Social Sciences
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Social science is a popular field of study in college. Learn about social science majors, colleges, and careers in social science to see if it’s right for you.
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Social science is the study of current and past societies. The field works to understand how a society functions at all levels--individuals, families, communities, governments, and cultures. Social scientists try to find answers to real-world problems like crime, child abandonment, hunger, and social injustice. They also try to answer questions like why do we dress, talk, shop, and act like we do.
Why Study Social Science?
The field of social science is important because it helps society to run smoothly. Policemen maintain order, psychologists help people function, childcare providers keep children safe, politicians run our government, and economists keep the economy running. Without these roles, our society would be drastically different. Social science gives you the knowledge you need to help and analyze individuals, small groups, and society as a whole.
If anything above sounds appealing, you may be wondering, is a bachelor of social science right for me? You should consider studying social science if: you’re interested in law and order, you constantly question the status quo, you’re fascinated by ancient civilizations, you love helping people, or you want to help solve the world’s trickiest problems.
Different Disciplines in Social Sciences
There are many types of social science degrees. The seven major branches of social sciences are history, political science, geography, economics, psychology, sociology, and anthropology. These social science disciplines may seem unrelated, but all help society to function and try to answer the basic and complex questions of human society.
Sociology is a general subfield of social science that looks at the science of society, relationships, and institutions. Sociologists analyze everything from movies to major political events to employee relations. On the other hand, psychology studies the individual human mind. Another popular social science subject is political science. Political scientists try to understand how a government works from all levels.
What Can You Do with a Social Science Degree?
Careers in social science vary greatly. Since the field is so large, you will likely choose a more specific social science major to study while in school. This will help guide your career prospects. The most common industries that social science students work in are the business, community services, health services, higher education, law, publishing, social services, or teaching sectors.
Career opportunity outcomes are promising for social science graduates. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the life, physical, and social science field is expected to grow 10% over the next 8 years. This will create over 100,000 new jobs. The highest need in social science careers will be for experts in psychology, energy, or environmental protection.
What Should I Study at High School if I Want to Study Social Science?
Exploring the social science field while you’re in high school is the best way to see if it’s right for you. You may be able to take high school social science courses. These include economics, sociology, psychology, ancient history, family development, and American government.
No matter what social science program you go into, having knowledge of sociology and psychology can help. Taking foreign language classes can prepare you too. When you take a foreign language class, you learn the language but you also learn about the culture. Culture and language play an important role in understanding a society. Taking a course in probability and statistics is helpful too. Learning how to analyze data is an essential skill for aspiring social scientists to have.
Joining clubs or volunteering can supplement your social science courses in high school. Political, foreign language, or community service clubs may seem ordinary, but they all deal with issues related to social science. Volunteering with local political campaigns or non-profit organizations offers a chance for you to learn more about the field too.
How to Choose College Social Science Programs
When you know what you want to study, choosing a college is a lot easier. Aspiring social scientists should look for a college with strong social science degree programs. Finding the programs might be a little trickier than other fields. Some colleges keep all social science majors together in one department, but others divide them up. For example, sociology might be under the humanities department while economics is within the school of business.
When you find a school that you like, first make sure they offer the major or majors that you’re interested in. Most students change their major at least once, so it’s good to have options. Looking at the course offerings, the on-campus clubs, the major-specific internship opportunities, and the faculty’s credentials will help you narrow down the best colleges for social science for you.
If you’re set on studying social science or you want to learn more about it, look through our list of colleges with social science programs. See a school you like? Submit a Get Recruited request to get connected!
