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The social sciences function as a component of liberal arts education and focus on better understanding how humans and societies function from various perspectives. Students can select from degrees at the bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels in subjects such as history, sociology, psychology, anthropology, and economics, to name a few options.
Students who pursue a social sciences degree feel curious about human motivations and behaviors, be they focused on factors such as wealth, mental health, past societies, or political motivations. Keep reading to learn about the different subjects covered and the types of social science careers available.
Anthropology blends history and sociology to examine how human societies and cultures developed over time. Students consider both physiological and biological characteristics in this discipline.
The study of economics examines how economies behave: how they contract, grow, and evolve over time. Students consider questions around the development, use, and transfer of wealth on both the domestic and global scales.
Geography focuses on the physical components of the Earth and how humans interact with the planet’s resources. Students learn about factors such as land development and use, human behavior, and climate change.
History students consider how people, cultures, and communities behaved in the past to learn more about modern human society. Learners typically focus on a time period, methodology, or subject area to build their knowledge.
As a discipline, political science seeks to understand how governments and politics function at local, state, federal, and international levels. Students also consider political relations between countries and the roles of political parties.
Pursuing a psychology degree involves learning about human behaviors, motivations, and mind processes. Students consider various mental processes and biological influences to build their knowledge and understanding of the human mind.
Sociology seeks to understand the roles of relationships, institutions, cultures, religions, and other factors in human behavior and development. Students focus closely on societal causes and consequences alike.
