by our College Data Analytics TeamGeneral Social Sciences was the 44th most popular major in the 2020-2021 school year. Colleges in the United States reported awarding 18,762 degrees in this year alone. This 780 less than the prior year, a decrease of 4.2%.
Our 2023 Best General Social Sciences Schools ranking analyzes 150 of these schools to determine the best overall colleges for general social sciences students. Explore this or one of our many other custom general social sciences rankings further below.
When studying General Social Sciences, you’ll learn that understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents will help you be successful in a wide range of jobs. Required skills include giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times and using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
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. Specific general social sciences careers may require a certain level of degree attainment or additional certifications beyond that.
There are various different levels of general social sciences degrees. You can get anything from a in general social sciences to the highest general social sciences degree, a . The type of general social sciences degree you choose will determine how long it takes to get your diploma.
| 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 general social sciences, with approximately 55.2% of workers getting one. Find out other typical degree levels for general social sciences workers below.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 56.0% |
| Master’s Degree | 30.8% |
| Post-Baccalaureate Certificate | 3.4% |
| Some College Courses | 2.4% |
| Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 1.8% |
Most workers in general social sciences have at least a bachelor's degree. The chart below shows what degree level those who work in general social sciences have obtained.
The education level required is different depending on the general social sciences career you are seeking.
Want a job when you graduate with your general social sciences degree? General Social Sciences careers are expected to grow 7.7% 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% |
| Social Scientists | 44,900 | 6.7% |
| Social Science Research Assistants | 35,500 | 4.4% |
| Social Sciences Professors | 16,800 | 9.8% |
As you might expect, salaries for general 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 general social sciences grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Managers | $115,590 |
| Social Sciences Professors | $87,950 |
| Social Scientists | $85,750 |
| High School Teachers | $64,340 |
| Social Science Research Assistants | $50,420 |
With over 619 different general 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 general social sciences school rankings to help you with this.
One of 2 majors within the General Social Sciences area of study, General Social Sciences has other similar majors worth exploring.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Research Methodology & Quantitative Methods | 235 |
Image Credit: By Manfred Werner (Tsui) under License More about our data sources and methodologies.
