by our College Data Analytics TeamThere are many majors available in the field of Social Science. Some of the more popular include General Social Science, Anthropology, Economics or Political Science and Government.
Those who major in Social Science, Other usually choose a major or concentration area that is very specific to their interests. An example of this is Social Science Teacher Education. This major will prepare you to teach social science subjects at different grade levels.
Courses you can expect to come across in this major include: social statistics; race, gender, and class; American public policy; global economy; literacy; issues in contemporary education; educational psychology; and teaching methods.
A degree in Other Social Sciences explores Social Sciences, Other. Continue reading for the key facts every other social sciences student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering other social sciences programs.
Nationwide, other social sciences is a widely-pursued major, with 1,942 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Other Social Sciences Schools ranking analyzes these 104 schools to determine the best overall colleges for other social sciences students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of other social sciences programs later in this article.
Coursework for Other Social Sciences develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations other social sciences graduates commonly enter.
Any major in the Social Science requires interdisciplinary study of many different subjects. This includes psychology, archaeology, anthropology, sociology, political science, and economics. Students should be able to discuss and defend opinions on current events and historical topics. Staying current on social issues and being involved in your community will help advance your career.
Many of these careers involve public speaking of some sort. Work on your communication skills in order to explain complex details clearly and confidently. In addition to excellent communication skills, most majors also require math and science abilities, attention to detail and critical thinking.
The skill set built by a other social sciences program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a other social sciences major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several other social sciences degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 77 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 102 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 1,311 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 379 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 73 |
People currently working in careers related to other social sciences tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 61.2% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 9.6% |
| Master’s degree | 9.5% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 7.2% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 4.6% |
| Some college courses | 3.6% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 3.0% |
| Doctoral degree | 0.7% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.4% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in other social sciences careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
With a degree in Social Science Teacher Education you will be prepared to become a classroom teacher. Depending on what area of the country you live in, teaching can be a very competitive field. Other social science graduates end up in jobs working for the government as community planners, researchers, political analysts or in law enforcement.
Studying other social sciences can lead to numerous career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to other social sciences.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to other social sciences.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Social Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary, All Other | 1,421,275 | 11.1% |
| Managers, All Other | 468,025 | 6.2% |
| Compliance Managers | 310,203 | 13.0% |
| Loss Prevention Managers | 265,210 | 2.2% |
| Regulatory Affairs Managers | 206,415 | 9.9% |
| Wind Energy Operations Managers | 128,884 | 5.2% |
| Wind Energy Development Managers | 107,541 | 10.1% |
| Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers | 105,398 | -1.9% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of other social sciences graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $41,245 |
| 4 years | $53,264 |
| 5 years | $60,633 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for other social sciences graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers other social sciences grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Wind Energy Development Managers | $169,952 |
| Loss Prevention Managers | $165,723 |
| Wind Energy Operations Managers | $122,567 |
| Compliance Managers | $117,178 |
| Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers | $99,321 |
| Managers, All Other | $95,684 |
| Regulatory Affairs Managers | $77,828 |
| Transportation Planners | $50,855 |
With 104 different other social sciences programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased other social sciences school rankings to help you.
Students interested in other social sciences, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Social Sciences, Other | 1,942 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Economics | 45,628 |
| Political Science and Government | 44,942 |
| Sociology | 31,380 |
| Social Sciences, General | 17,510 |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | 13,035 |
| Anthropology | 10,768 |
| Criminology | 10,365 |
| Geography and Cartography | 7,105 |
| Urban Studies/Affairs | 1,343 |
| Sociology and Anthropology | 496 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
