By Rowan Glass
As those of us with social science degrees are used to hearing, a common misconception about our disciplines is that while they may be interesting, they’re “not employable” or “won’t make you any money.” Others say that a social science degree is only useful for entering academia, producing yet more unemployable social science graduates. If you’re tired of hearing these notions from friends, family, or employers, the good news is that they’re not true!
While it’s true that some social sciences do not offer as many quick and easy pathways to high-paying careers as, say, a STEM degree might, these generalizations overlook the wide array of career fields open to people with such degrees. In fact, more social scientists are working outside academia than within it. That’s because the social sciences train people to study, analyze, and understand societies, individuals, and cultures by researching and interpreting their inner workings and applying this knowledge to address specific social problems. And since we are all deeply embedded in social systems, that kind of knowledge is always in demand, as long as you know how to apply it.
An applied sociologist might study the roots of socioeconomic inequalities to craft policy to equalize opportunities. An applied anthropologist might conduct ethnography with a target demographic of consumers to increase sales for a certain product or service. An applied economist might research large-scale market trends to craft recommendations for sustainable development. All these applications and many more demonstrate the diverse needs of non-academic institutions—from businesses to NGOs to governments and school systems—for skilled, knowledgeable, and passionate social scientists across numerous disciplines. In this article, I’ll share some ideas for how to apply a social science degree outside of academia.
Business and industry
Business is one of the backbones of the economy in any society, and this is one of the sectors where social scientists of different backgrounds are in high demand. Social scientists can work in various industries, employing both “soft” and “hard” skills to benefit their employers. On the “soft” side, for example, applied anthropologists often work in user experience (UX), employing ethnographic skills to understand what consumers need and want from a given product or service. On the “hard” side, a quantitative sociologist with data management skills could find work as a project manager or data science consultant. Other common business roles for people with social science backgrounds include management, HR, and research and development.
In a business world increasingly driven by data, quantitative social science skills are in particularly high demand. According to British social scientist Sharon Witherspoon, social scientists who are skilled in numbers and data analysis can not only make good use of data but also ask smart questions about it. As this point makes clear, social science skills don’t just end with the data—they extend to an understanding of what the data means and how businesses can leverage it to their benefit.
NGOs and nonprofits
After the business world, the NGO and nonprofit sector is another major domain where social scientists can apply their skills. NGOs, or non-governmental organizations, are generally not-for-profit, voluntary, impact-driven organizations unaffiliated with any government institution. Nonprofit organizations, also called NPOs, are organizations of a similar type, though often smaller in scope than NGOs. An additional difference is that many NGOs work internationally, while nonprofits are usually domestic organizations. Many NGOs are nonprofits, but most nonprofits are not NGOs.
Where do social scientists fit in? Both NGOs and nonprofits generally work on social issues, meaning that the knowledge and expertise of trained social scientists are often an asset to their missions. For instance, I used my anthropological background to help an NGO in Senegal design curricula for primary and secondary schools throughout the country, employing a culturally responsive pedagogical framework to bridge educational divides between different ethnic groups. The potential applications of social science skills to the work of NGOs are as diverse as NGOs themselves, meaning that many such organizations include in their staff anthropologists, sociologists, economists, psychologists, linguists, geographers, political scientists, historians, and more.
Government and policy
Some social scientists also find work in government organizations and related policy institutes, also known as think tanks—some of which are technically NGOs, while others are associated with government agencies. Since many government organizations focus on social issues, they draw on the expertise of social scientists to draft policy, conduct research, develop implementation plans, or work directly with target communities. For example, a colleague of mine with a background in anthropology works for the Colombian government as a census reporter in Indigenous communities around the country, as well as a researcher on the Colombian peace process—an indication of the diverse uses to which a social science degree can be put in government work.
Although most government-employed social scientists work for governments at the national or regional level, some work in international government organizations, such as the United Nations or the European Union. Jobs of this sort can be pathways to long-term careers in politics, international affairs, diplomacy, international development, and other exciting professional pathways.
Education and pedagogy
Another area of high demand for social scientists is education, which offers employment opportunities in primary, secondary, and tertiary education. Remember that favorite history or sociology teacher in high school? There’s a good chance they studied those subjects in-depth at the university level before sharing their knowledge as an educator. Many teachers hold bachelor’s degrees in a social science discipline, allowing them to share their expertise in the education system in subjects such as history, social studies, sociology, psychology, or language studies. If you dream of becoming a teacher, you can do the same!
Media and publishing
Finally, one more field open to social scientists of all stripes is media and publishing, both in written and audiovisual formats. Because the social sciences tend to emphasize the development of strong writing skills, many social scientists turn to popular writing to communicate their ideas to a wider audience. Some journalists, writers, and media content producers got their start with a social science degree, focusing their work on relevant topics. For instance, I’ve employed my anthropology background to become a freelance journalist writing and publishing about topics I researched during my degree, including Indigenous rights, expressive culture, and environmentalism. Journalism is full of people with similar stories.
In today’s increasingly visual world, it’s not just textual media that social scientists can get a foothold in; audiovisual media is another professional field full of opportunities. Some social scientists become filmmakers, researchers, or consultants on audiovisual projects such as films, TV programs, and documentaries. It’s all about recognizing your unique skill set as a social scientist and leveraging it to benefit your colleagues and professional projects.
Ready to apply your social science degree in a new way? You can start by searching for fellowships to gain new skills and experience on your way to becoming a professional social scientist. Check out ProFellow’s extensive funding database for all the best opportunities!
Rowan Glass is an anthropologist, multimedia journalist, writer, and filmmaker from Oregon. His research, reporting, and travels have taken him from Indigenous territories in Colombia and Mexico to primary schools in Senegal, Kurdish restaurants in Greece, and music festivals in Morocco. In all his work, Rowan endeavors to help tell engaging stories about underreported people and places through incisive research and creative endeavors. Whether at a keyboard or behind a camera, at home or in the field, Rowan is always looking for the next chance to apply his skills to both creative and socially impactful ends. Rowan holds a BA in cultural anthropology from the University of Oregon and is currently applying to graduate programs in anthropology.
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