What to do with a degree In social science

Social science majors—psychology, history, political science, sociology, anthropology and other related fields—study culture, how societies react to each other, how they organize power and how they react to change.

If you’re considering studying social science at college, here are some careers to consider upon graduation.

Guidance counselor
High schools are always looking for people to help students with schedules and registration, but a guidance counselor’s job doesn’t end there. As a counselor, you will also help students deal with relationship issues, the college admissions process, family problems and more.

Researcher
As a social science researcher, you’ll conduct surveys and observations to identify ways in which members of a particular society can improve their communication or decision-making skills. For example, sociology research is used when discussing gender relations, geographic and familial influences.

Social worker
Social workers help people through tough financial and emotional times, find foster homes or mentors for children, teens and adults. Social workers can work for state or local agencies, non-profit mentoring organizations, hospitals and rehabilitation centers, too. Sociologists who can adapt well to a variety of people and who can find solutions for various social problems may consider social work as a career field.

Curator
Museum curators arrange, catalogue and maintain exhibits. Curators organize public outreach programs, including tours, to draw people to their collections. They also work with fund-raising opportunities, museum director boards and members to help the museum meet its goals.

Drug and alcohol counselor
If you can guide people at their lowest moments, consider becoming a drug and alcohol counselor. You’ll help people with chemical dependencies through a rehabilitation process, help them identify their employable skills, arrange for medical care and evaluate their ability to live without care or supervision.

Archeologist
Unearth artifacts from historical sites, analyze what various artifacts say about the people who left them, discover the roots of languages and more as an archaeologist. You can even merge interests in archaeology and biology to study the evolution of humans. Archeologists, who usually specialize in a particular area of the world, can teach, conduct research on site or in laboratories and must have good analytical skills.

Juvenile justice worker
As a juvenile justice worker, you will address the behavioral problems of young people and help them prepare to live and work on their own. You’ll serve as teacher and role model for at-risk youth and may work as a child advocate in the court system.

Cartographer
Got a knack for geography? Cartographers compile social, political and geographic information of various regions. You’ll need to be tech-savvy and good with statistics.

Human resource representative
Human resource reps handle most employee/employer relationships, such as hiring and firing, payroll, informing newly hired employees of company policies, procedures and benefits. Human resource representatives need to have great people skills and must enforce their company’s rules.

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