Social Sciences Bachelor's Degree

Get Ready to Make an Impact

Interested in the forces that shape human behavior and give rise to social norms and cultural patterns? Are you fascinated by how we interact, communicate, and influence the world? Perhaps you are intrigued by political science and the law.

Then a BS in social science just might be the degree for you. Explore interests and lay the foundation for a productive career fighting for social justice, alleviating income equality, improving government services, fighting crime, and improving outcomes. Plus, the degree is flexible enough to allow you to pursue interests in other areas like business, communications, or the arts.

Prepare to Make a Difference

Before you can change the world, you must understand it. A degree in social science cultivates the complex knowledge and skills needed for graduates to foster a secure and healthy future for all. Issues around social justice and economic disparity offer new challenges and new opportunities as governments, non-profits, businesses, and the public look for solutions.

With a degree in social science, you will gain the tools needed to study the causes of societal problems. You’ll better understand and be equipped to respond to complicated issues and lead the creation of a better future. And you can expand your knowledge and focus on where you want to make your impact by adding a minor, certificate, or even a second major, from any department on campus to complement your degree.

Tailor a portion of your degree to a disciplinary area of interest–such as sociology, political science, anthropology, or history–while also providing broad exposure to the social sciences. Choose courses that fit your interests: social science research methods, introductory disciplinary courses, and advanced disciplinary courses. The method courses include ethnography, demographics, survey methodology, social statistics, graphical information systems (GIS), and historical methods; skills you can apply in most any career.

History Concentration

The History Concentration is ideal for students interested in understanding the roots of today’s most pressing social, environmental, and political challenges. This concentration emphasizes the relevance of historical study to contemporary issues such as inequality, conflict, globalization, and environmental change. Through hands-on experiences—including internships, immersive research, and capstone projects—students gain valuable technical and communication skills while collaborating with community partners like the MTU Archives, the Carnegie Museum of the Keweenaw, and the Finnish American Heritage Center. This concentration blends academic depth with real-world application, preparing students for a range of careers and graduate study.

Policy, Law, and Society Concentration

Policy, Law, and Society is tailored to students interested in law school or exploring policy-related careers and interdisciplinary research. This concentration provides a foundation in legal topics with classes in government and policy issues, including American government, environmental policy, and international law. A broad liberal arts curriculum offers excellent preparation for law school. While more focused, this concentration is still adaptable to your personal interests and needs.

A Masters Degree in Your Plans?

Earn an Accelerated MS degree in Industrial Heritage and Archaeology. You can do it in just one additional year at Michigan Tech with your BS in Social Sciences.

Tomorrow Needs Social Science Experts

Social scientists are essential to shaping a better tomorrow by understanding the intricacies of human decision-making and behavior. Their insights into consumer behavior and public opinion assist in creating better products and services, laws, government programs, and public policy. They are well-prepared to help overcome the societal challenges posed by economic disparity, social injustice, political unrest, and affordable healthcare, to name a few.

Be Career Ready

Career Opportunities for Social Science Majors

Today, more than ever, companies and organizations seek to employ well-rounded individuals with a broad array of skills. Appropriately equipped, you'll succeed in graduate school, law school, management, social work, the ministry, non-profits, government administration, and a myriad of professions—so you can set your sights high and follow your passions. Career opportunities include, but are not limited to:

• Attorney
• Business Owner
• Campaign Manager
• Clergy or Chaplain
• Compliance Manager
• Government Relations
• Hazard Communications Specialist
• Human Resources Specialist/Manager
• Intelligence Analyst
• Market Researcher
• Military Officer
• Police Officer
• Political Consultant
• Student Affairs Coordinator
• Social Worker
• Teacher
• Writer

Companies Hiring Social Science Majors Majors

These are just some of the organizations hiring social science majors:

• ACCEL Schools
• Civis Analytics
• Dow Chemical
• Easter Seals
• EPIC Health Systems
• Environmental Protection Agency
• Food and Drug Administration
• Girl Scouts of Southeastern Michigan
• Internal Revenue Service
• Northwestern Mutual
• Pinkerton
• State of Michigan

• Jobs and Careers
• Coops and Internships