Psychology is one of the major sub-disciplines of social sciences, along with psychology, anthropology, biology, and business. The word was previously used to describe the field of psychology, but was later used to refer simply to the social science of human behaviour. Today, “human behaviour” is an umbrella term used to describe any way that people’s thoughts and actions are related, usually in a collective context. Some people might be big fans of psychology, but a lot of them would rather study computer science or mathematics. The same is true for political science and even art and literature.
One of the most prominent areas in the social sciences is anthropology. There are three sub-disciplines of anthropology, which are cultural, historical, and ecological. Cultural anthropology looks at how cultures are related and influences how people act, while historical anthropology examines the development of empires over time. Economic anthropologies deals with how people in different economic environments behave.
If you are looking for a postgraduate degree in psychology, there are a few disciplines that you might consider. Psychology is one of the most popular undergraduate majors, especially after graduation. For the most part, psychology majors go on to obtain graduate degrees in the social sciences, though there are exceptions, such as in law and medicine.
The other most popular area of study in the social sciences is linguistics. Those who major in linguistics may also choose to major in English, history, math, or physics. Someinguists also choose to specialize in areas of psychology or sociology. At the postgraduate level, there are many areas of specialization within linguistics, including anthropology, socio-linguistics, and cognitive science.
When it comes to understanding and communicating behavior, linguistics is key. As it turns out, some of the most prominent researchers in the social sciences are articulators of behavior. For example, ethologist Richard Levinson and his colleagues at the University of Chicago set about studying how American Indians engaged in ritualistic behaviors, such as how they traded food and other goods using signs, gestures, and songs. This helped them to understand the psychological underpinnings of such behaviors.
A similar example is when an ethologist like Levinson examines how children from poverty environments, such as single parent homes, communicate with others in a playground. As a postgraduate student, you will likely be involved in doing fieldwork and analyzing data. In order to complete your postgraduate studies, you will be required to take specific classes such as statistics and research methods. If you have a bachelor’s degree already, you can continue working on your undergraduate degree while completing these classes. You will have completed the basic coursework necessary to enter graduate school. Your focus, however, should be on courses that further your interests in the social sciences, such as anthropology, human development, psychology, sociology, and cognitive science.
As for politics, economics is probably the most common major in the social sciences. Students majoring in economics pursue either a professional degree or a minor. They can opt to major in any of the four major fields of study: business, law, public policy, or economics and business. The student will be able to complete a full four year degree program and earn a degree in any of these areas. Most economic students go on to become university or college professors, write books on their areas of expertise, or work for firms in their field. For some, they become government regulators.
