Social Scientist

What a Social Scientist Does

Other types of social scientists include anthropologists, archaeologists, geographers, historians and other professionals who study society, social groups and behaviors, relationships and human development. Depending on your specialty, you may study languages, past or even extinct human cultures and societies, the relationship between humans and the land, and more. If you want to become an anthropologist, you will most likely choose a focus area: biological, physical, sociocultural or linguistics. They study the origin and development of humans. Archaeologists also study past human societies and uncover and study their material belongings and homes to learn more about them. Geographers fall into several categories too, depending on their specialty: economic, physical, cultural, medical, regional, political, and urban and transportation. These social scientists conduct research in offices but also spend time in the field at dig sites or historical sites. They also work at universities as faculty members or research assistants to supplement their income.

How to Become a Social Scientist

You will need to go to graduate school to become a social scientist. Master's or even doctorate degrees are commonly required for research jobs and teaching positions at postsecondary institutions. If you are an assistant, you may be able to get a job with just a bachelor's degree, but it will be hard for you to move up in the field. You can start your career preparation by majoring in liberal arts and taking courses in psychology, political science, history, religion, philosophy, sociology and related courses, depending on what you want to specialize in. Math and statistics courses can also help you with your research. When you go to graduate school, you will need to pick a focus area like anthropology or linguistics. Bachelor's degrees usually take four years to complete, but getting a full doctorate can take up to six years, including your time spent earning a master's degree and completing your dissertation.

Career Outlook for Social Scientists

The career outlook for social scientists is good. For the overall profession, the Bureau of Labor Statistics expects a 22% increase in employment through 2018, which is much faster than the national average. They will be able to find jobs in government, in the management, scientific, and technical consulting services industry, at schools and universities, historical centers, libraries, and other institutions. About 2,400 new jobs will be added to the profession as a whole. Anthropologists and archaeologists will see a 28% increase in jobs, geographers will experience a 26% increase, and historians will have an 11% increase. The median annual wage for anthropologists and archaeologists was $53,910 in 2008; $66,600 for geographers; and $54,530 for historians. The federal government paid some of the highest wages: $88,302 for anthropologists; $70,606 for archaeologists; $79,223 for geographers and $87,730 for historians.