Key takeaways
- A social science degree is a broad field that falls under the humanities and liberal arts category.
- Social science degrees typically come as a Bachelor of Arts (BA) with a creative, flexible curriculum or a Bachelor of Science (BS) with a more structured, technical approach.
- You will find numerous social science specializations such as anthropology, journalism, sociology, psychology, and so on.
- A social science degree develops core skills such as critical thinking, analytical capabilities, communication, and social awareness.
- People who wish to pursue change-making and impactful careers should opt for a degree in social science.
- Fortunately, there are several public and private colleges that offer majors in social science. These institutions include the University of Arizona, San Diego State University, and California State University, Northridge.
- Some colleges like Kansas State University also offer flexible social science degrees online.
Part of the liberal arts education, social science degrees are thoroughly focused on studying and analyzing human behavior in groups and individually. This interdisciplinary field of education is a popular choice amongst the young generation today, due to an increasing social awareness and complexities of human civilization.
Furthermore, a social science degree has to offer the most diverse and broad range of career options. Therefore, when you are looking for the ideal college major and planning which college to go to, you must also consider the career aspects of it.
Understanding the social science degree jobs, market trends, expectations, and job functions is going to help you make an informed choice. Additionally, there are numerous specializations or sub-fields within social science that you might want to particularly explore.
College planning is an overwhelming task with lots of ground to cover. Therefore, we here have a comprehensive guide that talks about everything regarding a social science degree including its coursework, colleges, careers, and alternative degrees. Let’s dig in!
What is a social science degree?
Firstly, a social science degree is an academic program within liberal arts and humanities. Consequently, it develops skills such as analytical thinking, social awareness, and social research. Furthermore, the degree particularly explores human behaviors in societies and the various underlying factors such as biological, environmental, and psychological.
Within a social science degree, you may have the option to choose from a variety of different majors or areas of concentration. These typically include subjects like psychology and sociology but can vary from college to college. We discuss these in detail, along with the most common coursework found in a social science degree.
One thing you must know about social sciences degrees is that there are various kinds of them being offered. The two most common and important types are:
- BA or Bachelor of Arts – focuses more on creativity, and allows students to pick courses as per their liking, most commonly offered by liberal arts schools.
- BS or Bachelor of Science – more technical information and knowledge, has a specific learning path including mandatory courses that must be completed by students.
Now, let’s explore the coursework and specializations of social sciences degrees.
Specializations
Here is an overview of the most common specializations offered by social science colleges:
Sociology
First, sociology is the most popular social sciences field. It is also offered as a standalone undergraduate sociology degree in colleges. However, within the social science degree, sociology is a specialization that explores human behaviors in a wider context. This specialization offers career paths in fields like research and social work.
Psychology
Secondly, psychology is another specialization within the social science degree. This is ideal for those interested in how the human mind works. Moreover, this specialization is good for careers in organizational behavior management, human resources, and counseling.
Criminology
Criminology is another field of study that is offered as a standalone degree by a lot of colleges. However, if you wish to keep your choices open, then choose a social science degree with a specialization in criminology for a wider learning outcome.
Explore the criminology undergraduate degree and its details.
Anthropology
Anthropology, on the other hand, is a very unique yet enlightening field of study that focuses on human history and evolution in various contexts. You can take this specialization to work in museums, cultural institutions, and even policy-making agencies.
Interested in anthropology? Read this complete guide to learn more!
International relations
International relations is an extremely specialized field that focuses specifically on the global political landscape, policy making, and studies cross-cultural elements.
What courses are in social sciences degrees?
To make the right choice regarding which is the best social sciences college and program, the most important consideration is the coursework. You need to look into what you will be taught, what teaching methods will be used, and what will be the learning outcomes. This can truly help you plan your upcoming 4 years at college and ensure a better, more impactful learning experience.
Typically, a social science degree utilizes various modes and methods of learning, such as:
- Online tests and quizzes
- Written examinations
- Assignments and projects (grouped and individual both)
- Capstone or thesis in the final year
- Requiring completion of internship for hands-on learning
- Completion of foundational courses
So, here is a list of the most common courses offered by colleges in a social science major:
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What skills and competencies can I develop with a social science degree?
By the end of every college degree, graduates possess some valuable skills that they can now apply to real-world jobs and situations. These may be knowledge-based skills, technical capabilities, or soft skills like communication. Either way, these skills and competencies are the ultimate goal of every college degree and allow you to explore rewarding career opportunities.
With a social science degree, you may be able to develop the following skills and competencies:
Skills:
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Competencies:
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List of social science colleges
Learning so much about a social science degree is bound to get you enticed to learn more about it. If you are wondering how to get a degree in social science, consider choosing the ideal college to be the most important step. The best social science colleges are the ones that have the following features:
- Numerous college and program accreditations that represent the education quality
- A strong alumni profile that represents the career prospects for future students
- College and campus life are guaranteed by facilities such as student clubs, sports, computer labs, and so on
- Good housing options for international and out-of-state students
- A strong faculty that comes from a qualified academic and professional background
- High graduation rate
- A variety of financial aid options that can support your 4-year long college commitment
So, when you are browsing through the various colleges with social science majors, make sure you go through three factors and carefully evaluate them. To help you narrow down your search and shortlist the top social science colleges, here is a list!
University of Arizona (Tucson, AZ)
The University of Arizona offers behavioral and social science degrees through its College of Social & Behavioral Science. Particularly, the program focuses on creating solutions for societal problems, and it does this by employing the most qualified faculty members. Moreover, it focuses on core skills like community management and team-working. Lastly, the college has an acceptance rate of 85%, allowing students to find an easier admission to get the best quality degree.
San Diego State University (San Diego, CA)
At San Diego University, you will be able to indulge in the interdisciplinary world of degrees in social science. The program is thoroughly planned out with extraordinary coursework. Moreover, the college offers incredible opportunities for the students, such as amazing college facilities, study abroad programs, and student-teacher organizations. Lastly, the college has an acceptance rate of 73% where mid-average highschool GPA holders can easily find admission.
California State University, Northridge (Los Angeles, CA)
Through its College of Social & Behavioral Sciences, the CSUN college offers the most advanced and well-equipped program for those interested in social science bachelors. While you may not be able to find a standalone social science degree, you can still explore the numerous majors and minors that are relevant to your interest. For example, the college offers programs in anthropology, criminology, gender studies, world history, and sociology. Lastly, the college has an acceptance rate of over 65%.
Kansas State University (Manhattan, KS)
One of the biggest advantages of pursuing a bachelor’s degree in social science from Kansas State University is that the program is offered online as well. Therefore, you can opt for the online mode of delivery to enjoy a much more affordable and convenient degree. Moreover, the program follows conventional coursework, requiring 120 credit hours including 45 credit hours of electives and specialization courses. Additionally, it includes nine social science specializations such as anthropology and political science. Lastly, KSU has an acceptance rate of 94%.
University of North Dakota (Grand Forks, ND)
The University of North Dakota also offers a social science degree online. This 100% online program allows students to study and learn at their own pace, allowing adult students who work full-time jobs to strike a good balance. The college also offers an incredible amount of support by assigning an academic advisor who will guide you in choosing electives and other courses carefully. Lastly, this college’s acceptance rate is 89%.
Difference between social science degree and other majors
As discussed earlier as well, social science is an academic field within the humanities and liberal arts. It is an umbrella term that covers many important and known fields of study and work such as sociology and psychology. However, social science majors are often offered standalone, separate from other college majors like sociology.
Therefore, an important part of your college planning is understanding the core differences between these majors, what each offers, and which major suits you the best. Here is an overview of the differences.
Anthropology majors
Anthropology majors are primarily focused on:
- Cultural studies
- Human evolution in the context of biology, society, and environment
- Cross-cultural and holistic view of evolution
- Sub-fields include linguistics, cultural, biological, and environmental studies
- Can find work in research, museum curation, archaeology, cultural resource management, or international development
In both degrees, humans and their existence in groups and cultures are the primary focus. However, both majors study these human interactions and elements in widely different contexts. As a result, the career prospects also change for both the majors. However, anthropology is offered as a specialization within a social sciences degree in most colleges.
Criminology majors
Likewise, criminology and social science majors have a common ground – human behaviors, and striving to bring improvement in societies. However, a criminology undergraduate degree is much more specific and hyperfocused on crime, criminal behavior, and the justice system. Moreover, criminology majors are:
- Focused on studying crime in the context of various factors like economics, psychology, and so on
- Students study theories of crime
- Evaluate rehab, punishment, and justice system
- Graduates can explore careers in law enforcement, criminal justice, corrections, forensic psychology, or criminal law
Social science exposes societies and human behaviors in a broader sense. It covers various aspects of human lives, while criminology is focused on one specific aspect.
Journalism majors
Lastly, there is journalism, a liberal arts degree that overlaps with social scenes in various ways. First of all, this degree primarily focuses on research, reporting, storytelling, and media production. During this college major, you learn many things such as:
- Investigative reporting and writing
- Multimedia content creation
- Media and journalism ethics
- Broadcasting
- Writing for various platforms
On the other hand, a social science degree can lead you to many career paths and job roles similar to that of social science. Both disciplines have a significant focus on research and analyzing human civilizations and societies. However, journalism is more appropriate for people with a keen interest in reporting and journalism, along with various types of media productions.
You can learn more about a degree in journalism in this guide.
What can I do with a social science degree?
After you have graduated and gotten your social science degree, you will have numerous career paths to explore. Note that a degree in social science prepares you for various types of jobs and responsibilities. It is interdisciplinary, so you will have a broad knowledge base.
However, a pro tip to remember here is that to start as early as you can. Look for internships and part-time opportunities that can allow you to get hands-on experience. Additionally, networking with your seniors, alumni, and faculty members is an excellent way of finding an easier entry to the job market.
Here are some job trends and data you might be interested in before you enroll in a 4-year social science degree.
- According to BLS, social science occupations are primarily all about coming up with societal improvements and solutions based on research and extensive data. For this type of degree holders and professionals, the average annual pay was over $78,000 for entry-level jobs.
- Reports show that more than 89% of the students in social science majors opt for specializations such as anthropology, sociology, and political science.
- A bachelor’s degree in social science is a typical requirement for jobs as financial managers, teachers, supervisors, and paralegals.
Moving on, here is a list of the most common types of job roles you can get with a degree in social science.
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A final word of advice
In conclusion, a social science degree is quite rewarding if you make informed decisions based on judgments such as college accreditations and alumni performance. There are numerous career paths you can explore with a degree in social sciences, with specializations in fields like anthropology and criminology majors.
Lastly, adult students who are working full-time jobs can opt for online degrees to enjoy convenience and cost-savings. You can also explore student assistance AI tools or get expert advice from All Bachelor Degrees.