Students interested in pursuing a degree in the social sciences have wide and varied career choices upon completion of their degree. A bachelor’s degree in social science has many options when it comes to disciplines that fall under this broad degree program. Students can pursue a degree in statistics, research methods, sociology, basic economics, history, professional communication, and philosophy, to name a few. The options are numerous and a bachelor of social science degree can position graduates for many career options. Like many degree programs, students who pursue a bachelor’s degree in social science full time can often complete their degree in four years. Part-time students often complete their bachelor’s degrees within a six-year period of time. However, some schools provide students with the option to take additional courses that allow them to complete their degree in a shorter period of time. Some schools also provide students with the opportunity to take accelerated courses during both summer and winter terms.
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League research university established in 1636. It was named after John Harvard, a clergyman and its first benefactor. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. It’s also one of the most distinguished worldwide. Students interested in pursuing a degree in social science can pursue their bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate degrees in social science. Harvard is within the top one percent of universities for social science degrees and ranks number one for social science degrees in Massachusetts.
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Brown University
Brown University is a large private Ivy League research university Founded in 1764. It was originally founded as a College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and the Providence Plantations. Students interested in pursuing a degree in social science have both undergraduate and postgraduate degree options. Brown students can earn a Bachelor’s, Master’s, and a Doctorate Degree in Social Sciences. Brown falls in the top five percent of the US when it comes to degrees in the social sciences and is ranked #1 in Rhode Island.
School Overview
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private Ivy League research university founded in 1740. It’s one of the nine colonial colleges chartered before the U.S. Declaration of Independence. Students interested in pursuing a degree in social science can pursue advanced degrees as well as their bachelor’s. The University of Pennsylvania offers a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Sciences, a Master’s Degree in Social Sciences, and a Doctorate Degree in Social Sciences. UPenn graduated over 482 students with a degree in the social sciences between 2018 and 2019.
School Overview
Columbia University in the City of New York
Columbia University is a large private Ivy League research university founded in 1754 on the grounds of Trinity Church in Manhattan. Its the oldest institution of higher learning in New York and the fifth oldest in the United States. Students interested in pursuing a social science degree have post-graduate options as well. Columbia offers a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Sciences, a Master’s Degree in Social Sciences, and a Doctorate Degree in Social Sciences. Columbia is in the top 1% of the US for social sciences and ranked 31 in New York.
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Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a large private research university founded in 1851. Northwestern University is also a founding member of the Big Ten Conference. Northwestern University has a history rich in its focus on research output, interdisciplinary education, and research. Students seeking a degree in social sciences have both undergraduate and postgraduate degree options. Northwestern University is within the top five percent of universities in the US for social sciences and ranks #2 in the state of Illinois.
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Yale University
Yale is a large private not-for-profit school with an impressive reputation. Students interested in pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Sciences have three-degree options to choose from; Bachelors degree in Social Science, Master’s Degree in Social Sciences, Doctorate Degree in Social Sciences. Students can advance their social science degrees if they wish to continue their studies beyond their bachelor’s degree. Yale is ranked in the top one percent by College Factual’s when it comes to social sciences. It’s also ranked #1 in Connecticut
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University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a large private research university Founded in 1890 with the main campus is located in Chicago’s Hyde Park neighborhood. UChicago has about 998 undergraduates enrolled in the social sciences. Students interested in pursuing a social science degree from UChicago can earn their bachelor’s degree and go on to pursue advanced degrees that include a Master’s Degree in Social Sciences and a Doctorate Degree in Social Sciences. UChicago ranks in the 1% of the US for social sciences and is also ranked #1 in Illinois.
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Stanford University
Stanford University is a large private research university founded in 1885 by Leland and Jane Stanford. The university was established in memory of Leland Stanford Jr., their child who had died from typhoid fever. Students hoping to pursue a social science degree can earn their bachelor’s and return to pursue their master’s and doctorate degrees as well. Stanford ranks #2 in California for social science degrees and falls within the top five percent in the US.
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Claremont McKenna College
Claremont McKenna College is a private liberal arts college that’s part of the Claremont Colleges consortium. Students intent on pursuing a social science degree can rest assured that there are others that had this goal and were able to bring it to fruition. Despite Claremont’s small student body population, the school has over 182 social science graduates annually. In fact, Claremont has been at the top of the list by College Factual’s Best Schools for social sciences.
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New York University
New York University is a large private research university chartered in 1831 by the New York State Legislature. NYU was founded by a group of New Yorkers headed by Albert Gallatin who was the Secretary of the Treasury at the time. Students planning on pursuing a degree in social science have both undergraduate and postgraduate options. Students can pursue their Bachelor’s Degree in Social Sciences, Master’s Degree in Social Sciences, and their Doctorate Degree in Social Sciences. NYU is ranked in the top five percent in the US for social science degrees. It’s also ranked #2 in New York.
School Overview
There are schools that stand out amongst the others as the best of the best when it comes to earning a degree in social science. Most schools provide opportunities for students to earn their bachelor’s degrees and go on to pursue advanced degrees like a master’s degree and a doctorate degree. Many of the schools listed fall within the top five percent of schools when it comes to learning a degree in the social sciences. In addition, many have graduation rates that are well beyond eighty and ninety percent. Because a degree in social science encompasses so many disciplines, determining which school and degree program is best, is largely dependent on the discipline you’d like to pursue, in addition to other practical matters like cost. Students should also look at a school’s overall graduation rate in addition to the number of social science students that complete their degrees.
