The School of Social Sciences (SOSS) is one of the largest schools in IGNOU. SOSS offers academic programmes in eight disciplines: Anthropology, Economics, History, Library and Information Science, Political Science, Psychology, Public Administration, Sociology.

Programmes offered by the disciplines relate to core subject areas. At the same time they straddle other related disciplines making them truly interdisciplinary in nature. MA in Gandhi and Peace Studies and PG Diploma in Disaster Management are two examples of such programmes offered by the School. SOSS constantly strives to link the development of courses to the ever-expanding socio-economic and political contexts in which the social science processes take place.

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 has a research programme that applies newer methodologies to elicit a more creative response, both from the discipline’s own perspective and from an interdisciplinary perspective. It offers PhD in all disciplines. In addition to research degree programmes, the School offers a large number of academic, professional and socially relevant programmes of study leading to the award of degrees, diplomas and certificates at different levels. In 2019, the School has replaced its Bachelor’s Degreee Programme with the one patterned on choice based credit system as prescribed by the University Grants Commission. The new programme is a broad based programme with a mix of disciplinary, interdisciplinary and skill/ability enhancing programmes.

SOSS also undertakes training programmes in the areas of concern to society with a social science perspective. SOSS has in the past organized such programmes in human rights, disaster management to name a few. Further, Centre for Gandhi and Peace Studies (CGPS), Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Chair on Social Change and Development housed in the School are focused on giving a purposeful orientation to Social Sciences. The faculty in the School has made a mark by undertaking research in their fields that has been reported in publications of repute.

The School is adding more optional courses in the existing Master’s and Bachelor’s Degree Programmes. These additions will enrich the programmes and make them compatible and meaningful in the light of new developments in the discipline areas. In view of its various need based programmes SOSS has succeeded over the years to have about 60% of the total enrolment of the University.