Since its inception in 2012, the Graduate Program in Social Sciences (PPGCS) at UFRRJ has solidified its standing as a reference point in the field, expanding its influence at both the state and national levels. Its faculty comprises 25 full-time professors and three collaborators drawn from the Institutes of Human and Social Sciences (Seropédica), Multidisciplinary (Nova Iguaçu), and Três Rios.

In a country marked by stark social inequalities and limited access to educational and cultural resources, PPGCS stands out for its focus on the inclusion and development of underprivileged youth from the Rio de Janeiro metropolitan area and the city’s west zone. It challenges assumptions of immobility and incapacity among economically disadvantaged students by aiming to foster their continued participation in high-quality undergraduate and graduate education. The goal is to cultivate a more plural and diverse student body and generate knowledge enriched by multiple perspectives.

PPGCS is committed to the democratization and expansion of higher education and graduate access. It aims to train graduates for specialized and innovative research on social, political, cultural, and economic topics that impact Brazilian society broadly. Using theoretical-methodological frameworks from the three disciplinary fields of Social Sciences—Anthropology, Sociology, and Political Science—the program offers training that fosters interdisciplinary convergence in analyzing complex contemporary issues that cannot be fully addressed within a single field of knowledge.

The administration of PPGCS is led by Professor Maurício Hoelz (Coordinator) and Professor Vladimyr Lombardo Jorge (Vice-Coordinator), along with the other members of the Collegiate Board and its various committees.

The Collegiate Board comprises the full-time and adjunct faculty, administrative staff representative, and student representatives.