Social Sciences

Discover Internships Associated with the Social Sciences

A group of high school students engaged in a lively discussion in a classroom setting. Two students are talking closely, with one gesturing with her hands while the other listens and writes in a notebook.

Summary:

Social sciences, or the study of human behavior, is a terrific launchpad for many careers. Online prep courses and internships are both great ways to get your foot in the door.

Key Points:

  • Social science revolves around human behavior, relationships, attitudes, and how things evolve. 
  • Internships are a wonderful way to get your foot in the door and experience real-life social science jobs.
  • Internships in relevant fields like psychology, teacher, behavioral therapist, and policing are a great addition to a resume.
  • Online prep courses help high school students get a head start.

Do you have interest in potentially working in the field of social sciences someday, where questions spark curiosity and every discovery unlocks a deeper understanding of humanity? 

Social science revolves around human behavior, relationships, attitudes, and how things evolve. It is greatly useful for any successful business person. Social science concepts like demography, political science, and sociology are frequently applied in many different business contexts. For example, marketing professionals often use human behavior theories to efficiently market to consumers.

Social science covers a broad variety of subjects, including, psychology, social justice and responsibility, anthropology, social work, and geography. Studying a social science subject gives you valuable insights into a whole range of interesting careers, like:

  • Teacher
  • Social worker
  • Nonprofit manager
  • Psychologist
  • Counselor or behavioral therapist
  • Lawyer or judge
  • Social entrepreneur
  • Youth worker
  • Police officer

Perhaps you’re already studying social sciences in college, and curious about internships in the field? 


Internships for social sciences majors

Undoubtedly, most internships typically involve administrative duties and general team support. But they are incredibly important steps to learning the fundamentals of any profession. 

With the above-mentioned list of professions in the social sciences, here is a list of relevant internships to explore: 

Teacher: Teacher internships — can be obtained via public or private schools — can help interns gain experience in teaching and administration, and can be a key part of an education major's training. In addition, interns can opt to participate in a “Breakthrough Collaborative,” where high school and college students can plan and teach courses to small groups of students in underserved areas.

Social worker: Internships in this category assist in attending, and sometimes leading, budget and case meetings with other members of staff and supervisors. Plus, interns will assist in offering guidance and support directly to young children and young adults in need.

Psychology: A psychology internship allows students to work with adults and children and learn the fundamentals of psychology practice, often within a hospital or psychiatric work environment. Interns learn how to assist patients with a diverse range of mental health issues, like addiction and substance abuse, and may also gain experience in group facilitation work. 

Law: A law internship is a type of legal work experience that gives interns and recent graduates the opportunity to gain practical skills and work experience in the legal field. Participation may include research, document drafting, administrative duties, attending trials, and handling case files.

Social entrepreneurship: Social entrepreneurs are one type of entrepreneur who works to improve social outcomes for individuals, either locally or across the globe. Internships in this area will likely center on administrative duties, meeting participation, brainstorming, and general team support. 

Youth worker: As the name suggests, youth workers help young people with their personal, social, and educational development in an informal setting. Interns in this profession assist with general office duties, while also participating in sessions to improve specific outcomes. 

Police: A police internship involves working alongside trained police officers to gain practical experience in law enforcement. Interns may learn about police procedures and techniques, while assisting with data entry and monitoring, and enforcing campus rules and traffic laws.

While all these internships may sound intriguing, perhaps you are a student eager to get a head start before you even step onto a college campus. As a high school student, gaining traction in the social sciences with online social sciences college prep for high school students is a great way to start. 

Pre-college online courses in the social sciences

As mentioned, studying the social sciences is a wonderful launch pad to any career journey, as it helps you better understand how people think and operate. With this in mind, there are a wide variety of relevant online prep courses offered by leading universities.  

Prelum, Powered by Kaplan, is proud to offer a variety of online college prep psychology courses and programs from top-notch universities. These include studying psychology with Wake Forest University, the University of Notre Dame, Northwestern University, Georgetown University, Rice University, and William & Mary. Each course is different, so take a moment to review each unique course offering.

Georgetown also offers a number of social science-related courses, but one stand-out option delves into the subject of international relations. In International Relations: How the World Works, you’ll discover how relevant this subject is in today’s society. Study the structure of the international system, learn how human rights have become a guiding force, and apply the tools of international relations to a simulated crisis.

In Rice University's course, Global Affairs: Exploring Changing Political Systems, you’ll learn to think critically about the differences between democracies, semi-democracies, and authoritarian regimes. Plus, you'll explore the decline of democracies over the past few decades, using data on each country’s economic, cultural, and political science profiles. 

Regardless of whether your career path is already set in place, or you’re a high school student looking to learn more about the social sciences, internships and online pre-college programs are a great addition to your resume. Learn more here.

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