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* Salary & growth data is based on the recent Bureau of Labor and Statistics data published at https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes252021.htm for 25-2021 Elementary school teachers, except special education 11/2021. Based on national data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary.
A bachelor of science in social sciences is an interdisciplinary degree that provides students with an education on a wide range of topics in the social sciences.
Students take courses in sociology, anthropology, criminology, economics, history, and human services, providing them with a thorough understanding of human behavior. Many pursue this degree in conjunction with an education degree.
What is a Degree in Social Science?
A bachelor of science in social sciences is a broad degree program that’s focused on the entire discipline of social sciences rather than a single aspect. Students study a range of topics that include history, the cognitive sciences, public policy and administration, and sociology—among others—providing them with a broad understanding of human behavior.
Many students pursue double majors in social science and education, preparing them to become elementary school teachers in both public and private schools.
Other students use their bachelor’s degree in social sciences as the basis for graduate coursework. A social science degree can be a great starting point for getting into law school, can provide a basis for becoming a college professor in any social science field, or can prepare students to earn master’s and Ph.D. degrees in therapy or counseling disciplines.
Those who do not choose to pursue additional degrees can find work in a variety of fields, working in business roles, as marketers, or as research assistants.
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What Courses Would I Take For a Major in Social Science?
- Anthropology of Language and Communication
- Psychological Aspects of Aging
- Cross-Cultural Psychology
- Contemporary Social Problems
- Introduction to Statistics
- Research Methods in the Social Sciences
- Diversity Awareness
- Social Psychology
What Jobs Can You Get with a Degree in Social Science?
Because social science is a broad field of study, there are a nearly unlimited number of ways that graduates can find work in their field of interest. Students can find work in a variety of industries: education, legal, business, research, therapy, and many more.
Because of this, graduates of bachelor of science in social science programs should have a bright future ahead of them. Students who struggle to find work should be able to improve their chances by pursuing a professional graduate degree.
How Long does it take?
A bachelors in Social Science will have a typical length of 4 years in a full time schedule. That said, there are many ways to speed up the timeframe by either taking more units via online coursework, community college, or taking free classes at OnlineDegree.com that could transfer to universities in the US.
Online Social Science Degree
Online social science degree programs are growing in popularity and can definitely be found. Students are required to complete around 120 credit hours to earn their bachelor degree including 40 credit hours of core courses.
Students are allowed to choose among various concentrations as history, anthropology, communication, human development, political science and psychology among others. You should carefully consider the major that you will choose as it will affect your career options.
What Can You Do With a Social Science Degree?
Social science is a field of study that focuses on societies and the relationships between individuals forming the society. Social science includes a variety of academic disciplines such as anthropology, economics, human geography, linguistics, management science, media studies, psychology and social history.
What does a social science student learn?
Social sciences represent a multidisciplinary field of study that involves a wide variety of courses. It can represent a challenge to many students however the subjects are also exciting to other students.
If you are passionate about human behavior, interactions and societies then studying social science should be among your choices. The following list shows courses that are commonly offered in social science programs:
- Sociology: This is a foundation course that presents the principles related to the development, structure and functioning of societies. It also introduces the common causes of problems facing societies.
- History: studying history is an essential part of social science studies as history explains how the current societies are formed as well as the social structure.
- Legal studies: the legal systems are among the important factors shaping the structure of the society. Legal systems can vary significantly from one country to another and from one state to another.
- Political sciences: politics are also an important factor shaping the legal system and society in general. It is also related to the history of the community.
- Urban studies: this is a more specialized form of social studies that is concerned with communities in cities that have a higher density of population.
- Economics: this is an additional factor with politics, religions and history affecting the structure of the society.
- Other related courses: African studies, anthropology, gender, sexuality and women’s studies, and psychology.
Now I have the social science degree…where can I work after graduating?
Social science is an interdisciplinary field of study that opens a wide variety of career options. You will have more ability to understand people, and their interactions and deal with them as a group or community.
This is important for almost all types of jobs. The following list shows jobs that are common choices for social science graduates:
- Politician or counselor for political parties: social science graduates have integrated and comprehensive knowledge that is highly valuable to this field.
- Historian: learning social science will give you the ability to track and review historical events. You will be able to understand the motives for these events and detect what events are false or fabricated.
- Teaching: social science is a popular choice for high school students around the country. You may also teach college to postgraduate students.
- Social counselor: you will have the ability to understand society and human relationships. You can analyze social problems and follow an organized approach to solving them.
- Public relations: companies and organizations commonly hire people to keep their good public image. Social science graduates are more capable of communicating and responding to the public. They can also anticipate and analyze social trends.
Should I choose a social science degree?
Studying social science is always rewarding on a personal level even if you are not working in a related field. You will develop a set of skills that are useful for your life in any chosen career:
- Communication skills: you will learn to communicate in an effective, concise and clear way. You will also understand that the way of communication depends on your audience.
- Reasonable arguments: social science graduates have the skills to make a reasonable and clear argument for their ideas making use of their knowledge of human psychology, behavior and human interactions.
- Data analysis and organization: social studies are mainly built on data gathering from large samples of the community. The data sometimes is not clear and may require careful analysis to reach acceptable and valuable conclusions.
- Time management and self-motivation: social studies are mainly focused on human beings. You will have to manage your time to complete your tasks.
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Best Jobs for Social Science Degrees
The advantage of a bachelor’s degree in social science is its flexibility. With a bachelor’s degree alone, graduates can find careers as marketing or brand managers, as human resource specialists, as research or counseling assistants, or in public administration roles.
Students can also earn graduate degrees later to find work as lawyers, college professors, counselors, therapists, medical professionals, or researchers.
How to save time and money
Our mission is to help you to avoid paying full price for college. We want your Social Science degree to be affordable and accessible. Here’s how you could save:
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