Get interactive, on-demand assistance that’s tailored to your unique goals.
Earn recognized credentials from top companies like Meta, Google, Microsoft, and more.
The social sciences encompass a number of related academic disciplines as diverse as economics, sociology, political science, and anthropology. Through all these different lenses, the social sciences help to explain how society works, providing valuable insights for businesses, politicians, journalists, and anyone else who wants to understand the world.
These insights can be just as important and valuable as any produced by “hard” sciences such as biology, chemistry, or physics, but the objects of study as well as the analytic methods used are different in the social sciences. Unlike the highly quantitative approach typical of laboratory work, social scientists typically rely on a mix of both quantitative and qualitative methods of analysis in studying different aspects of our complex society.
For instance, if you're trying to understand the homelessness crisis, data on trends in homelessness in different cities may provide an important foundation for analysis, but an urban anthropologist would also use field work and case studies to see how these factors interact in the real world. Similarly, an economist might look at GDP, the stock market, and unemployment data to help predict trends in economic growth, but will also factor in more qualitative analyses of elements such as trade politics, technology development, and more.
While every branch of social science uses a different mix of analytic tools, they are all united by a common interest in interpreting the world of human beings.
Having a background in the social sciences means you have tools to analyze our shared world and explain why things happen the way they do -- and potentially predict future trends. This skill set is a powerful foundation for many types of jobs, but the career paths available to you in social science can vary widely depending on your field of study.
Some of the highest-paying jobs in the social sciences are for majors in economics, who often study the way money moves through society to produce goods and create wealth. Economics majors can put their skills to work as financial analysts, responsible for sophisticated financial modeling and industry analysis work used to guide investment decisions for banks, mutual funds, and other financial institutions.
Political science majors may also find high-paying careers as well. Because they are experts on the interactions between politics, policy, and society, they may also find work at investment firms, where the analysis of political risk can be of critical importance. They may also become paralegals or lawyers, using their knowledge of the political processes that create laws to assist in their interpretation. And political science majors may go into a career in government themselves, which can be a rewarding path for many even if pay is typically less than in the private sector.
Indeed, many economics and political science majors, as well as students of other fields like anthropology and sociology, go into the social sciences with career goals that aren't only related to salary. The social sciences are fundamentally about people, and they tend to draw many learners who want to make our world a better place.
For example, someone with a major in anthropology might become a social worker or probation officer, using their insights into human nature and culture to help make positive changes in the lives of individuals. A sociologist might work with a non-profit housing organization, analyzing eviction data to advocate for tenants' rights. In cases like these, the social sciences can provide a foundation for a career filled with purpose.
The field of social science encompasses a diverse range of topics, but Coursera's vast and growing catalog of high-quality courses, Specializations, Guided Projects and degrees can meet your needs no matter what your specific area of interest is.
For example, if you want to study anthropology, you can take courses in child development, cognitive science, or even happiness. Analytically-oriented sociology students might wish to take courses in basic statistics or criminal justice. If your focus is political science, you can learn about government, public policy, human rights, or international law. And if you want a career in economics, you can find courses in macro and microeconomics, financial markets, and business law.
As the world's leading online learning platform, Coursera gives you the opportunity to learn about the social sciences from top-ranked schools like Yale University, the University of California, Irvine, and the University of Amsterdam. You can get the same high-quality education as on-campus students with the flexibility and lower cost offered by online learning.
Social sciences courses on Coursera explore a wide range of disciplines and provide skills applicable in various contexts:
Social sciences courses on Coursera cater to learners at various stages of their educational or professional journey:
Coursera, in collaboration with respected educational institutions, provides various educational products related to social sciences:
These educational offerings are intended to help you expand your knowledge and may enhance your ability to pursue careers in the field of social sciences.
Studying social sciences courses can open up a variety of career paths in diverse sectors:
Online Social Sciences courses offer a convenient and flexible way to enhance your existing knowledge or learn new Social Sciences skills. With a wide range of Social Sciences classes, you can conveniently learn at your own pace to advance your Social Sciences career.
When looking to enhance your workforce's skills in Social Sciences, it's crucial to select a course that aligns with their current abilities and learning objectives. Our Skills Dashboard is an invaluable tool for identifying skill gaps and choosing the most appropriate course for effective upskilling. For a comprehensive understanding of how our courses can benefit your employees, explore the enterprise solutions we offer. Discover more about our tailored programs at Coursera for Business here.
Learning program | Description |
---|---|
Guided Project | Learn a job-relevant skill that you can use today in under 2 hours through an interactive experience guided by a subject matter expert. Access everything you need right in your browser and complete your project confidently with step-by-step instructions. |
Project | Learn a new tool or skill in an interactive, hands-on environment. |
Course | Take courses from the world's best instructors and universities. Courses include recorded auto-graded and peer-reviewed assignments, video lectures, and community discussion forums. When you complete a course, you’ll be eligible to receive a shareable electronic Course Certificate for a small fee. |
Specialization | Enroll in a Specialization to master a specific career skill. You’ll complete a series of rigorous courses, tackle hands-on projects, and earn a Specialization Certificate to share with your professional network and potential employers. |
Professional Certificate | Whether you’re looking to start a new career or change your current one, Professional Certificates on Coursera help you become job ready. Learn at your own pace from top companies and universities, apply your new skills to hands-on projects that showcase your expertise to potential employers, and earn a career credential to kickstart your new career. |
MasterTrack® Certificate | With MasterTrack® Certificates, portions of Master’s programs have been split into online modules, so you can earn a high quality university-issued career credential at a breakthrough price in a flexible, interactive format. Benefit from a deeply engaging learning experience with real-world projects and live, expert instruction. If you are accepted to the full Master's program, your MasterTrack coursework counts towards your degree. |
Degree | Transform your resume with a degree from a top university for a breakthrough price. Our modular degree learning experience gives you the ability to study online anytime and earn credit as you complete your course assignments. You'll receive the same credential as students who attend class on campus. Coursera degrees cost much less than comparable on-campus programs. |
These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in or filling in forms. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work.
These cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. They are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising.
These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. If you do not allow these cookies we will not know when you have visited our site, and will not be able to monitor its performance.
These cookies enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalization. They may be set by us or by third party providers whose services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies then some or all of these services may not function properly.
Social Sciences