The social sciences may be viewed as policy sciences and, as such, can make significant contributions to both public policy and the social studies curriculum. Political science has made contributions in legislative reform, centralized budgeting, regulation of lobbying, and improvement of election administration. Sociology has helped make significant progress in child care, crime, and housing matters and helped create VISTA and Upward Bound. Psychology has provided decision-making tools in hiring personnel, dealing with mental illness, and the nature of learning. Social scientists who have engaged in pre-college curriculum development made their greatest contribution to course design. They provided exciting and active learning experiences that enabled the teacher to assume a learning manager role rather than being merely a dispenser of information. More of the materials developed by social scientists will be adopted as educators feel pressure from various commission reports recommending change. Today, social scientists are better able to structure learning experiences and address important citizenship education issues. (SM)