6 Careers to Consider If You’re Interested in the Social Sciences
Graduates with a degree in the social sciences tend to pursue careers in public service, the criminal justice system, research institutions, and universities, but you can find them anywhere!
Social sciences majors typically learn how to
- Study a wide variety of human behaviors
- Understand the benefits and pitfalls of social systems that impact human behavior
- Conduct meaningful and impactful research
- Detect the underlying dynamic forces that shape who we are
- Develop a sense of perspective on the world around us
- Identify trends in human behavior over time
These skills can transfer to a seemingly unlimited number of career fields. At a liberal arts university, students have the added benefit of cross-disciplinary classes that expand their perspectives. Huntington University, for instance, offers degrees and cross-disciplinary courses in sociology, criminal justice, psychology, history, political science, and international and development studies.
If you are interested in the social sciences, here are eight careers that might interest you:
- Forensic psychologist: A forensic scientist uses clinical specialization in family, civil, or criminal casework to help legal specialists such as judges and attorneys understand the psychological aspects of a case, often by testifying as an expert witness.
- Social worker: A social worker helps clients navigate life’s challenges, from personal health and family situations to job placement and finances.
- Industrial-organizational psychologist: An industrial-organizational psychologist applies psychological principles and research methods to the work environment to help clients improve their quality of work life, providing assistance with anything from productivity to organizational development.
- Counseling psychologist: A counseling psychologist helps clients improve their sense of well-being by addressing physical, emotional, and mental health issues through counseling. Assessing, diagnosing, and treating symptoms can all be a part of a counseling psychologist’s clinical practice.
- Political scientist: With one of the highest-paying careers among the social sciences, a political scientist investigates how political systems originated and progressed, how they currently operate, and how they could develop in the future through new political policies.
- Urban and regional planner: An urban and regional planner typically works with government agencies to plan the best use of lands to establish new communities, enlarge existing communities to make room for population growth, and update current facilities. In this way, an urban and regional planner is directly involved in revitalizing the physical presence of a city or region.
Did one of these careers catch your interest? A great place to start toward the career of your dreams is a social science degree from Huntington University. Schedule a campus visit to learn more at huntington.edu/Visit.
