A Bachelor's Degree Program in the Social Sciences covers many topics in this broad field, including sociology, anthropology, history, psychology and political science. Students get a solid background by taking general core courses, followed by electives in their particular field of interest.
Bachelor's Degree in Social Sciences Program Overview
A Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science in Social Sciences degree program covers a broad range of topics. The five major social sciences divisions are anthropology, sociology, psychology, history and political science. Some degree programs encourage students to choose one of the major disciplines in social sciences, but others incorporate two or more disciplines. Earning a Bachelor's Degree in Social Sciences could lead to a myriad of career opportunities, including positions in counseling, law enforcement, healthcare and government.
<h3 id="section---ImportantFactsAboutASocialSciencesBachelorSDegree">Important Facts About a Social Sciences Bachelor's Degree</h3><p></p><table border="1"><tr><td> Possible Careers </td><td> Anthropologist, Economist, Teacher, Psychologist, Social Worker, Researcher</td></tr>
<tr><td> Continuing Education </td><td> Master's and Doctoral Degrees</td></tr>
<tr><td> Learning Environment </td><td> Traditional classroom and online options available</td></tr>
<tr><td> Key Skills </td><td> Analytical and critical thinking, oral and written communication, thorough researching, computer competency, cross-cultural competency, time management, detail oriented</td></tr>
<tr><td>Median Salary (2021)</td><td>$50,390 <i>(Social Workers)</i>*</td></tr>
<tr><td>Job Outlook (2021-2031)</td><td>9% <i>(Social Workers)</i>*</td></tr>
</table><p><i>Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)</i>
</p><h3 id="section---CoreCurriculum">Core Curriculum</h3><p>Most core courses in social sciences are similar. These include introductory courses designed to help students decide which disciplines they prefer and provide them with a broad knowledge of the different disciplines. The core courses for a Bachelor's Degree in Social Sciences may include:
</p><ul><li>World religion
</li><li>Social problems
</li><li>History of economic thought
</li><li>Introduction to sociology
</li><li>Introduction to psychology
</li><li>American government
</li><li>International politics
</li><li>Introduction to political thought
</li><li>Sociology of education
</li><li>Principles of macroeconomics
</li><li>Principles of microeconomics
</li></ul><h3 id="section---ElectiveCourses">Elective Courses</h3><p>After the core curriculum requirements are fulfilled, students in a social sciences program must choose electives. Depending on the school, this might include a wide sampling of the various disciplines within the social sciences, or students may choose one area of study as a concentration. Programs in which the student focuses on a specific discipline have a narrower choice of courses. However, sample courses for a student getting a general social sciences degree could include:
</p><ul><li>America's ethnic and cultural diversity
</li><li>Child and adolescent psychology
</li><li>Philosophy of science
</li><li>Industrial-organizational psychology
</li><li>The African-American experience and urban politics
</li><li>Economics of health care
</li><li>Political violence
</li><li>Economics of crime and punishment
</li><li>Society and the individual
</li><li>Social psychology
</li><li>Cultural anthropology
</li><li>Human development
</li><li>Diversity studies</li></ul>
