by our College Data Analytics TeamGeneral Social Sciences is multidisciplinary, liberal arts major that provides a broad understanding of the world we live in. Classes involve the exploration of the intellectual, social, and cultural world.
Areas of study will include psychology, sociology, gerontology, anthropology behavioral science, history, statistics, and economics. You will also learn about how to design research, measure variables, analyze formulas, and formulate models. Students may have the opportunity to choose a concentration in Research Methodology and Quantitative Methods.
In 2021-2022, general social sciences was the 54th most popular major nationwide with 17,338 degrees awarded. Our 2025 Best General Social Sciences Schools ranking analyzes 106 of these schools to determine the best overall colleges for general social sciences students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of social sciences programs later in this article.
Because the classes in this major pull from many different subjects, students should be flexible and have the ability to make connections across subjects. Time management and organization will help you complete assignments and projects by their deadlines. Communication skills are essential in this major. You will spend a lot of time writing papers, giving presentations and participating in class discussions.
Creativity and the ability to think up new answers to old problems is important. Be ready to take non-traditional paths to find an answer. Critical judgment and analytical skills will be important as you work in labs and research. You need to be able to use and understand the data you find and make conclusions about it.
New students will need to have completed high school or a GED program and each school will have their own minimum GPA and SAT/ACT test requirements. Once you obtain your degree, additional social sciences certifications required to pursue a career in this field.
Social Sciences degree levels vary. You can get anything from a in general social sciences to the highest social sciences degree, a . General Social Sciences programs can take anywhere between one to four or more years for a full-time student to complete.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
A bachelor's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to social sciences, with approximately 50.7% of workers getting one. Find out other typical degree levels for social sciences workers below.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 51.6% |
| Master’s Degree | 29.6% |
| Doctoral Degree | 7.7% |
| Post-Baccalaureate Certificate | 3.3% |
| Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 2.7% |
About 93.9% of workers in careers related to social sciences obtain at least bachelor's degrees. The chart below shows what degree level those who work in general social sciences have obtained.
This of course varies depending on which social sciences career you choose.
A degree in Social Sciences will lead you to many different career paths. The skills, interests, and values you gain while in college will prepare you to work in careers where social sciences issues are important. You will be prepared to work in government, health services, law enforcement, business administration, elder care, community service, and human resources. You will also be able to easily transfer your skills to graduate studies in the social sciences, or even programs in law, business, or counseling.
Want a job when you graduate with your social sciences degree? General Social Sciences careers are expected to grow 8.1% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to general social sciences.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| High School Teachers | 1,095,500 | 7.5% |
| Managers | 1,071,700 | 8.0% |
| Statisticians | 49,800 | 33.9% |
| Social Scientists | 44,900 | 6.7% |
| Social Science Research Assistants | 35,500 | 4.4% |
Recently graduated general social sciences students earned an average of $37,378 in <nil>. Earnings can range from as low as $18,164 to as high as $101,777. As you might expect, salaries for social sciences graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for general social sciences graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers social sciences grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Managers | $115,590 |
| Statisticians | $92,600 |
| Sociologists | $90,290 |
| Social Sciences Professors | $87,950 |
| Social Scientists | $85,750 |
With over 662 different social sciences degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased social sciences school rankings to help you with this.
General Social Sciences is one of 13 different types of Social Sciences programs to choose from.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| General Social Sciences | 16,867 |
| Research Methodology & Quantitative Methods | 471 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Economics | 47,809 |
| Political Science & Government | 47,686 |
| Sociology | 35,816 |
| International Relations & National Security | 13,958 |
| Anthropology | 11,105 |
Image Credit: By Manfred Werner (Tsui) under License More about our data sources and methodologies.
