Social Sciences: What are They? The Complete Subject Guide
Social sciences are disciplines of academic study that examine different aspects of society. There are several branches of social science, all of which share the same aim of studying how people behave, interact and influence the world.
The term 'social science' covers a broad variety of subjects, including geography, law, psychology and many more. Social sciences tell us about how society works, helping us understand how to improve processes at a societal, community and individual level. As a result, studying a social science subject can open up a lot of opportunities and provide students with a wide range of valuable skills.
In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the social sciences, and discuss what it’s like to study a social science subject.
What is social science?
In essence, social science is the study of human society. As subjects that examine and explain human behaviour, social sciences help us develop our understanding of the world beyond our individual experiences.
The most common social science subjects include Anthropology, Archaeology, Economics,Geography, History, Law,Linguistics, Politics, Psychology and Sociology.
Social sciences can help uncover useful insights into society in a variety of ways - from understanding how minds work, to how societies as a whole function. Social science is vital for understanding important societal functions, such as economic growth and unemployment triggers, as well as what makes people happy.
This provides important information for governments, local authorities and organisations. Social science research has influenced a huge number of policies and practices.
Social science vs natural science
Social sciences are a separate field of study to natural sciences. The main difference between social and natural science is that social science examines the relationships between individuals and societies, whereas natural sciences focus on aspects of the physical world. Natural sciences include areas such as biology, chemistry or physics.
Why study a social science subject?
Studying a social science subject is a great way to develop your skills and knowledge in more detail. Social science students develop a broad range of transferable skills, making it a valuable subject choice for a variety of careers.
No matter which field of social science you choose to study, you’ll develop the ability to analyse and research complex issues, think critically, evaluate different solutions, understand different perspectives, and effectively communicate this information. You’ll also understand how to apply previously learned information to new situations, and how to engage with new concepts quickly.
For some, postgraduate social science study offers the chance to continue with the subject they loved as an undergraduate. This is a great way to develop your specialist knowledge in an area of social science that you are passionate about, or want to progress further within your career.
For others, the skills gained from a social science subject offers a unique edge in their planned career. In particular, subjects like Law or Economic are well suited to particular career goals, with some roles requiring a postgraduate qualification as an entry requirement.
Even with non-vocational subjects that are more open, your commitment to the subject and the work expected during a postgraduate course demonstrates your drive, passion and abilities; and it is something employers will take notice of.
Rachel, a masters student, explains, “I absolutely loved writing my undergrad dissertation, and wanted the chance to do more work like that...I wanted to do a masters because I didn't want to give up on my subject just yet.”
10 disciplines of social science
Social science encompasses a broad range of subject areas. There are many academic disciplines of social science, meaning there is lots of choice when considering whether to study a social science subject at postgraduate level.
Some postgraduate students may even choose to study a different discipline to their undergraduate degree, since there are several transferable skills and intertwined areas across branches of social science.
The top 10 disciplines of social sciences include:
Anthropology
Archaeology
Economics
Geography
History
Law
Linguistics
Politics
Psychology
Sociology
1. Anthropology
Anthropology is known as the 'science of humanity'. Anthropologists explore topics relating to the human experience. This includes human behaviour, cultural relations, and how the evolution of humanity has influenced society's structure.
Anthropology is often described as being both scientific and humanistic, meaning it's well-suited for anyone looking to indulge passions for both kinds of subject. Anthropology research also involves exploration of historical human experiences, although there's plenty of chance to apply it in modern contexts too!
Find anthropology courses
2. Archaeology
Archaeology is the study of humanity through material remains of past life and behaviour. Similar to anthropology, archaeology explores past life and cultures, although this relies much more on the evidence from material remains.
Whilst many people think of archaeologists as being like Indiana Jones, the truth is very different – though no less interesting. Archaeology involves excavation work, material analysis and surveying. Europe is an ideal place to study archaeology, with many archaeological sites of interest thanks to its rich history. There are many material remains from the Roman Empire, the Vikings, and other significant past movements.
Find archaeology course
3. Economics
Economics looks at the production, distribution and consumption of goods and services. When studying economics at postgraduate level you can choose to take a close view or a broad one, but in general, economics involves looking at how the economic systems of the world work.
This knowledge can be applied both theoretically and practically, meaning the subject is well suited for anyone interested in the current economic world.
Find economics courses
4. Geography
Though many of us may remember geography as the subject at school that involved maps, it goes beyond that – analysing population, the land itself, the relationship between the two and often linking to the earth sciences (such as geology). At postgraduate level, you'll be able to specialise in a particular branch of geography – such as oceanology, environmental management or tourism geography.
Find geography courses
5. History
History is a broad social science subject that involves studying particular past time periods. Whilst postgraduate level study gives you a chance to specialise in a particular field of history, you'll still be using similar skills – interpreting sources, looking at current theories of the past, and assessing ideas against the available evidence. With Europe's long, well-documented history, there's the chance to get to look at the places you're studying first hand.
Find history courses
6. Law
Studying law will give you the opportunity to look at a variety of legal systems, and to focus on a particular area – contract law, international law or criminal law, to name but a few. Doing further study in law is especially useful if intending to go into it as a career, although it is possible to study it solely for academic reasons. Visit LLMstudy.com for more information about studying law at a postgraduate level.
7. Linguistics
Linguistics is the study of language – looking at how human language is formed, processed and used in different contexts. Rather than learning to speak a particular language, this social science subject is more about how language itself works.
There are a broad range of study areas in linguistics, typical areas of study include syntactic analysis, language acquisition, sociolinguistics, phonology, and the evolution of language. With the EU having 23 official languages, and Europe itself having more than 60 indigenous regional and minority languages, what better place to study linguistics?
Find linguistics courses
8. Politics
Politics affects every part of life, so it's no wonder it makes such a fascinating area of study. Often broken up into Political Philosophy, Comparative Politics and International Relations, a postgraduate course in politics lets you study both historical and current events.
Political science is a degree perfect for those aiming for a career in politics or local authority, as well as for those interested in pursuing further academic study. And, with the EU containing so many differing systems, it's a fantastic place to study it.
Find politics courses
9. Psychology
Both theoretical and experimental, psychology makes use of studying both social behaviour and neurobiological processes. With such a broad area of study – the human mind – you'll specialise in particular areas.
These can include child development, interpersonal relationships or social psychology. Europe has a long history with psychology, thanks to Germany's involvement in its development, so in studying here you'll be joining a long line of innovative scholars.
Find psychology courses
10. Sociology
Sociology is the study of society, both on an individual and structural level. Covering topics such as class, religion and social mobility, there's a broad range to choose to specialise in.
Some sociologists work solely for theoretical purposes, whilst others intend to use their findings in policies or welfare. In such a multicultural continent as Europe, you'll find plenty to study, and with the amount of changes that have taken place in the past century, there'll definitely be an area of sociology to interest you.
Find sociology courses
Social science subjects: summarised
Of course, these subjects aren’t the only areas that come under the 'social sciences' umbrella. Each university will have a variety of different courses included in their social sciences department – for example, some will include subjects like international relations, media studies or even accounting in their social sciences faculty. These, and more, are among the social science subjects offered by many UK and European universities today.
Art work By: Tr David A Milanzi
Comments
Post a Comment