What Is Social Science?

What Is Social Science?

Let me tell you directly: social science dives into the details of human behavior and how societies interact, giving us insights that shape our view of the world. It covers five main branches: anthropology, economics, political science, psychology, and sociology.

As a social scientist, you study these areas rigorously to figure out what drives economic growth, what causes unemployment, and what affects human happiness. This research is the foundation for creating public policies, designing education programs, and developing marketing strategies that fit societal needs.

Key Takeaways

Understand this: social science is about studying human behavior and interactions in societies, with a focus on anthropology, economics, political science, psychology, and sociology. Its findings impact public policy, education, urban design, and marketing, offering key insights into how societies work and how people behave.

If you get a degree in social science, it opens doors to careers in law, government, academia, and business—think roles like economists or social workers. In the U.S., economists and social workers are in high demand, with steady job growth expected over the next decade. The field started in ancient Greece and grew during the Enlightenment, where thinkers like Adam Smith built the basics of modern economics.

Exploring the Field of Social Science

Social science isn't like natural sciences such as physics, biology, or chemistry. It looks at relationships between individuals and societies, and how societies develop and function, instead of the physical world. You'll find it relies on interpretation and qualitative research more than the hard data of natural sciences.

Important point: social science has many fields, but the main ones are anthropology, economics, political science, psychology, and sociology. Sometimes history, criminology, and geography get included too.

Major Disciplines in Social Science

People debate which branches belong, but most agree on these five: anthropology, economics, political science, sociology, and social psychology. History is often seen as a social science, though many historians tie it to humanities. Humanities and social sciences both study people, but humanities lean toward philosophy over science. Law and geography have connections too.

Anthropology

Anthropology focuses on the origins and development of human societies and cultures, and it's been crucial for centuries. It really took off during Europe's Age of Enlightenment in the 17th and 18th centuries, when advancing society and knowledge was key, and understanding human behavior was essential to that.

Economics

The history of economic thought dates back to ancient Greek philosophers like Plato, Aristotle, and Xenophon, who laid foundations for nearly all social sciences, including economics. As travel eased from the 15th to 18th centuries and international trade grew, mercantilism rose, with nations pushing exports over imports.

This was challenged by Adam Smith, the father of modern economics, whose ideas with Rousseau and Locke promoted self-regulating economies and classical economics. His book 'The Wealth of Nations' is still studied and admired. Other key figures are Karl Marx, who critiqued capitalism with his labor theory of value, influencing many thinkers, and John Maynard Keynes, whose demand-side theory focuses on short-run economic changes and separates individual incentives from national aggregates.

Political Science

Political science traces back to ancient Greece, where Plato wrote about politics, justice, and good government. It became more scientific through Aristotle, Hobbes, Marx, and Weber, boosting democracy and helping politicians make popular policies to gain power.

Psychology

Psychology, a fast-growing social science, began as a medical study in the late 1800s and boomed in the 20th century, thanks partly to Sigmund Freud. According to the CDC, 20.3% of adults got mental health treatment in 2020. While many use psychiatric medicine, more are turning to alternatives like mindfulness, yoga, and talk therapy.

Neuroscience, drug treatments, and various psychotherapies expand options. Other branches include animal learning, social psychology, and economic psychology.

Sociology

Sociology started in mid-1800s Europe amid rapid changes from political revolutions and the Industrial Revolution, which disrupted lives and prompted questions on maintaining stability. The first U.S. sociology course was at Yale in 1875, spreading to other colleges and high schools by 1911.

Social Science Education: From Schools to Universities

In the U.S., social science education starts in elementary school and continues through high school, focusing on economics and political science. At college, you get more specialized disciplines. Universities offer many programs; for example, UC Berkeley has 15 social science departments like African American studies, anthropology, cognitive science, and more.

Master’s and Ph.D. programs allow deeper specialization. Fast fact: the BLS says economists and social workers are highly sought after in the U.S.

Career Paths With a Social Science Degree

Typical careers include advertiser, psychologist, teacher, lawyer, manager, social worker, and economist. Social science topics like human behavior are vital for business. Demography, political science, and sociology are used in many business contexts, such as marketers applying theories to sell products efficiently.

Economists and Social Workers

Economics is central to business, using analysis and methods to forecast trends. Behavioral economists, blending psychology, are especially in demand. The BLS projects 6% growth for economists and 7% for social workers from 2022 to 2032, matching average job growth.

Social Science Wages

BLS data shows social science graduates often earn more, but it varies. Median wage for social workers was $58,380 in May 2023, and for economists, $115,730.

History of Social Science

It began with ancient Greeks, whose studies of human nature, the state, and mortality shaped Western civilization. As an academic field, it grew from the Enlightenment with intellectuals like Smith, Voltaire, Rousseau, Diderot, Kant, and Hume. Observations of society became more quantified, leading to separate fields like linguistics and psychology.

Why Is Social Science Important?

It helps you analyze your own behavior and that of others, creating more inclusive institutions.

How Do You Become a Social Scientist?

Start with a four-year degree in a social science subject. For social work or psychology, you often need more schooling, certificates, and licenses.

Which Jobs Can You Get With a Social Science Degree?

Jobs like economist, psychologist, survey researcher, or roles in law, government, politics, and academia.

The Bottom Line

Social science helps us understand ourselves, others, and society. Grasping human behavior should lead to better efficiencies and quality of life for all.