ip target image
You are currently browsing our site with content tailored to students in your country

Our cookies

We use cookies to offer you a better browsing experience with personalized content, relevant ads and enhanced functionalities. By allowing all you agree to the use of cookies as per the cookie policy and remember you can manage your preferences anytime.
The basics
Study abroad : Subject Guides

What can you do with a social science degree?

We explain what social science is, what subjects you could cover and what jobs you could do with a degree in the subject.

share image

 

If you’re interested in how a communities of people live together and interact with each other then a degree in social science may be the right course for you. Social science looks at the relationship of individuals within society across a very wide range of areas.

 

 

What are the different social sciences?

 

There doesn’t appear to be agreement as to how many social sciences there are but the major subject areas of social science are:

 

What is a social science degree?

 

You can study social science at both undergraduate and postgraduate level. Given that the social sciences cover such broad subjects (see list above), the course and modules vary according to which field you would like to pursue. You can get an idea of the variety of courses on offer by typing in social sciences into our course matcher tool. You’ll find a list of over eight hundred universities offering social sciences courses all over the world.

 

Why is a social science degree good for you?

 

Obviously the knowledge and experience of a degree in social sciences will be beneficial to you when you graduate but there may be less obvious advantages to having a degree in social science.

 

Skills employers want

As a social science graduate, you will acquire a range of transferrable skills which are highly relevant to a range of roles. This is particularly useful for students who aren’t completely sure about what they want to do after university.

Here is a list of the skills gained from a degree in social science and which employers are looking for:

 

  • Critical thinking
  • Problem-solving
  • Creativity
  • Communication
  • Logical thinking
  • Independent thought and research
  • Cultural awareness
  • Socially conscious
  • Emotional intelligence

 

When you have graduated and are looking for a job it is easy to feel that your degree does not directly match a particular job description. However, you can shape your CV/resume and cover letter to match the requirements of the job based on the above skills and knowledge you have gained during your degree.

 

Make the world a better place

 

One major concept that all the areas of social sciences have in common is trying to better understand and improve society. If you are socially conscious and want to improve the world we live in, getting a social science degree will bring you one step closer to your dream career.

 

What can you do with a social science degree?

 

As already mentioned, a degree in social sciences can cover a very wide range of areas. It therefore comes as no surprise that the range of professions to choose from are equally broad. Here is just a sample of the jobs you could do with a degree in social sciences and average salary per year in the top three study destinations.

 

  USA Canada UK
Archaeologist USD 49,984 CAD 58,720 GBP 23,231
Social Science teacher USD 53,638 CAD 70,102 GBP 35,774
Civil servant (government worker) USD 96,534 CAD 72,920 GBP 40,135
Police officer USD 61, 936 CAD 106,147 GBP 35,159
Economist USD 55,360 CAD 78,568 GBP 46,275

*data from Glassdoor for 2022

 

Please note that some of these careers may require further study or training.

 

You should now have a better idea of the types of careers that can follow from a social science degree. If you haven’t yet decided on a programme, you can use our course matcher tool to find what’s right for you.

COURSE MATCHER
Want to check which program suits you the best?
Find out with our new "Course Matcher" tool!
CHECK YOUR MATCH

Must read

article Img

Why study law: Top 10 benefits of becoming a lawyer

What do Margaret Thatcher, Benazir Bhutto, Barack Obama and Mahatma Gandhi have in common? Interestingly, they are world leaders who studied law. One of the oldest academic fields in the world, a law degree is a highly regarded qualification and promises great career opportunities.   For some, to study law is to uphold justice, a noble call that is most commendable (and the world needs more of them); nevertheless, law is not just for lawyers or in the

247.3K
article Img

What are professional degrees?

When evaluating your study options and doing your research you’ll probably have come across qualifications that are categorised as professional degrees. Perhaps you’re not entirely sure what this means or what differentiates such programmes and courses from academic degrees. You may also be asking yourself if they have a particular impact on your career trajectory. We take a closer look at professional degrees for you and examine what they’re all about.  

6.8K