Social Science

Career potential

Are you interested in many different subjects? Still trying to narrow down your options and decide which career path is right for you? A bachelor’s degree from the University of North Texas with a major in social science will provide you with an interdisciplinary approach to education can open the door to a wide variety of career possibilities.

Social science explores all aspects of human society, including anthropology, archeology, communication and cultural studies, demography, economics, history, human geography, linguistics, media studies, political science, psychology, and social work. You will gain a better understanding of diverse cultures, societal needs and individual responsibilities that will help you develop critical thinking skills within the vast context of social and human development.

By choosing social science as a major, you will receive the strong liberal arts background and the opportunity to develop the oral, written, interpersonal, team-building, critical thinking, and organizational skills that many corporations and other organizations desire. The degree can prepare you for a career in:

• education
• governmental agencies
• management
• marketing
• mass communication
• nonprofit organizations
• office administration
• public relations
• sales
• social work

You may select courses in social science that will groom you, with additional course work, to become a high school or middle school teacher in social studies — economics, geography, government, history, psychology and sociology. A social science major also can prepare you to enter a professional school or a master’s or doctoral degree program.

UNT’s Career Center can help you prepare to pursue your career. The center has information about jobs and employers, and the staff can help you with resume and letter writing, job search strategies and interview preparation.

Majoring in social science

A major in social science will require study in social science fields, including anthropology, economics, geography, history, philosophy and religion studies, political science, psychology, social work, and sociology. As a social science major, you will choose one of these areas as your primary interest and take at least 18 hours in that area. You also will take 30 additional hours in two or more other areas. For example, you could take six political science courses as your main 18-hour concentration and then four history courses, four economics courses and two sociology courses for the 30 additional hours.

Many UNT faculty members in the social sciences are considered experts in their fields and have written hundreds of books and articles on their areas of expertise.

Several student organizations are active in the social science departments. In these organizations, you can network and learn more about the fields of study.

A secondary teaching certificate in social studies is available through a separate certification plan in collaboration with the College of Education.

Getting hands-on experience

You may have the opportunity for an internship as part of a class. If you are taking courses in anthropology, for example, you may help excavate an archaeological site in Texas through a special class offered every other summer sponsored by the Department of Anthropology, or you may intern in a museum. If you are studying political science, you may intern in Washington, D.C., or in Austin with the office of a state representative or senator.

Another valuable resource of obtaining hands-on experience is UNT’s Cooperative Education and Internship office. Upon completion of 12 semester hours at UNT with at least a 2.5 GPA, you may qualify for positions that allow you to earn academic credit and money while gaining valuable work experience. More than 1,800 employers work with the office to provide these learning opportunities.

Co-op employers pay extremely well, and the jobs usually last several semesters, often until graduation. Internships can last for one full semester or summer. Some of these opportunities may become permanent full-time positions upon graduation.

Preparing for UNT: High School Students

We encourage you to fulfill the graduation requirements for the Recommended Program or the Distinguished Achievement Program in high school.

In your junior year, take the SAT or the ACT and have your scores sent to UNT.

In your senior year, submit your application for admission by March 1 (apply online at www.applytexas.org) and request that your high school transcript be sent to the UNT admissions office.

Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate courses can count toward college credit at UNT. For details, visit www.unt.edu/credit.

Preparing for UNT: High School Students

As a benefit for transfer students, UNT participates in the Texas Common Course Numbering System. This system makes it easier to transfer credits for general academic courses from one Texas institution to another.

If you’re attending a Texas community college, you should consult the UNT Transfer Articulation web page, the UNT Undergraduate Catalog and an academic counselor/advisor to discuss your degree plan. Proper planning will help you receive the maximum amount of transfer credits.

UNT’s Transfer Center will help you make a successful transition to college life at UNT by connecting you to a peer mentor and other valuable campus resources. Each year, we welcome more transfer students than any other institution in the state. The center is in the University Union, Room 320. More information is at www.unt.edu/transferprograms.

Charting your path with academic advising

The College of Arts and Sciences has full-time advisors to help you select courses to earn your degree and to achieve your career goals. The student advising office is in the General Academic Building, Room 220.

You can also utilize UNT’s new online degree audit system. This interactive tool can help you stay on track for graduation and prepare for advising appointments. The system is easily accessible through my.unt.edu using the “my academics” link on the student center page.