursue careers across more than seven major sectors, including government, NGOs, international organizations, consulting firms, and leading research institutions.

Social Science Disciplines

Students receive training in anthropology, economics, history, political science, psychology, and/or sociology from world-class researchers at UChicago.

1 Year

Completion

MAPSS is a one-year program that provides a foundation for a range of career and doctoral paths.

Where our Graduates Excel

MAPSS alumni pursue careers in academia, public policy, private industry, and nonprofit organizations around the world. They bring rigorous training and interdisciplinary perspectives to institutions and sectors that value analytical thinking and research expertise.

World Bank
RAND Corporation
McKinsey & Company
United Nations
NORC at the University of Chicago
U.S. Department of State

Harvard University PhD programs
University of Chicago PhD programs
Columbia University PhD programs
Google
Facebook

See Where Our Alumni Go

Tune into the University of Chicago Division of the Social Sciences' Dialogo Podcast which brings alumni into conversation with Paul Poast, Associate Professor in the Dept. of Political Science and Deputy Dean for Doctoral Education, and Kelly Pollock, Dean of Students.

Episodes 1 and 2 each feature a MAPSS alum:

Alumni Conversations

Learn more about the MAPSS experience through these in-depth alumni stories:

Marcus Board Jr (AM’07, PhD’17)

”The relationships I built and the people I met there have been lifelong blessings.”

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Julianne Downing (AM’24)

“Being surrounded by different kinds of thinking and ways of knowing stimulates everyone’s creativity.”

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Greg Wilson, MAPSS’11

”Lean heavily into the skills you develop at UChicago, particularly research and writing. Engage with the vast network and resources the program offers.”

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View All Alumni Conversations

Supporting access with the Inaugural Dean’s Opportunity Scholarship

“Being a Dean's Scholar took off that burden of financial stress so that I was able to really focus on my studies. It opened up space for me to grow as a scholar and allowed me to engage with other research that's happening on campus.”
— Kennedy Patterson