The Social Sciences are a wide-ranging set of disciplines, which, in broad strokes, are primarily concerned with the various aspects of human societies and the interrelationships and human dynamics that exist within them.
As societies grew more complex and university education became more formalized, various sub-fields of the Social Sciences developed into separate academic fields. Anthropology and Sociology are examples of these, although universities still typically offer a more general Bachelor’s in Social Science degree.
A Quick Look at the Differences: Social Science vs. Anthropology vs. Sociology
Let’s uncover the key features of these three disciplines.
| Social Science | Anthropology | Sociology | |
| Median Pay | * Historians: $64,540 * Economists: $113,940 * Geographers: $88,900 * Political Scientists: $128,020 * Urban and Regional Planners: $79,540 | $63,940 | $98,590 |
| Projected Job Growth | Varies by field | 4% (2022-2032) | 5% (2022-2032) |
| Education Required for Professional Practice | Master’s degree | * Master’s degree * Ph.D. for scholarly research | Master’s degree |
| Key Focus | Serves as an overview of the social sciences, which are themselves standalone fields | Focuses on various aspects of the human being (physical evolution, language, culture, etc.) | Focuses on human societies and their associated human interactions and dynamics, including social change |
The key thing to remember is that in all three fields of study, intensive research in both quantitative and qualitative methods is a core activity. Researchers travel far and wide, spending countless hours interviewing people or trawling through historical data.
What is Social Science?
The Social Sciences are a wide grouping of disciplines focusing on the human person as an individual, as a member of society, and the different dynamics that arise. A Bachelor’s in Social Science serves as a more general-oriented overview of these various sub-disciplines.
Education and Career Paths in Social Science
Given its more generalist approach, a Social Science degree is deemed ideal for those who have yet to decide on a career path. It offers students fundamental knowledge of the various social sciences, providing them with a comprehensive view of the general human condition.
A Bachelor’s Degree in Social Science features these academic tracks:
- Anthropology
- Sociology
- Economics
- History
- Geography
- Political Science
Students who hold a degree in Social Sciences can go on to occupy a wide range of careers and jobs in various fields and industries, typically depending on their chosen major or specialization.
Like many career paths, however, students will be required to take further education or training, such as a more dedicated Master’s Degree.
A career in Social Science is for you if:
- You intend to pursue one of the social sciences but haven’t found your chosen area.
- You like the idea of conducting both qualitative and quantitative research.
- You’re comfortable in environments that require interacting with people.
A career in Social Science is not a great fit if:
- You feel that you like the physical or life sciences more
- You’re already set in one or two closely related Social Science fields (talking to an academic advisor or a professor may be more helpful in this case)
- You feel you’d prefer researching technology or machines more than people
What is Anthropology?
Anthropology, in general terms, is the study of man and the various facets of being human, which includes language, culture, physical evolution, and more. Anthropology is a broad area of study that includes the following sub-fields:
- Archaeology
- Cultural Anthropology
- Linguistic Anthropology
- Physical Anthropology
Whether in academia or other settings, anthropologists primarily conduct research work focused on various aspects of humanity. A lot of this research is invariably original and involves significant amounts of fieldwork. While Anthropology presents opportunities for travel and cultural immersion, the majority of professionals devote significant time to teaching, researching, and doing academic work.
Education and Career Paths in Anthropology
As Anthropology involves a significant amount of research and scholarly work, professionals typically hold a master’s degree at the minimum, eventually moving on to earn a doctorate. Meanwhile, those who hold a Bachelor’s degree in Anthropology qualify for junior roles as research assistants and often while pursuing their master’s degree.
Federal data show some 8,000 positions related to both Anthropology and Archaeology.
A career in Anthropology is for you if:
- You’re fascinated by languages, human history, and ancient civilizations
- You like roughing it out, traveling to locations away from the touristy destinations
- You love reading through massive amounts of books and other historical texts and piecing together the big picture of a particular topic.
A career in Anthropology is not a great fit if:
- You don’t like social interaction, especially with strangers and foreigners.
- You’re not that good with listening, and the idea of long hours reading and writing scares you.
- Your idea of travel is limited to places that are known as tourist-friendly destinations.
What is Sociology?
First formalized in the 19th century, the field of Sociology is generally considered the youngest of the social sciences. Its formalization is largely attributed to Émile Durkheim, who was expanding on the groundwork laid by Auguste Comte.
Unlike Anthropology, Sociology is focused on human societies, in particular social behavior, social relations and interactions, social change, and other related aspects. Human societies continue to evolve, and the field of Sociology goes with it.
The continued developments in Sociology are focused on theories, models, and research methodologies. For practically every aspect of human culture (law, religion, sport, education, etc.), there is a sociological field of inquiry and, therefore, a Sociology career to pursue!
Education and Career Paths in Sociology
Sociologists, like their contemporaries in the field of Anthropology, devote much of their time to research. This involves the full set of steps, from conceptualization and research design to data gathering and processing, down to presentation or publication.
The following are the main areas of Sociology:
- Social Change
- Social Organization
- Human Ecology
- Social Psychology
- Population and Demographics
- Sociological Methods and Research
- Applied Sociology
Much of sociological research goes on to inform other fields like education, public policy, and criminal justice.
A Bachelor’s in Sociology is the starting point of learning. Undergraduates typically explore human behaviors across societies globally. They launch their sociology careers in the education and social services sectors.
Sociologists typically hold a master’s degree that is either designed as a traditional program aimed at pursuing a Ph.D. or a clinical/professional/applied program aimed at practice in various professional settings. Like Anthropology, serious scholarly work in the field typically requires a Ph.D.
A career in Sociology is for you if:
- Humanity and human societies fascinate you and pique your curiosity
- You like working with people and are comfortable with meeting people from all walks of life.
- You think there are a lot more questions about humanity that have yet to be explored and answered.
A career in Sociology is not a great fit if:
- You don’t really like the idea of doing research, much less research on human societies.
- You feel like being out in the world is a tiring or draining experience overall.
- You like the idea of working with people, but with individuals, in clinical settings.
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