Most bachelor’s degree programs in social science offer courses on many different topics, with a primary focus on one or two specific areas. Students should be prepared to learn a wide range of perspectives about social systems. Courses will cover areas like social networks, social decision-making, political rhetoric, organizational behavior, and the study of human beings. In order to get into the graduate program, students will need to demonstrate academic excellence and a good command of mathematics and logic.
The first step towards graduate school is to earn a bachelor’s degree, which requires taking general education courses and completing a minimum of 60 credits at a community college or a four-year college. Students will also be required to take a number of mathematics and computer science courses. They will be required to choose between a liberal arts program and a science focused program. Although there are certain differences between liberal arts and science programs, the focus is always on learning how to think and investigate information. A strong analytical writing component is often part of a general liberal arts course.
Graduates of a master’s degree in social science will have a wide variety of job options waiting for them. In addition to their bachelor’s degree, students may have earned a master’s degree in business administration or psychology or a number of other disciplines. Their job options will depend on their chosen field of specialization and the number of years of experience they have earned. They may pursue jobs in academia, consulting firms, or government agencies, working on a contract basis or as part of a large organization.
The coursework in graduate work in this area will consist of courses in statistics, law, economics, public health, and administrative law. In addition, students will spend a lot of time writing on research papers and dissertations, which often involve empirical research and a personal approach to their chosen field of study.
If you plan to become a social scientist, make sure to complete your master’s degree before pursuing a PhD. You will have more research time and more opportunities to write more dissertations. As a doctoral candidate in social science, you will need to show that your dissertation is based on sound research and is well-argued. In addition, you will be able to obtain a much higher salary than if you pursued a doctorate in a different discipline. The salary will depend upon the level of expertise and reputation that you have earned from your prior positions, but it is usually competitive.
Your professional reputation and accomplishments are also important. To get a top paying job in academe, you should have written some of the most prestigious research papers and produced some of the most important empirical research on social issues.
Getting a master’s degree in social science gives you the opportunity to do what you want after you finish school. It gives you the ability to apply your knowledge to the field in a meaningful way. Once you have finished your master’s degree, you may decide to move onto a Ph.D. program in another area or to continue your professional career by being a teacher, researcher, or an educator.
