GOALS AND OBJECTIVES OF SSD

Departmental Goal:

To cultivate critically engaged, ethically grounded, and globally competent graduates through innovative, interdisciplinary education in Political Science and International Development.

Objectives:

1. Academic Excellence and Innovation
   • Deliver dynamic and interdisciplinary curricula that address contemporary political and developmental challenges.
   • Encourage pedagogical innovation and critical inquiry across all major courses.
2. Faculty Development
   • Support continuous professional growth and scholarly engagement among faculty members.
   • Promote faculty-led research and policy-relevant publications.
3. Student Empowerment
   • Foster leadership, advocacy, and civic responsibility among students.
   • Provide opportunities for experiential learning, internships, and community immersion.
4. Research and Policy Engagement
   • Advance research that informs governance, diplomacy, and development practice.
   • Encourage collaborative projects that contribute to local and global policy discourse.
5. Global and Local Linkages
   • Strengthen partnerships with academic institutions, government agencies, NGOs, and international organizations.
   • Promote student and faculty participation in global forums and exchange programs.
6. Inclusive Dialogue and Civic Engagement
   • Create platforms for inclusive and critical dialogue on social, political, and developmental issues.
   • Support community-based initiatives and participatory governance.
7. Alumni and Community Collaboration
   • Engage alumni in mentoring, networking, and departmental development.
   • Build sustainable partnerships with communities for mutual learning and capacity building.
8. Continuous Improvement
   • Maintain a culture of openness, feedback, and collaborative decision-making.
   • Regularly assess and enhance departmental programs and services.

PROGRAM OFFERINGS

1. AB Political Science

The AB Political Science program of the Social Sciences Department (SSD) is designed to develop critically engaged, ethically grounded, and globally competent graduates equipped to lead in governance, diplomacy, advocacy, and public service.
Anchored in the Lasallian tradition of transformative education, the program offers a rigorous and interdisciplinary curriculum that explores political theory, comparative politics, international relations, public administration, law, and policy analysis. Students gain analytical and research skills through courses in qualitative and quantitative methods, political economy, and geopolitics, while also engaging in practical learning through internships and community immersion.
The program emphasizes civic engagement, inclusive dialogue, and global-local linkages, preparing students to respond to contemporary political challenges with integrity, innovation, and a commitment to social justice.

2. AB International Development

The AB International Development program of the Social Sciences Department (SSD) prepares students to become globally competent, ethically grounded, and socially responsive development professionals. Rooted in the Lasallian mission of transformative education, the program equips students with interdisciplinary knowledge and practical skills to address complex development challenges in local and international contexts.
The curriculum integrates core social science disciplines – Economics, Sociology, Anthropology, Political Science, and Geography – with specialized courses in development theory, international relations, sustainable development, strategic management, and public policy. Students engage in experiential learning through internships, research, and community-based projects, fostering leadership in governance, diplomacy, humanitarian work, and global cooperation.
With a strong emphasis on civic engagement, inclusive dialogue, and global-local linkages, the program empowers students to contribute meaningfully to equitable and sustainable development.

Research Thrusts

SSD, as an advocate of societal transformation, adheres to the University's Research Agenda and the College Research Roadmap towards the role of an academic institution in fostering development. We are targeting a mutual cooperation between DLSU-D and the local government units of the province of Cavite in areas such as political economy, development studies and planning, eco-histourism, sustainable governance, public administration, and cultural heritage.

EXTENSION PARTNERS AND SERVICE-LEARNING PROGRAMS

SSD is deeply committed to community engagement and transformative service-learning. Through strategic partnerships and volunteer-driven initiatives, SSD fosters inclusive development, civic empowerment, and capacity building across local communities.

SSD maintains a dynamic partnership with the School of Governance, Public Policy, and Corporate Leadership (SGPSCL) under the Office of the University Provost. As part of this collaboration, SSD faculty volunteers regularly conduct free lectures, seminars, and training workshops for barangay officials across Cavite province and the CALABARZON region, focusing on topics such as local governance, policy development, leadership, and legal literacy and management. This initiative strengthens the department’s role in advancing participatory governance and responsive public service.

In addition, SSD works closely with Barangay Santa Fe in the City of Dasmariñas through the College’s community extension services. This partnership supports grassroots development programs, civic education, and student-led immersion activities.

SSD also leads a community outreach program with the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) in the City of Dasmariñas, facilitated by the Political Science Program Council. This initiative promotes legal awareness, restorative justice, and human rights education among persons deprived of liberty, while cultivating empathy and social responsibility among students.

Together, these extension and service-learning programs reflect SSD’s mission to empower communities, strengthen local institutions, and prepare students for ethical leadership and public service.

LOCAL AND GLOBAL PARTNERS

SSD actively cultivates partnerships that advance its mission of civic engagement, interdisciplinary learning, and global competence.

At the local level, SSD maintains direct and sustained engagement with barangay officials across Cavite province and the CALABARZON region. Through its faculty volunteer program, the department provides free lectures, seminars, and training workshops on governance, leadership, policy development, and legal literacy and management. These initiatives support the professional development of local leaders and strengthen participatory governance at the grassroots level.

On the global front, SSD has established an international academic partnership with Kadiri University of Indonesia, fostering cross-cultural dialogue and scholarly exchange.

Through virtual exchange lectures, faculty experts from both institutions collaborate on topics in political and social sciences, enriching the academic experience of students and promoting comparative perspectives on development and governance.

These local and global partnerships reflect SSD’s commitment to building meaningful connections that empower communities, enhance academic excellence, and prepare students for leadership in a rapidly changing world.

AFFILIATIONS

SSD is pursuing institutional affiliations that strengthen its academic network, research visibility, and professional development opportunities for faculty and students.

SSD is preparing to apply for membership in the following esteemed national organizations:

• Philippine Social Science Council (PSSC) – to enhance interdisciplinary collaboration, access national research resources, and contribute to the advancement of social science education and scholarship in the country.
• Philippine Political Science Association (PPSA) – to engage in policy dialogues, academic conferences, and collaborative research in the field of political science, both locally and internationally.
• Philippine Association for the Study of Culture, History, and Religion (PASCHR) – to support scholarly work in cultural studies, historical inquiry, and religious discourse, and to promote inclusive and critical perspectives in the humanities and social sciences.

These affiliations reflect SSD’s commitment to academic excellence, professional engagement, and its role in shaping socially responsive and globally competent graduates.

STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS

SSD supports vibrant student leadership and co-curricular engagement through its two-official program-based student organizations:

• Political Science Program Council
• International Development Program Council

Each council is composed of elected executive officers who actively plan and implement a wide range of academic, civic, and developmental activities aligned with the department’s mission. These include policy forums, outreach programs, leadership training, cultural events, and student-led research initiatives.

Together, these student organizations serve as platforms for leadership development, community engagement, and interdisciplinary collaboration – empowering SSD students to become socially responsible and globally competent changemakers.

AWARDS, RECOGNITION, AND ACCREDITATION

SSD continues to uphold a strong reputation for academic excellence, research leadership, and quality assurance.

SSD has consistently been recognized by the University Research Office of DLSU-D as one of the university’s top-performing academic units in research. Over the years, the department has garnered awards as “Best Department in Research” across various ranks and categories, including First Place, Second Place, and Third Place, reflecting its sustained commitment to producing impactful, policy-relevant, and community-engaged scholarship.

Both of SSD’s undergraduate programs – AB Political Science and AB International Development, have been granted Level IV Accreditation by the Philippine Accrediting Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities (PAASCU). This highest level of accreditation affirms the department’s excellence in instruction, curriculum design, faculty qualifications, research productivity, and community service.

In pursuit of international quality standards, SSD is currently preparing its AB Political Science program for application to the ASEAN University Network–Quality Assurance (AUN-QA). This initiative reflects the department’s commitment to benchmarking its academic offerings against regional standards and enhancing its global competitiveness.

These recognitions and ongoing efforts underscore SSD’s role as a leading academic unit in the University, dedicated to nurturing globally competent, ethically grounded, and socially responsive graduates.

  Contact us

• Social Sciences Department: Local # 3070
• Julian Felipe Hall (JFH) 204


• Contact No.
• 481-1900 (Cavite Line)
• 8779-5180 (Manila Line)
• 0999-439-8559 (Smart)
• 0906-473-6962 (Globe)
•   Secretary