Social Sciences: Ideal for Those Who Want to Help Others
Summary:
Social sciences are the art of studying human behavior to better our world. Learn more about this compelling field, and how to get started in high school.
There are six general social science branches, including:
- Anthropology
- Economics
- Political science
- Sociology
- Social psychology
- Social entrepreneurship
Are you a compassionate teen with a knack for helping others? Do you potentially see yourself professionally studying human behavior to better our world, such as working in psychology or social economics? Then perhaps experiencing social science courses is for you.
In this article, we’ll delve into the definition of social science, touch on jobs that fall under the social science umbrella, and review pre-college online courses relevant to the field.
What is social science?
Social science research helps us understand human behavior, relationships, and societies, and can influence policy decisions, social reforms, and human interactions. Social science research can also help motivate change, such as encouraging people to use less fossil fuels or buy more environmentally friendly cars.
So what types of jobs are available in the social sciences?
Typical careers in social science
There are six general social science branches, including:
- Anthropology
- Economics
- Political science
- Sociology
- Social psychology
- Social entrepreneurship
Typical careers within the six branches of social science branches include working as an advertiser, psychologist, teacher, lawyer, manager, social worker, and economist.
Beyond these specific careers, the subject matter of social science — human behavior, relationships, attitudes, and how these things have changed over time — is useful information for any successful business to possess. The concepts of social science, such as demography, political science, and sociology, are frequently applied in many different professional contexts.
But there’s more -– if you are a motivated high school student seeking to experience social science in high school, a number of renowned universities offer online psychology programs for teens in psychology and social economics.
Online Courses in for Teens in Social Sciences
Top universities across the country support continued education for teens via their online college prep courses. Relevant social sciences courses include:
The University of Notre Dame’s course, Psychology: Understanding the Self and Our World where you’ll answer questions such as: what are the various types of social influences, and how do they affect our reality? How are our individual thoughts, feelings, and behaviors impacted by others? In this course, you will investigate the central and active role of personality and the ‘self’ as it relates to our understanding of the world and evaluate the biased manner in which we make judgments of others and ourselves.
Another psychology option is available from Wake Forest University. In the course, The Mystery And Science Of Human Behavior: An Insider's Guide To Psychology, you’ll separate common sense from true psychological insight. Learn how your brain forms perceptions, and how easily it can be tricked. Delve into the hidden world of unconscious emotion. Find out if memories can be trusted and learn about psychological disorders.
Georgetown University also makes the list of psychology pre-college courses with its course Psychology: How the Brain Influences Behavior. In it, you’ll cover topics like brain injuries, learning disabilities, the psychology of product and web design, and how we process our media environment.
Lastly, Rice University offers a pre-college psychology course for high schoolers: Psychology In Our Everyday Lives. In this course, you’ll review psychology’s basic tools, such as research and statistics, that support insights that are possible when you apply the methods of psychology. You’ll learn to use tools that are vital to success no matter what your future holds, like critical thinking and creativity, and explore various subdisciplines like organizational psychology, cognitive psychology and more.
But, if the intersection of social science and economics interests you (another of the aforementioned social science branches), you’re in luck.
Do you have an entrepreneurial mindset and want to make a difference? Case Western Reserve University offers a course on social entrepreneurship for teens called Social Entrepreneurship: The Business Of Helping Others. If this sounds intriguing, then this online course in social entrepreneurship is a must. Discover how social entrepreneurs get started, build a value proposition, find customers, identify problems, come up with solutions, and create a team.
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