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Exploring the Five Main Branches of Social Science
What Is Social Science?
Social science delves into the intricacies of human behavior and societal interactions, offering insights that help shape our understanding of the world. This field encompasses five major branches: anthropology, economics, political science, psychology, and sociology.
Social scientists rigorously study these areas to unravel the mechanisms driving economic growth, identify the underlying causes of unemployment, and discover factors influencing human happiness. Their research forms the basis for crafting informed public policies, designing educational programs, and devising marketing strategies that align with societal needs.
Key Takeaways
- Social science is the study of human behavior and interactions within societies, focusing on disciplines like anthropology, economics, political science, psychology, and sociology.
- Findings in social science influence public policy, education, urban design, and marketing, providing valuable insights into societal functioning and human behavior.
- A social science degree offers diverse career opportunities in fields such as law, government, academia, and business, with roles ranging from economists to social workers.
- Economists and social workers are among the most sought-after professionals in the U.S., with steady job growth projected for both fields over the coming decade.
- The roots of social science trace back to ancient Greece, expanding significantly during the Enlightenment when thinkers like Adam Smith laid the foundations for modern economic theories.
Exploring the Field of Social Science
Social science differs from natural sciences, which include physics, biology, and chemistry.
Social science examines the relationships between individuals and societies as well as the development and operation of societies, rather than focusing on the physical world. Social sciences often rely on interpretation and qualitative research, unlike natural sciences.
Important
Social science has many fields, with anthropology, economics, political science, psychology, and sociology as the main ones. History, criminology, and geography are sometimes included too.
Major Disciplines in Social Science
People differ on what branches are in social science, but most agree on these five fields:
- Anthropology
- Economics
- Political science
- Sociology
- Social psychology
History is sometimes seen as a social science, but many historians link it more to the humanities. Both humanities and social sciences study people, but humanities focus more on philosophy than science. Law, too, has some ties to social science, as does geography.
Anthropology
Anthropology, focusing on the origin and development of human societies and cultures, has been pivotal for centuries. The field gained importance in Europe’s Age of Enlightenment, which flourished in the 17th and 18th centuries. During that period, there was a pronounced focus on advancing society and knowledge, and understanding human behavior was seen as a key to achieving that goal.
Economics
The history of economic thought goes back all the way to ancient Greek philosophers such as Plato, Aristotle, and Xenophon. Their works laid the foundation of nearly all social sciences, including economics.
As travel became easier in the 15th to 18th centuries, and more nations were able to partake in international trade, the economic system of mercantilism grew. Many nations aimed to maximize exports and minimize imports.
This predominant school of thought was challenged by writers such as Adam Smith, commonly known as the father of modern economics. Smith’s ideas, along with those of Rousseau and John Locke, promoted the idea of a self-regulating economy and introduced the concept of what is known as classical economics. Smith’s book “The Wealth of Nations” is still studied today and admired by many politicians.
Two other important economists who have shaped the way we think of economics are Karl Marx and John Maynard Keynes. Marx famously challenged capitalism as an appropriate economic model by placing an emphasis on the labor theory of value. While Marx’s ideas are by no means widely endorsed by most of today’s politicians, his critique of capitalism has had a huge impact on many thinkers.
The Keynesian school of economics, meanwhile, is very popular among today’s economists. Keynesian economics is considered a demand-side macroeconomic theory that focuses on changes in the economy over the short run. It was the first to separate the study of economic behavior and markets based on individual incentives from the study of broad national economic aggregate variables and constructs.
Political Science
The origins of political science can be traced back to ancient Greece. Back then, the philosopher Plato wrote various dialogues about politics, justice, and what constitutes good government.
Plato’s work evolved into a more scientific approach through thinkers like Aristotle, Hobbes, Marx, and Weber. Centuries of research into politics helped to boost democracy and assist politicians in making popular policy choices and get voted into power.
Psychology
Psychology, a fast-growing social science, started as a medical study in the late 1800s and gained popularity in the 20th century, partly due to Sigmund Freud.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 20.3% of adults had received some form of mental health treatment in 2020. Although many still use psychiatric medicine to treat their mental health issues, more people in recent years are seeking alternative treatments, such as mindfulness training and yoga, in addition to traditional talk therapy.
Neuroscience, drug treatments, and a growing variety of approaches to psychotherapy are adding to the options for psychological treatment. Research on animal learning, social psychology, and economic psychology are other branches of the field.
Sociology
Sociology emerged in Europe in the mid-1800s during rapid social change. Political revolutions and the Industrial Revolution drastically altered how many people lived, which wasn’t always for the better. This prompted early sociologists to wonder how to maintain stability when so much in life was shifting so fast.
The first sociology course in the U.S. was taught at Yale University by 1875. In the years that followed, other colleges added sociology to the curriculum, and the subject arrived in high schools in 1911.
Social Science Education: From Schools to Universities
In the United States, education in the social sciences begins in elementary school and progresses throughout middle and high school. There’s a focus on core social sciences like economics and political science. At the collegiate level, more specialized disciplines are offered.
Nowadays, colleges and universities offer numerous social science programs. For example, the University of California, Berkeley has 15 academic departments categorized as social sciences. They are:
- African American studies
- Anthropology
- Cognitive science
- Demography
- Economics
- Ethnic studies
- Gender and women’s studies
- Geography
- Global studies
- History
- Linguistics
- Political economy
- Political science
- Psychology
- Sociology
Master’s degree and Ph.D. programs at colleges and universities offer opportunities for deeper specialization.
Fast Fact
Economists and social workers are highly sought after in the U.S., says the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
Career Paths With a Social Science Degree
Typical careers in social science include working as an advertiser, psychologist, teacher, lawyer, manager, social worker, and economist.
Social science topics like human behavior and relationships are valuable for business success. Concepts like demography, political science, and sociology are often used in business.
For example, advertising and marketing professionals often use theories of human behavior from these fields to more efficiently market their products to consumers.
Economists and Social Workers
Naturally, the field of economics is key to the business sector. Many industries use economic analysis and quantitative methods to study and forecast business, sales, and other market trends.
In fact, economists are some of the most sought-after workers in the U.S., especially behavioral economists, who use psychology to analyze and predict the economic decision-making processes of individuals and institutions.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects a 6% growth for economists from 2022 to 2032, similar to the average 3% for all jobs. Social workers, too, are expected to see a similar level of demand, with the BLS predicting employment in this particular field to grow by 7% from 2022 to 2032.
Social Science Wages
According to BLS, social science graduates generally earn more than others, but wages vary by field. According to BLS research, the median wage for a social worker was $58,380 in May 2023 while the median pay for an economist was $115,730 at that time.
History of Social Science
The origins of social science can be traced back to the ancient Greeks. The lives they led, as well as their early studies of human nature, the state, and mortality, helped to shape Western civilization.
Social science as an academic field of study developed out of the aforementioned Age of Enlightenment (or Age of Reason). Smith, Voltaire, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Denis Diderot, Immanuel Kant, and David Hume were among the major intellectuals at the time who laid the foundation for the study of social science in the Western world.
Individuals began to take a more disciplined approach to quantifying their observations of society. Over time, similar aspects of society, such as linguistics and psychology, were separated into unique fields of study.
Why Is Social Science Important?
The social sciences are important because they help people understand how to analyze not only their own behavior but also the behavior and motivations of their peers. The social sciences also give us a better understanding of how to create more inclusive and effective societal institutions.
How Do You Become a Social Scientist?
Typically, the path to obtaining a career in the social sciences begins by getting a four-year university degree in one of the social science subjects. If you’re interested in pursuing a career in social work or psychology, these careers often require additional schooling, certificates, and licenses.
Which Jobs Can You Get With a Social Science Degree?
A degree in the social sciences can help land you a job as an economist, psychologist, or survey researcher, as well as open up opportunities in sectors such as law, government, politics, and academia.
The Bottom Line
Social science helps us understand ourselves, our peers, and our society. Human behavior is important, and having a decent grasp of it should, in theory, lead to greater efficiencies and quality of life for everyone.
