When psychology graduate Jonathan Haidt wrote “The Anxious Generation,” he sounded a wake-up call about how smartphones and social media have transformed childhood and adolescence. Michelle Obama used her sociology degree to get into one of the country’s best law schools, before going on to hold one of the most influential positions as US First Lady.
Their stories remind us of the power of a social science degree. It opens doors to a wide variety of career paths. It prepares you for to lead, influence, and perhaps most important of all, drive meaningful change, whether that’s in academia, industry, or beyond. This is why aspiring changemakers choose programmes that focus less on just theory, and more on finessing their purpose-driven, impact-ready talent.
If that’s what you’re after, these universities are home to social science programmes that deliver:
The College of Social and Applied Human Sciences is made up of award-winning researchers. Source: University of Guelph/Facebook
University of Guelph
Studying the social sciences at one of Canada’s top comprehensive universities means you are learning from an institution that is a global leader in social justice education, policy impact in societal and environmental innovation, and transformative global change.
Study at the University of Guelph and you’ll get to work with award-winning, highly-funded researchers, the kind that secure an extraordinary array of government-funded awards in their pursuit of addressing some of the most pressing issues of our time, from food insecurity and gender-based violence to Indigenous reconciliation and environmental justice. These are academics, industry leaders, and policy influencers who also serve as tireless changemakers and educators training the next generation of changemakers.
Join their curiosity that drives exploration of the forces shaping our Society, Environment and Global Change. Together, you will find solutions to issues impacting our planet and tackle challenges, while crafting creative ways to improve our interactions both with the environment and one another. Look to some of the social science majors such as Anthropology, Sociology, International Development Studies, Geography and Environmental Governance.
Endless possibilities wait for you at the University of Guelph. If you are curious about Human Health, Well-being and Behaviour, you can explore the scientific and social factors that shape our lives. Or perhaps your interests go further, into the systems that shape society. If so, look to areas such as Social Justice, Law and Public Policy to discover how to redefine your future and advocate for change that builds safer, stronger communities.
Whichever path you choose, expect your programme to be immersed in experiences beyond the classroom. Through hands-on learning in fieldwork, research, labs, and projects—combined with co-op placements, internships, and volunteer opportunities—you’ll gain practical, real-world experience that will launch your career.
The School of Social Sciences houses over a third of Rice University undergraduates. Source: Rice University School of Social Sciences/Facebook
Rice University
Rice University‘s School of Social Sciences is committed to its mission to tackle society’s greatest challenges with bold ideas, thus building a better life for all. Housing the largest number of undergraduates within the university, it is only fitting that the school offers more than 10 majors across seven departments. From Anthropology and Cognitive Sciences to Mathematical Economic Analysis and Sport Management, this is a place to major in and get proficient in your interests.
For undergraduates who want to have an early start on research work, they can participate in STaRT@Rice, an innovative programme that provides an overall view of the research process and offers professional development opportunities. This dedicated workshop will train you how to ask better questions about research processes and develop important professional skills, all before you actually work in a laboratory.
At the graduate level, the school offers five professional master’s degrees. They are Energy Economics, Human-Computer Interaction and Human Factors, Industrial-Organisational Psychology, Social Policy Evaluation, and Global Affairs – the last is a collaborative programme with the university’s own Baker Institute for Public Policy. The school also offers PhD programmes for those who want to research at the highest level and contribute new knowledge to the field.
Besides the many majors to choose from, another reason why this school is a top choice for social science students is its faculty. They are frequent winners of teaching awards and creators of a fascinating learning environment that engages you to think outside the box.
The College of Social Sciences encourages debate in class, fostering intellectual curiosity among students. Source: SOAS University of London/Facebook
SOAS University of London
The world is facing urgent economic and social challenges, and SOAS University of London is tackling these issues from a Global South perspective. At its College of Social Sciences, you will join a community seeking to amplify context specific and historically grounded analysis on various topics, ranging from governance, migration, illicit economies, social reproduction, the world of work, sustainability, macroeconomic resilience, structural transformation, and fintech. The focus is on the regions of the Middle East, Africa, and Asia without losing sight of global interdependencies.
Dr. Nikita Simpson, a reader in Anthropology, had stationed herself within a Gaddi family and interviewed women across different caste groups to explore the case of alienation. The SOAS Food Studies Centre is examining how the digitalisation of food assistance in Sudan might affect access to food for marginalised populations, while Dr. Ryan Joseph O’Byrne, lecturer, is studying the coping strategies and resilience of South Sudanese refugees in Uganda.
With world-leading faculty and researchers like these, expect classes to be filled with vibrant debates and intellectual curiosity. Guiding you every step of the way are the same key advisors to government, business or the third sector. In classrooms, your professors and instructors bring their expertise to nurture you into the next generation of SOAS leaders.
There are three departments and a school within this college. They include the Department of Development Studies, the Department of Economics, the Department of Politics and International Studies, and the School of Finance and Management.
*Some of the institutions featured in this article are commercial partners of Study International
