Are you interested in the behaviours and interactions of people and society? Do you ever wonder why these behaviours and interactions take place? A graduate social sciences course could be for you. The social sciences covers a wide range of subject areas such as; Media Studies, International Politics, Psychometrics, Refugee Studies, Organisational Behaviour, Criminology, Communications and Health Economics to name a few. Studying a graduate course in the social sciences allows you to cover a plethora of contemporary issues and examine cutting-edge research that commonly influences policies on a number of national and international levels.

What Can I Study?

Social Sciences cover a wide variety of academic disciplines that examine the human aspects and interaction of the world and they can differ from similar disciplines such as those within the humanities by emphasising the use of scientific method and rigorous standards of evidence in the study of humanity, including quantitative and qualitative methods. Social Sciences may cover, but is not limited to, the following range of subject areas: Anthropology, Communication, Criminology, Economics, Education, Linguistics, Media, Politics, Psychology, Social Policy and Sociology.

These subjects are often again broken down into sub-categories when taught at a graduate level. Below are some examples of graduate courses in the social sciences under specific subject areas:

Economics-based Programs:

International Business Economics
Financial Economics
Economic evaluation and Healthcare

Sociology Courses:

Refugee Studies
Race and Ethnicity
Social research Methods
Transitional Media

Psychology-based Programs:

Social Psychology
Organisational behaviour
Psychometrics
Health Psychology

Politics-based Courses:

International Politics
Politics and Human Rights
Political Communication

Media-based Courses:

Media and Communications
Trans-national Media
Media and Human Rights

As you can see, the choices available to you at graduate level in the social sciences are many and varied. Although these options are wide-ranging, the topics and issues studied within the subjects are often quite explicit and focused and relate directly to current real world social situations.

What Do I Need?

To gain admission onto a graduate social sciences course you will normally have completed a good first degree with honours (or international equivalent) in a social sciences discipline, however other relevant subjects may be considered or relevant work experience within the Social Sciences may also be acceptable.

Career Options

Once you have completed your graduate social sciences course the career options you have will depend largely on the specialist area of study you undertook. If you choose to study a graduate program in a sociology-based subject then you have the opportunity of working as a specialist in a variety of local, national and international settings including non-governmental and not-for-profit organisations, international development agencies, local and national government, academic and social research organisations, trades unions, community based organisations and campaign groups. If you study an Economics-based graduate course then you can find opportunities as in economic and management consultancy, multinationals, government agencies and in business and finance. For those of you who want to study a Psychology-based graduate program, you can find opportunities within Psychology research, become a Chartered Psychologists in a number of disciplines or go on to become an academic in your field.

As you can see, graduate social sciences courses encompass numerous avenues of study and cover a wide range of issues that relate to humanity; the programs are extremely diverse in flavour and all relate to the examination of Human Behaviour. Whatever area you want to specialise in, you will find a graduate program to suit you.