What Are Social Sciences?

Personal Development

The term 'Social Science' has various definitions and covers an extremely wide variety of subjects. A short definition is - The scholarly study of human society and social relationships. A longer definition is - Social Sciences are the key to the understanding of many societal issues such as the balance between economic growth and impact on the environment. Social sciences examine what it means to be a social being, ranging from the intricacies of human behavior and brain functions, to large scale social movements, demographics, economics and politics.

Europe is the perfect place to study Social Sciences and has a long history with its subjects. Social sciences are a vital part of culture and touch on all areas of life. Many European universities specialize in the social sciences. Examples of such universities are the London School of Economics and Political Science, Sciences Po (Paris), University of Amsterdam, University of Copenhagen, etc.

Major Subjects of Social Sciences

The major social sciences are Anthropology, Archaeology, Economics, Geography, History, Law, Linguistics, Politics, Psychology and Sociology.

Anthropology – This is known as the Science of Humanity. Anthropology covers a variety of topics like human behavior, cultural relations, and how evolution of humanity influences society's structure. It's both scientific and humanistic and is suited for anyone looking to study both these subjects. And while focusing on history, there is also a chance to apply it in modern contexts also.