Social sciences

From anthropology and archaeology to economics and geography, to politics, sociology, and criminology, the social sciences cover a spectrum of fields concerned with human societies and the relationships of the individuals within them.

There are fields of study concerned with societies of the past and present and with our interactions and relationships with one another in families, groups, and cultures. There are programs that focus on the human factors and behaviors that lead to crime, the global economy and how it works, and the relationship between people and the land and the spaces in which we live and work. Other programs examine the theory and practice of government and politics, international relations, the development of cities, and the social structure and characteristics of rural areas. Without question, the social sciences is as popular a discipline as it is diverse.

With so many categories within social sciences programs, it can be a bit daunting when trying to decide which best fits your interests or career aspirations. To help you decipher the diversity, we're breaking down 10 popular options below:

• Social Science

  Satisfaction:

  High

  Avg Grad Salary:

  $57k

  Social Science

• Anthropology

  Satisfaction:

  High

  Avg Grad Salary:

  $51k

  Anthropology

• Archaeology

  Satisfaction:

  N/A

  Avg Grad Salary:

  $62k

  Archaeology

• Criminology

  Satisfaction:

  High

  Avg Grad Salary:

  $51k

  Criminology

• Economics

  Satisfaction:

  High

  Avg Grad Salary:

  $103k

  Economics

• Geography

  Satisfaction:

  High

  Avg Grad Salary:

  $66k

  Geography

• International Relations

  Satisfaction:

  High

  Avg Grad Salary:

  $71k

  International Relations

• Political Science

  Satisfaction:

  High

  Avg Grad Salary:

  $74k

  Political Science

• Sociology

  Satisfaction:

  High

  Avg Grad Salary:

  $55k

  Sociology

• Urban Studies

  Satisfaction:

  N/A

  Avg Grad Salary:

  $61k

  Urban Studies