Perhaps you’ve heard the stories about Harvard psychology degree graduates holding up construction signs for a living or history majors having no choice but to pursue a career as a high school teacher. Or maybe you feel hesitant to major in Women’s and Gender Studies because you feel that employers will think you’re unqualified for well-paying jobs. However, social sciences remain some of the most interesting subjects to study. They often offer a foundation of critical thinking and oratory skills that hard sciences do not. If you find yourself regularly engaged in intense political debates or see yourself as an investigative person who craves the adrenaline rush, look no further. Put your worries of becoming a broke college graduate with nothing to show for yourself but your diploma and a half-eaten cup of ramen aside.
Read on for a full guide to securing a career in your field of choice and what to consider before choosing to major in the social sciences.
History
As one of the most obvious choices for an aspiring social science major, history provides an educational foundation for those curious about how the past has shaped the world in which we live today. Even though a traditional career “path” does not appear self-evident, there still remain many different careers that history majors can pursue. “As a history major, I would say the writing and critical thinking skills that I acquired specifically prepared me for my career going forward. My next step is law school and I would say that my majors prepared me well and offered some classes geared towards the practice of law,” Santa Clara University grad Cat Bick said.
In addition to law, history majors often pursue journalism or an academic research-driven career. Finally, some history majors even end up in the business field. My father was a partner at the investment bank company Bear Sterns. He once hired a man named Bob Reitzes, who had an undergraduate degree in history and a Ph.D. degree in Russian and Chinese history from Georgetown University. After failing to get hired as a Russian history professor, Reitzes worked in research for Dupont chemical company before becoming one of the top investment analysts on Wall Street. This just goes to show that your college major will not determine your destiny!
Possible Careers
- Historian
- Attorney
- Writer/Editor
- Librarian
- Reporter
- Tour Guide
- Journalist
- Legal Assistant
- Judge
Economics
Known as the social sciences version of business, economics provides a more theory-based and overarching approach to the study of the exchange of goods and services. Most universities offer an economics major through the College of Arts and Sciences rather than through their business school. While economics positions itself as a pure discipline, business involves a more interdisciplinary approach of applying skills to real-world problems. Due to this, many economics majors go on to pursue a Ph.D., whereas business majors focus on obtaining transferrable skills that enable them to jump into a career right out of college. Since obtaining an economics degree does not require early specialization, it allows for students to keep their options open and learn about the fundamentals of the economy before choosing a specific focus.
Possible Careers
- Market Research Analyst
- Economic Consultant
- Actuary
- Credit Analyst
- Financial Analyst
- Policy Analyst
- Business Reporter
- Statistician
- Economist
- Budget Analyst
Psychology
Curious about the way the human brain develops and what propels humans towards the outcomes they acquire? If so, consider majoring in psychology! With a psychology major, you can choose to go directly into counseling or psychiatry. Alternatively, you could apply your knowledge to fields such as sales or marketing, which rely heavily on human psychology. As a subject, psychology has universal applications and if you genuinely harbor a passion for it, a degree in psychology can be refreshing to many employers who see nothing but countless business administration degrees.
You will have the opportunity to learn skills on the job wherever you end up, so you need not use college as solely career training. “I was in the social work field working with kids with intellectual disabilities. However, I learned about diagnoses and interventions on the job. Since moving to Airbnb, I haven’t thought back to my psychology classes either. However, my major made me realize that understanding what people have gone through will explain all of their behaviors. I will say that hard sciences are so focused on objective facts that I feel those students are robbed the chance to expand their ability to connect on a personal level with others,” University of Oregon graduate Dan O’Larey said. Whether you choose to pursue psychiatric medicine, enter the corporate world, or advocate for those most vulnerable, a deep understanding of human nature remains invaluable in the workforce.
Possible Careers
- Guidance Counselor
- Human Resources Staff
- Social Worker
- Salesperson
- Public Relations Specialist
- Psychiatric Aid
- Lawyer
- Psychologist
- Psychiatrist
Criminal Justice
For all “Law & Order SVU” and “Criminal Minds” addicts, criminal justice provides the perfect training for aspiring law enforcement agents, detectives or intelligence analysts. If solving mysteries and directing research in a fast-paced, high-stress environment sounds like something you can handle, then keep reading. Don’t worry if you can’t find “criminal justice” on your university’s website. Many universities offer some variation of it, such as sociology with an emphasis on crime and law. Criminal justice will provide students with legal training and critical thinking skills to prepare them for work in some facet of law enforcement. In addition, it can act as a precursor to law school for those interested in becoming criminal attorneys or judges. Since this major remains somewhat uncommon, it can help in distinguishing yourself from other applicants.
Possible Careers
- Juvenile Corrections Officer
- Fraud Investigator
- Probation Officer
- Private Investigator
- Forensic Specialist
- Detective
- Intelligence Analyst
- Recovery Agent
- Border Patrol Agent
- Criminal Investigator
- Special Agent
- Police Officer
- Criminal Justice Professor
Linguistics/Foreign Language
These two majors may sound alike, but they actually hold notable differences! A linguistics degree entails the study of the cognitive process of learning a language. It really does qualify as a science and will cover topics such as phonetics, syntax and semantics. Majoring in a foreign language, on the other hand, will shift the focus on to whichever language you choose. These two often go hand-in-hand as linguists often need to know multiple languages in order to assist them in their research. However, a linguistics major can aspire to more technical careers, such as a dialect coach or even a forensic linguist for those interested in law and criminal justice. In contrast, foreign language majors most often compound their skills with business, law or social work that they do abroad. In today’s world of globalization, being bilingual proves a very valuable asset and can enable you to qualify for jobs that require lots of international travel.
Possible Careers
- Foreign Language Teacher or Professor
- Editor, Accent/Dialect Coach
- International Aid Worker
- Lawyer
- Lexicographer
- Subtitler
- Forensic Linguist
- Publishing
Political Science
Very few political science majors have any desire to someday reside in the White House, but majoring in political science can prepare students for a wide variety of careers. Political science usually attracts passionate and opinionated individuals with good communication skills. “Majoring in Political Science helped me grasp how interconnected our world is and how one government’s decisions can affect others simultaneously. After completing one year of law school, I’ve had to use not only my major but every brain cell I’ve got. My major has definitely helped lay some of the groundwork especially in terms of note taking, briefs, and essay writing. I believe it is a respectable major that will help get someone into law school,” Xavier University graduate Calum Latham said. In addition to law school, students can use this degree to pursue PR/marketing or a political career of their own.
Possible Careers
- Policy Analyst
- Legislative Analyst
- Public Relations Specialist
- Social Media Manager
- Marketing Research Analyst
- Political Consultant
- Attorney
- Political Campaign Staff
- Politician
- DNC or GOP Official
- Political Scientist
International Relations
If criminal justice and political science don’t satisfy your interests, international relations provides a more interdisciplinary approach to topics that overlap these disciplines. Combining politics, economics, history and investigative work in governments, this major seems perfect for those passionate about foreign affairs and diplomacy. It involves a pretty deep study of political philosophy as well as how foreign governments interact with one another. Pairing international relations with a foreign language that intrigues you would be an excellent way to further prepare yourself for jumping into the workforce. You can choose to focus on specific aspects of foreign policy, such as economic trade policies or non-violent conflict and resolution between governments.
Possible Careers
- International Lawyer
- Diplomat
- Foreign Affairs Analyst
- Political Scientist
- CIA Agent
- Lobbyist
- UN Civilian Peacekeeper
- Politician
- International Reporter
- News Anchor
- Intelligence Specialist
- Immigration Specialist
Women’s and Gender Studies
Women’s and gender studies may get a reputation for attracting nothing but radical man-hating feminists. However, in The Gendered Society by sociologist Michael Kimmel, he points out that “every course that isn’t a “women’s studies” is de facto a course in men’s studies — except we usually call it “history,” “political science,” “literature” or “chemistry.” Gender Studies prove more relevant to many careers than one might think. “Before heading to law school, my minor in Gender and Diversity Studies was more relevant to my jobs than my major. I coached girls’ club soccer and was a substitute teacher. Then, I moved to Portland where I started to work at Nike WHQ on the Nike Expert On Demand team. Here, both my major and minor helped me understand one of the biggest business systems in the world. Even in law school, my minor has and will continue to come into play. The law profession right now is still very white, which the administration is working to change,” Xavier University graduate Calum Latham said. Many gender studies majors will go on to work in law, politics, social services or in the film industry. No matter what doubters say, this proves a very valuable area of study!
Possible Careers
- Casting Director
- Union Organizer
- Human Services Department Admin
- Communication Consultant
- Coordinator of Women’s Health Clinic
- Journalist
- Novelist
- Blogger
- Social Worker
- Marketing Specialist
- Film Producer/Director
Education/Liberal Studies
If you love kids and experience great joy from watching them grow and learn, you should consider preparing for a career in education. “I received a Master’s in library science. The biggest takeaway from my degree was transferrable skills. Even just going to class is one; it shows you can show up and take leadership positions. I personally gained public speaking skills, such as establishing who your audience is, which helped me get acting jobs. In addition, do not feel locked in by the content of your major. Although I am a librarian and teacher, I could’ve gone into law or research or archival work with my degree. Look at what you’re learning and what skills you have other than just the information in your brain,” Gonzaga University graduate Sara Smith said. Ultimately, it’s all about what you do with what you learn.
Possible Careers
- Teacher
- Education Admin
- School Counselor
- College Professor
- Education Reporter
- Daycare Administration
- GED Instructor
- Librarian
- Author
Sociology
Sociology stands as one of the most widely faceted social science majors offered, combining the study of economics, psychology, ethics, mathematics and more. “In my 20s, I taught nutrition to low-income families as a paraprofessional. At a staff meeting once, I began to share my opinion, only to be interrupted by a man who said, ‘you don’t even have a degree, why should we listen to you?’ In that moment, I knew that the only way I could have a voice was to pursue a Bachelor’s Degree. Depending on how much money you want to make, you could consider combining a social science major with a more “practical” major, giving you a unique perspective and skill set,” Colorado College graduate Cathy Chung said. Sociology perfectly sets up students to engage in jobs that challenge current societal structures.
Possible Careers
- Guidance Counselor
- Human Resources Representative
- Lawyer
- Policy Analyst
- Media Planner
- Nonprofit Coordinator
- Social Worker
- Project Manager
If any of these majors caught your eye and made you feel that rush of excitement and curiosity, don’t be afraid to pursue it.
Although you still may feel apprehensive about majoring in something that may not offer a clear path towards a profitable career, keep in mind that you still can go into business or law. Social science majors can act as an excellent foundation for those careers. Remember, what you choose to major in often becomes less important than the skills you acquire in your coursework and your ability to market your degree and experience to potential employers.
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