The School of Social Sciences is one of the largest schools in IGNOU. It comprises of eight disciplines, namely, Anthropology, Economics, History, Library and Information Science, Sociology, Political Science, Psychology and Public Administration. The School offers programmes at Graduate, Post Graduate and Ph.D. levels for all the 8 disciplines and also offers Post Graduate Diplomas and Post Graduate Certificate and Certificate programmes.

In view of the fact that IGNOU is today the foremost centre of open and distance learning and is adequately equipped with modern educational technologies, the School has consciously tried to assign a significant role to ICT tools in devising the learning programmes.


The following features are hallmarks of its programmes:
  • Courses having core, elective and skill/ability enhancing components;
  • Short-term and long-term courses focused on vocational and professional needs;
  • Courses geared to meet the requirements of groups located on the fringes of society; and
  • ICT based courses like MOOC courses offered through SWAYAM platform.

The School of Social Sciences (SOSS) was established in 1986. Initially, there were six disciplines in the School, Economics, History, Library and Information Science, Political Science and Sociology. The disciplines of Anthropology and Psychology were established in 2010 further enriching the learning, knowledge and research in the School. The School has been offering Ph. D, post graduate and graduate programmes and also post graduate diplomas, diplomas and certificate programmes. Though,BA (General) programme as per CBCS was launched in July 2019. And the Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Economics, History, Sociology, Political Science, Psychology and Public Administration were offered in their revised form January 2020. Bachelor of Sciences (Honours) in Anthropology under UGC-CBCS scheme is also offered (January 2020) from the School. In July 2023 the School launched MA (Economics) and MA (History) as per NEP 2023. January 2024 onwards, the School offered BA (Major) programmes in Economics, History, Library and Information Science, Political Science, Psychology, Public Administration, Sociology besides BSc (Anthropology). BA (Multidisciplinary) was also launched in January 2024. In July 2024, Post Graduate Diploma in Disaster Risk Reduction and Management and Post Graduate Diploma in Rehabilitation Psychology was also launched.

School of Social Sciences provides prospective learners with a wide variety of programmes in the subject areas that are popular as well as socially relevant. The school offers various programmes pertaining to eight disciplines (Anthropology, Economics, History, Library and Information Science, Political Science, Psychology and Sociology) that are housed in the School. The programmes are offered at undergraduate, masters and doctoral levels. Besides the school also offered post graduate diploma and diploma and certificate programmes. Some of the programmes offered by the School, like MA (Psychology) and Masters in Library and Information Science also have internship component that helps learners in gaining hands on experience. Further, many programmes also have components like practicum, field work, project, that help learner develop an overall understanding of the subject area.

# Photo Staff Details
1
Designation: Director
Academic Level: 14
Joining: 06-12-2010
2
Designation: Professor
Specialization: Anthropology
Academic Level: 14
Joining: 06-08-2010
3
Designation: Associate Professor
Specialization: Anthropology
Academic Level: 13A
Joining: 16-08-2010
4
Designation: Associate Professor
Specialization: Anthropology
Academic Level: 12
Joining: 09-08-2010
5
Designation: Associate Professor
Specialization: Anthropology
Academic Level: 13A
Joining: 09-08-2010
6
Designation: Professor
Specialization: Economics
Academic Level: 14
Joining: 12-11-1992
7
Designation: Professor
Specialization: Economics
Academic Level: 14
Joining: 15-05-1989
8
Designation: Associate Professor
Specialization: Economics
Joining: 12-05-1989
9
Designation: Associate Professor
Specialization: Economics
Academic Level: 13A
Joining: 11-08-2021
10
Designation: Professor
Specialization: History
Academic Level: 14
Joining: 14-09-1992
11
Designation: Professor
Specialization: History
Academic Level: 14
Joining: 27-10-2023
12
Designation: Associate Professor
Specialization: History
Academic Level: 13A
Joining: 31-03-2021
13
Designation: Associate Professor
Specialization: History
Academic Level: 13
Joining: 11-10-2023
14
Designation: Assistant Professor
Specialization: History
Academic Level: 10
Joining: 01-04-2021
15
Designation: Professor
Specialization: Library and Information Science
Academic Level: 14
Joining: 23-09-2003
, jaideep@ignou.ac.in
16
Designation: Professor
Specialization: Library and Information Science
Academic Level: 14
Joining: 03-04-2008
17
Designation: Professor
Specialization: Library and Information Science
Academic Level: 14
Joining: 10-01-2006
9560741170, zyathan@ignou.ac.in
18
Designation: Professor
Specialization: Library and Information Science
Academic Level: 14
Joining: 03-01-2023
19
Designation: Assistant Professor
Specialization: Library and Information Science
Academic Level: 10
Joining: 15-09-2021
20
Designation: Assistant Professor
Specialization: Library and Information Science
Joining: 16-09-2021
21
Designation:
Specialization: Political Science
Academic Level: 14
22
Designation: Associate Professor
Specialization: Political Science
Academic Level: 13A
Joining: 24-05-2011
23
Designation: Assistant Professor
Specialization: Political Science
Academic Level: 10
Joining: 01-08-2011
24
Designation: Professor
Specialization: Public Administration
Academic Level: 14
Joining: 30-09-1988
25
Designation: Professor
Specialization: Public Administration
Academic Level: 14
Joining: 30-07-1992
26
Designation: Professor
Specialization: Public Administration
Academic Level: 14
Joining: 08-04-1994
27
Designation: Associate Professor
Specialization: Public Administration
Academic Level: 13A
Joining: 28-06-2024
28
Designation: Professor
Specialization: Psychology
Academic Level: 14
Joining: 09-12-2010
29
Designation: Professor
Specialization: Psychology
Academic Level: 14
Joining: 05-10-2023
30
Designation: Associate Professor
Specialization: Psychology
Academic Level: 13A
Joining: 12-08-2010
31
Designation: Associate Professor
Specialization: Psychology
Academic Level: 13A
Joining: 19-10-2010
32
Designation: Assistant Professor
Specialization: Psychology
Academic Level: 10
Joining: 09-08-2021
33
Designation: Assistant Professor
Specialization: Psychology
Academic Level: 10
Joining: 24-01-2024
34
Designation: Professor
Specialization: Sociology
Academic Level: 14
Joining: 01-10-2003
35
Designation: Professor
Specialization: Sociology
Academic Level: 14
Joining: 29-04-2008
36
Designation: Associate Professor
Specialization: Sociology
Academic Level: 13A
Joining: 13-10-2003
37
Designation: Associate Professor
Specialization: Sociology
Academic Level: 13A
Joining: 18-08-2021
38
Designation: Assistant Professor
Specialization: Sociology
Academic Level: 11
Joining: 18-09-2023
39
Designation: Professor
Specialization: Political Science
Academic Level: 14
Joining: 14-07-1988