Choosing to major in the social sciences can lead to lucrative jobs in economics, politics, and urban planning, to name just a few areas. With a social science major, you can expect to develop versatile skills that you can transfer to different roles.
Some college majors are more career-oriented, introducing you to an industry and the skills often needed to work in that particular field. Others encourage a broader range of skill development that you can apply to a variety of career paths. Social science majors generally fall into the latter category. They typically explore subjects that relate to systems and how they operate, such as the human mind and the global economy.
Choosing to major in the social sciences can lead to lucrative jobs in fields such as economics, politics, and urban planning. With a social science major, you can expect to develop a versatile skill set that you can transfer to different roles and industries.
Learn about the many kinds of majors available in the social sciences, some careers you may qualify for upon completing one of these majors, and the skills you can develop in a social science program.听
One of the highest-paying jobs in social science is a political scientist who makes a median annual salary of $132,350 per year []. Another high-paying job in social science is that of an economist who makes a median annual salary of $115,730 per year []. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual wage for people with degrees in an area of social science was $70,000 as of 2022 [].
A social science major is typically part of a liberal arts education, which encompasses the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. Whereas the natural sciences focus on natural systems, such as biology or chemistry. The social sciences are interested in how systems have been constructed and how they have and currently operate.听
As a social science major, you鈥檒l likely explore your subject area using an interdisciplinary approach, meaning your program will weave together multiple perspectives to provide an expansive education. These programs often encourage critical thinking and problem-solving, so graduates can enter many different industries and make an impact.听
As a social science major, you can choose from a variety of popular majors that can help you develop a range of skills as preparation for many possible career options.听
Anthropology examines the history of humankind. It鈥檚 a broad subject with a few different options to narrow your focus鈥攆or example, you may have the option to concentrate in archaeology or cultural anthropology.听
Major skills:听
搁别蝉别补谤肠丑听
Analysis
Foreign language
Collaboration
Possible career paths:听
Environmental anthropologist
Public policy analyst听
Localization specialist听
Translator
Communication studies sits somewhere between the social sciences and humanities. It involves studying how people communicate with one another, including the messages they craft and share, and what makes for effective communication.听听
Major skills:听
Possible career paths:听
Communications specialist听
Criminal justice majors focus intently on the justice system and spend time investigating the psychology of criminal behavior. The major tends to combine several different approaches, including history, psychology, and communications.听
Major skills:听
Evaluating听
Collaborating听
Decision making
Potential career paths:听
Case manager
Community advocate听
Paralegal
State trooper
Economics majors study how local, national, and international economic systems operate and examine topics like wealth and resources. They may have the option of choosing between a Bachelor of Arts (BA) and a Bachelor of Science (BS). The former tends to focus on the history and theory of economics, while the latter tends to focus on quantitative research methods.听
Major skills:听
Mathematics听
Statistics听
Potential career paths:听
Actuary听
Public policy analyst听
Benefits manager听
Environmental studies look closely at society鈥檚 impact on the environment, including resource shortages and environmental issues like climate change. As with economics, you may have the option of earning your BA or BS in environmental studies, depending on whether you鈥檇 prefer a more theoretical or quantitative approach.听
Major skills:听
Statistics听
Data collection听
Critical thinking听
Potential career paths:
City planning aide
Water resource specialist
Occupational health and safety specialist
Environmental journalist听
Geography investigates physical and human environments and how one can affect the other. The major pulls from the physical and natural sciences and mathematics. Additionally, some programs may incorporate coursework on geospatial representation and analysis.听听
Major skills:听
Geographic Information System (GIS)
Statistics听
Data collection
Critical thinking听
Potential career paths:听
Geospatial analyst听
Surveyor
Park ranger
Landscape architect听
International relations majors study different countries and how they relate to one another, be that culturally, politically, economically, or another system. Within the broad study of international relations, you may choose to narrow your focus to areas like the environment, human rights, national security, or global health.听
Major skills:
Empathy
Foreign languages
Communicating
Data collection
Potential career paths:听
Political consultant听
Interpreter
Localization assistant
Political science is the study of governments and how they function. You may find that your coursework draws from international relations, political theory, governance, economics, and an array of other subjects.听
Major skills:
Writing
Analysis听
Critical thinking听
Potential career paths:听
Policy analyst
Public affairs specialist
Communications specialist听
Political journalist
Psychology explores human behavior to better understand people鈥檚 motivations, actions, conduct, and more. Psychology majors may be able to focus on an aspect of psychology, such as child or developmental psychology, abnormal psychology, or cognitive psychology.听
Major skills:
Communicating听
搁别蝉别补谤肠丑听
Analysis
Potential career paths:
Substance abuse counselor
Market research analyst
HR specialist听
Sociology examines the systems that humans construct and how people relate to one another鈥攐ften through those very systems. Although sociology programs have a similar interest in human behavior to psychology programs, they tend to focus on group-level behavior, such as by age, race, or gender.听
Major skills:
Research
Analysis
Critical thinking
Potential career paths:听
HR specialist听
Community health worker
Market research analyst听
Urban planning studies major metropolitan areas' design, construction, and everyday use. Many programs aim to prepare urban planning majors to improve people鈥檚 lives in cities by identifying solutions to pressing issues.
Major skills:
Planning
Organization
Problem-solving
Potential career paths:听
Cartographer
Policy analyst听
Building inspector
Urban landscaper
If you enjoy learning about a subject from an interdisciplinary perspective while developing a wide array of skills, then a social science major may be good. Take time to think about your larger goals鈥攃areer-oriented or not鈥攁nd how you can achieve them with a social sciences major.听
You can earn an undergraduate degree that may or may not be career-focused. You might choose to use your bachelor鈥檚 degree as an opportunity to study a subject that already interests you, broaden your knowledge in a new area, or develop a versatile skill set that will support your future endeavors. Having a clear understanding of what you want to gain from your time in college can help determine what you should major in.听听
Social science majors have many different disciplines to choose from and provide a wide range of skills to prepare you for various careers. Apply to earn your Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences鈥攚hich is available in eight concentrations, including social wellness and community, media innovation, and consumer behavior鈥攆rom the University of North Texas. Plus, you may qualify to transfer between 30 and 90 credit hours toward the 120 hours required to earn the degree.听
US Bureau of Labor Statistics. 鈥, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and-social-science/political-scientists.htm#tab-1.鈥 Accessed December 3, 2024.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics. 鈥, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and-social-science/economists.htm.鈥 Accessed December 3, 2024.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics. ". https://www.bls.gov/ooh/field-of-degree/social-science/social-science-field-of-degree.htm." Accessed December 3, 2024.
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This content has been made available for informational purposes only. Learners are advised to conduct additional research to ensure that courses and other credentials pursued meet their personal, professional, and financial goals.