Obtaining a degree in social science opens a world of potential job opportunities, from research roles to public policy, that can help you make a difference in the world. Whether you have a Bachelor of Arts (BA) or Bachelor of Science (BS), a degree in social science can prepare you for a successful career. With a broad range of knowledge and skills in areas like sociology, psychology, and political science, a social science degree can be applied to many industries and provide a path to various jobs. In this blog post, we will explore the various bachelors in social science jobs that you can pursue with your degree. We will discuss how you can use your knowledge and education to launch a successful career in social science. Additionally, we will review the job descriptions, skills, and qualifications of the most popular and in-demand social science job opportunities. Finally, you will learn how to identify and apply for these jobs, and what to expect when you start your career.
What is the path to a degree in social science?
A social science bachelor’s degree requires taking courses in a variety of academic disciplines, such as political science, sociology, and psychology, to gain a thorough understanding of the social groups your major focuses on.
The most common steps in earning this degree are:
What is social science?
Societies, cultures, groups, workplaces, and organizations are just a few of the settings studied by the academic and professional field of social science. The study of trends in human interactions, motivations, and decisions in various contexts, reporting on the effects of those trends, and utilizing those trends to address issues or strengthen bonds between people are the objectives of social science.
Issues and topics studied in social science include:
When studying people, social scientists frequently use qualitative data, though they may also use quantitative data and other techniques that are common in physical sciences like biology and chemistry.
Jobs you can do with a bachelor’s in social science
A social science degree has the advantage of being very adaptable. You can pursue careers in which you study and advance the field of social science, or you can work in a variety of other fields and industries using the knowledge and abilities you gained in your program. In addition to this bachelor’s degree, you might also need to have specific or additional qualifications for certain positions.
Some jobs you could pursue with this degree include the following:
An intelligence analyst’s main responsibilities are to gather, evaluate, and report on qualitative data to aid in decision- or policy-making. They could work for government agencies or for private businesses and organizations as business intelligence analysts. The qualitative research, writing, and critical thinking abilities acquired during a social science degree program can help these professionals. People who specialize in social science can use their anthropological knowledge to apply intelligence for a specific region of the world.
Primary responsibilities: Also known as an HR specialist, this individual is in charge of an organization’s hiring, interviewing, and employee evaluation procedures. They frequently also handle employee grievances, salary and benefit policies, regulatory paperwork pertaining to workplace accidents, and general compliance To learn about workplace culture and employee relationships, HR managers could pursue a bachelor’s degree in social science.
A police officer’s main responsibilities include protecting their community from crime, providing assistance in case of an emergency (such as an accident), and upholding the law. Before finishing cadet school and training, aspiring officers can get a social science degree to give them a foundational understanding of criminology, culture, and community relations.
A lawyer’s main responsibilities include advising clients on legal issues and standing up for them in court. They are in charge of conducting research into related cases and precedents, as well as crafting an argument on behalf of their client. Despite the fact that these professionals typically require a law degree in addition to a bachelor’s degree in order to practice, having a degree in social science can provide essential lawyers with research and writing experience as well as knowledge of political science, criminology, and human psychology.
A PR manager’s main responsibilities include managing an organization’s relationship with the media and the public. By writing press releases, developing relationships with journalists, arranging interviews and press conferences, and strategizing strategic communications, they direct a team of PR experts to build a favorable reputation for the company they work for.
This political communications and campaign management expert’s main responsibilities are to elect candidates and communicate issues to decision-makers. They oversee campaign personnel, direct communication strategies, organize publicity events, and create resonant messaging that persuades voters or decision-makers to support the positions of the candidate or organization they work for. Political consultants may be prepared for their position by receiving training in psychology, political science, and culture.
Their main responsibilities are to enhance the lives and wellbeing of everyone, especially children, the elderly, and people with disabilities. They may work for public or government organizations to coordinate resources for mental and physical health services, create wellness initiatives for communities or groups of people, or offer support to those going through major life changes. A social science degree can give social workers the foundation they need in sociology, criminology, and psychology.
Principal responsibilities: A professor teaches college students in courses related to a particular academic field. They deliver lectures, assign homework, oversee exams, and offer students expert advice. While those who want to teach social science courses can use a bachelor’s degree to start studying this field and find their area of interest, having a bachelor’s degree in social science can equip all professors with the research, writing, and analysis skills they need.
An organization’s safety procedures and policies are evaluated, developed, and enforced by a security manager, who also keeps an eye on the budget for staffing, technology, and other security-related expenses. They frequently direct a group of security experts to deal with potential threats, record incidents, and organize staff during drills and genuine emergencies. These professionals can more effectively assess risks and create safety plans thanks to their knowledge of criminology, psychology, and workplace culture, all of which can be found in a social science degree.
Primary responsibilities: This professional is in charge of an organization’s marketing initiatives or a specific area within the organization, like a product or service. They are in charge of developing and overseeing marketing budgets, negotiating ad publication, organizing ad production, analyzing marketing opportunities, looking into marketing trends, and reporting on the effectiveness of marketing initiatives. Researching and spotting opportunities to draw audiences can be made easier for marketing managers who have a background in psychology, cultural studies, and human behavior.
A designer’s main responsibilities are to produce visually appealing materials that are useful, informative, or entertaining. They can choose to specialize in a variety of areas, such as graphic design, interior design, user experience design, fashion design, publication design, web design, and more. Although each of these positions has its own specific responsibilities, many work with clients or their employer to identify the needs of the organization, research trends, analyze audience preferences, develop mockups, revise iterations, and complete final designs. These professionals can benefit from having a social science degree along with research abilities and understanding of human psychology.
An urban planner’s main responsibilities include developing plans for managing land, organizing the placement of buildings, and enhancing a community through better transportation and more accessible and safe spaces. Urban planners with a social science bachelor’s degree can effectively evaluate a geographical area, the impact of humans on it, as well as the impact of geography on the humans who live there.
A financial analyst’s main responsibilities include gathering, analyzing, and reporting on pertinent economic data, such as market trends and current or potential investment performance. After that, they apply this knowledge to suggest investment plans for people or businesses. Studying economics, political science, and psychology as part of a social science degree may be beneficial for financial analysts.
A geographer’s main responsibilities are to examine the planet’s physical features and its inhabitants to determine whether new development or conservation measures are sustainable for life. This degree can give aspiring geographers an interdisciplinary view of geography, human behavior, culture, and economics because geography is frequently studied in a social science program.
A psychologist’s main responsibilities include assisting individuals in creating positive coping strategies, routines, and approaches to problem-solving for short-term or long-term mental health issues. There are many specialized areas of psychology, but a bachelor’s degree in social science provides the psychological, sociological, cultural, and linguistic groundwork required for this position.
To study how financial and other related resources are distributed in societies and how that distribution affects people and communities, economists gather, evaluate, and draw conclusions from economic data. They can work in a variety of contexts, such as the public sector, nonprofit organizations, and businesses. Since economics is a social science, this degree equips these professionals with the analytical and writing skills, quantitative and qualitative research techniques, and economic principles necessary for the position.
Other roles to pursue with a bachelor’s in social science
Here are other roles to consider:
What Can You Do With Your Social Science Degree? (A Lot!) | College & Careers | The Princeton Review
FAQ
What can I do with a Bachelor of Social Science degree?
- Intelligence analyst.
- Human resources manager.
- Police officer.
- Lawyer.
- Public relations manager.
- Political consultant.
- Social worker.
- Professor.
Is social science a good degree?
Yes, a lot of undergrads find majoring in social science to be a good choice. This field encompasses a wide range of career opportunities. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that over the following ten years, a number of careers in the field of social sciences will grow faster than the national average.
Do social science jobs pay well?
The highest salaries for graduates with a major in social sciences are reported in San Francisco, CA, at $53,250 annually. Additionally, the average entry-level wage in San Francisco, California is $33,000.
Is social science in demand?
According to Pew Research, employment is growing most quickly in occupations that require social, analytical, and fundamental skills, which are the domain of social scientists (Kochhar, 2020).
