Study abroad - Social science

More about Social Science

A social science degree can be used for a wide variety of careers. Depending on your chosen focus, such as history, psychology, economics or geography, the paths open to you will differ. Some bear a greater focus on research and teaching, while others offer wide open career possibilities in a variety of fields.Social Sciences include such subjects as:

• History
• Economics
• Management
• Communication
• Political Science
• Psychology
• Geography
• Anthropology
• Education
• Sociology

What social scientists have in common, regardless of which focus their studies have taken, is a rigorous training in seeking, judging and analyzing large amounts of information. The information social scientists collect and analyse often acts as an important base for the decision making of political agencies or the business world. Social scientists also work with attempting to explain society's build up and how humans behave in regards to societal structures.

Social Science Careers

A social science degree opens doors to a large spectrum of different career possibilities dealing with the human aspect of the world and our function within it. There are generally many opportunities within research and teaching, if that is what you are interested in. Most of the social sciences however, open up to a potentially larger job market within more hands on fields such as government organizations, business corporations and health care facilities. Generally speaking, employers of social scientists are interested in some of the skills common to those who have studied in the field. These skills are also what make social scientists very flexible on the job market, also in an international sense:

• Management skills.
• Planning and organizational skills.
• Writing and reporting skills.
• Ability to recognize trends and patterns
• Strong critical thinking skills.
• Oral communication skills.
• Interpersonal and communications skills
• Skills in modern data and analysis technology.
• Research skills.

The outlook on the job market differs depending on what area in social sciences you focus your studies. Due to the flexibility of social science majors, the job market in general is expected to at least increase at an average rate. Some fields however, such as archeology, history, and anthropology may expect a slower than average rate of growth, due to the somewhat limited range of specialized jobs, largely available within research.

Studying Social Science

As social science is a very broad term, it may be difficult to know which branch you wish to focus on from day one. In that case, many universities offer a very flexible curriculum at the start of your studies where you can choose to try different subjects to see where you would like to focus your major. Not all universities have a social science faculty. Instead a large variety of the social sciences are offered within the Arts Faculty. The social sciences can be studied at most universities all over the world. Each school will have a different range of courses to choose from. Let this together with your preference of country, city and atmosphere guide you to the school of your choice.