A social science degree is a powerful academic foundation. According to Portland State University, this course of study provides students with the opportunity to develop skills employers value in their employees, such as oral and written communication, interpersonal, teamwork, technical, analytical, critical thinking, organizational and problem-solving skills. The degree is like a resume that writes itself. What you do with this degree depends completely on your personal interests.
An interest in social science may also indicate a desire to help people improve their lives. A social worker’s role is to directly help people cope with issues in everyday life. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, social workers help people deal with relationship or family troubles or help clients who face a disability, a life-threatening disease or a social problem, such as inadequate housing, unemployment or substance abuse. They may also be involved in child- or spousal-abuse cases.
A social science degree combined with a teaching certificate is a great way to get into K-12 teaching or adjunct teaching positions at the university level. Portland State University lists kindergarten teachers, elementary teachers, high school teachers, adjunct professors, academic advisers and library technicians as positions obtained by recent graduates of its social science program.
Government and nonprofit organizations have many administrative positions, and social science graduates are well suited for the roles, according to the University of Alaska’s School of Arts and Sciences. From office administrators and executive director positions in charity organizations to government program offices, social science students have a wide array of options when it comes to their career paths.
In addition to a bachelor’s degree, each state also requires that applicants complete a licensing program before becoming social workers. The median salary earned by social workers in 2012 was $44,200, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Salaries vary according to the type of industry. Paraprofessionals employed as social and human services assistants are not licensed and work to assist social workers in many cases, but their pay is considerably lower.
- Tomwang112/iStock/Getty Images