Social Science FAQs

Yes, at this time most social science courses can be taken online. 

Anywhere! The social science degree at Western will give you a great beginning on any major associated with a social science degree in the nation. 

 To put it shortly, social workers help individuals overcome obstacles and improve their quality of life. Social work can be tough at times, but it is absolutely vital for a community’s well-being. After all, social workers have a direct influence in shaping people’s lives for the better. Workers in this field interact with people from all walks of life, be it the homeless, sick, troubled, or even students. They help connect or create invaluable resources for individuals in need of assistance. For instance, if a student is having trouble, their social worker will help them find a tutor and/or learning disability expert. Many of these people, if not most, would not be able to obtain these vital resources on their own.

According to the American Sociological Association, Sociology is a social science and part of the national science community. It is the scientific study of social aggregations, the institutions and individual/group interactions that make up society, the behavior of people as social beings, and the impact of society on the individual. Being vast in scope, the study of Sociology ranges from the analysis of brief contacts between a few anonymous individuals to global social processes. This discipline is unique from most other areas of study because everyone in any field or occupation can apply the principles of Sociology to their personal life, education, and career.

What can you do with a Sociology degree?

Degrees in Sociology offer graduates a wide range of possible career opportunities. For example, they may be employed as a news reporter, a researcher, as a public or human relations specialist, an instructor/professor at a college or university, a case manager for various service programs, an addiction counselor for victims of substance abuse, a community developer, labor unions representative, a human/public relations specialist, a librarian, an academic mentor (such as through AmeriCorps), a paralegal or lawyer, an immigration services specialist, or hold a position in marketing/advertising development. More career suggestions are located in the table below. Students intending to work in Sociology will need at least an associates degree. 

While content knowledge is critical the social sciences, faculty at Western also believe in helping students develop real world skills that will help them be successful is their future careers. In the Social Science Department, students will develop their writing and speaking ability, conduct quality research, collect and analyze data, develop analytical and problem-solving abilities, advance critical thinking abilities, and learn the skills necessary to be a leader in their chosen career.

Social science students will also learn interpersonal skills to operate within appropriate cultural contexts while simultaneously developing their computer literacy skills. These are functional skills and can be transferred from one setting to another. Employers seek graduates who can work on task forces and self-managed task teams, but are also capable of initiating ideas and pursuing a project independently; therefore, the social science faculty at Western strive to ensure students in the program are prepared to enter and succeed in the workforce

An associates degree in social science is a great way to get your foot in the door and gain valuable real-world experience, before furthering education for a bachelor’s or master’s in the field of Social Work. Although an associate’s degree does not enable students to pursue jobs as a social worker or benefit from the same amount of employment flexibility offered by an advanced college degree, there are still many open doors for entry-level positions in human services.

 What can I do with a BSW (Bachelors in Social Work) degree? 

Social work is a profession dedicated to helping people meet their needs and improve their lives. Social work offers a diverse selection of job opportunities. Social workers work will people of all ages, from young children to the elderly and everyone in between. Social workers work for both public and private companies as well as both large and small companies. Social workers work directly with the people who need their help and with their colleagues to improve the social work system and methods in this country. Social workers generally fall into one of four categories: child and family social workers, school social workers, Healthcare social workers, and mental health and substance abuse social workers.