What Social Science Degrees Can You Get Online?

There are many kinds of social science degrees you can get online. An online degree in social science itself will cover a wide variety of subjects. It will explore how people make choices and deal with their consequences throughout history to the present time. This general degree will provide students with an understanding of the research methods and perspectives held by social scientists of various disciplines. These include economics, sociology, psychology, archaeology and political science. They also include the following degrees that provide students with the tools they need to be successful in their careers.

History

History students love exploring the past, because it helps them to understand the present and the future. This social science degree may touch base on multiple regions, cultures and periods in order to build an intellectual foundation for addressing complex international issues. Alternatively, students can focus on a single area, such as Asia and Africa, or a single period, such as the Renaissance or Victorian periods. Either way, the curriculum will be firmly based in the humanities and cover the critical, historical and comparative ideas and events that have shaped the collective human experience. Students will study important texts, review cultural practices and diagnose political contexts. While history isn’t the most exciting topic for some students, it produces professionals who use their writing and critical thinking skills to thoughtfully evaluate, synthesize and present information. Graduates will be prepared to enter today’s competitive marketplace in the fields of law, business, education, justice studies and public service.

Anthropology

An anthropology degree gives students opportunities to learn how and why humans evolved. They will understand how evolutionary social, biological, cultural and environmental factors have impacted the human experience in past, present and future settings. Anthropology degrees help students develop scientifically driven critical thinking skills. Anthropology majors use scientific tools and methods to formulate, test and evaluate hypotheses. They will know how to gather qualitative and quantitative data through research and statistics. This fascinating major will allow students to study the correlation between food and culture, so students will see how dietary choices and practices impact health and longevity. They may also study the global history of health and examine how disease and health behaviors impact communities and cultures. Students will also study the historical impacts and trends of migration and globalization. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are also specializations in biological, linguistic and cultural anthropology.

Philosophy

Philosophy degrees cover topics like morality, politics and law within analytical frameworks. Most programs discuss and debate the ethical and moral questions that commonly arise in political theory, criminal justice and the legal system. Students will learn about the foundations of beloved moral values, such as individual liberty and social justice, and how their definitions are actually open to different interpretations and understandings. Most programs offer classes in the philosophy of science, which explores concepts and theories related to time, space, causation and probability. Classes on social or political philosophy explore historical problems like class conflict, justice and power and freedom and equality. Students completing philosophy degrees usually choose a minor or concentration related to law, public policy or political administration. Graduates will find career opportunities in legal firms, think tanks, research centers, political organizations and intelligence agencies.

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Social science degrees you can get online may also include geography, linguistics, urban planning and environmental social science.