Overview
As society produces growing amounts of data, institutions increasingly rely on computational systems to understand challenges and make decisions. URI’s Ph.D. in Computational Social Science prepares students to use methods such as machine learning, natural language processing, network analysis, simulation, and AI-assisted causal inference to investigate questions about social behavior, institutions, policy, markets, and social change.
The program combines advanced statistical and computational methods with rigorous social-science research design and substantive knowledge, while also examining how technologies such as generative AI and algorithmic systems are reshaping social life.
What You’ll Learn
You will learn to design original research, analyze complex data, draw credible causal inferences, and select methods that fit the questions you are investigating. You will also develop the skills to evaluate the limitations of different research approaches and communicate findings to academic and nonacademic audiences.
As part of the program, students earn an embedded M.S. in Statistics, providing a strong quantitative foundation alongside interdisciplinary doctoral training.
Career Opportunities
Graduates will be prepared for research-intensive careers in academic, public, nonprofit, and private-sector settings. The program develops researchers who can use advanced computational and AI tools while understanding the social and institutional contexts in which those tools are applied.
Students graduate prepared to design rigorous studies, evaluate evidence responsibly, and contribute research that can inform consequential decisions.