Fastest Online Social Sciences Degree Programs

According to a BestColleges study, social sciences and history is the third most popular college major. During the 2019-2020 school year, the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) found that 161,200 degrees, or approximately 8% of degrees, were conferred in social sciences or history.

Social sciences is a popular major for good reason. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), life, physical, and social sciences professionals earned a median annual wage of $72,740 as of May 2021. This eclipses the median annual salary for all occupations by approximately $27,000.

There is an additional appeal for students seeking an accelerated degree in social sciences. In most cases, students with some prior postsecondary education or experience can finish accelerated bachelor’s programs within two years. These programs often draw on students’ prior knowledge to allow them to graduate more quickly.

Read on to learn more about the top online bachelor’s in social sciences programs, including admission requirements, common courses, and potential postgraduate careers.

Accelerated social science bachelor’s programs allow students to earn degrees that often take four years to complete in 2-3 years. These online programs cover the same amount of coursework as four-year programs, but in a more concentrated, often asynchronous format.

Accelerated bachelor’s programs differ slightly from degree completion programs, which allow students who have started (but not finished) a bachelor’s degree to complete their studies. These programs usually require incoming students to have already completed 30-60 credits. Some degree completion programs in social sciences may offer accelerated options.

Prospective students should expect accelerated programs to be rigorous and move at a quick pace. Weekly requirements vary by program and delivery method.

Social sciences is an umbrella term that encompasses disciplines like anthropology, psychology, political science, sociology, and sometimes economics and public health. These fields can be a good fit for any students who are empathetic and interested in qualitative research. However, no matter your natural orientation, you can gain the knowledge and hard skills you need to succeed in social sciences careers over the course of these programs.

Students who can keep up with rigorous and fast-paced coursework are the best fit for accelerated online social sciences programs. Most social sciences programs include plenty of opportunities for customization through concentrations since social sciences is such a broad term. Possible concentrations in these programs include psychology, anthropology, sociology, and political science.

Online social sciences programs often culminate in some sort of experiential requirement, such as an internship or capstone project, or a thesis.

Students in social science programs usually need to complete either a basic statistics course or a statistics course in a specific discipline like political science, psychology, or sociology.

No matter the specific discipline, many online social sciences programs include a course in professional ethics, presenting students with case studies of situations they may encounter in a postgraduate workplace.

Qualitative research is an essential element of scholarship in fields like anthropology, psychology, and sociology. This course provides students with foundational skills and methodology in quantitative research.

Many social sciences students choose to pursue a concentration in anthropology. Cultural anthropology deals with ethnographic descriptions based on social and cultural factors.

Some social sciences programs require students to complete a capstone course or project as a culminating experience. Others require learners to create a professional portfolio of their best work.

Admission requirements are generally the same for on-campus and online bachelor’s in social sciences programs. In rare cases, because of the rigorous nature of an accelerated program, prospective students may need to complete an interview with a member of the admissions department or a professor before enrolling.

All online social sciences programs require applicants to fill out an online application form, which captures basic contact and background information. Students can sometimes just fill out one form and apply to multiple schools at once through application systems like the Common App and Coalition App.

Some undergraduate social sciences programs require applicants to submit ACT or SAT scores. While this requirement is often rarer among accelerated programs, some schools may still ask you to submit your standardized test scores. Others may maintain test-optional policies, allowing you to submit your scores only if they strengthen your application.

Most undergraduate programs, no matter the discipline, ask applicants to send in 2-3 letters of recommendation, often from former high school teachers. If you have been out of high school for several years, you can ask professional supervisors to write these letters for you. In both cases, ask your recommenders several months in advance to provide them with time to write.

Most undergraduate social science programs require applicants to submit 1-3 short essays, often of 500-700 words. Possible prompts include a statement of purpose, values, or career goals; a time you overcame a challenge; and what draws you to social sciences.

Undergraduate programs in every discipline require prospective students to submit official transcripts from all the secondary and postsecondary schools they have attended. If you have already completed an associate degree at a community college, you should earn approximately 60 transfer credits at your new four-year school.

According to the BLS, as of May 2021, professionals in life, physical, and social sciences careers earned a median annual wage of $72,740. This is more than $25,000 higher than the median annual wage for all careers. Between 2020 and 2030, the BLS projects 8% job growth for these occupations, which is comparable to the average projected growth rate for all careers during that period.

As such, accelerated online bachelor’s in social sciences programs can lead to lucrative and desirable careers. Perhaps, for this reason, social sciences and history is the third most popular college major. Employers make no distinction between accelerated bachelor’s degree-holders and traditional bachelor’s degree-holders.

Graduates of these programs can apply for positions like social or community service manager, health educator, human resources specialist, or teacher.

See where a bachelor’s in social sciences can take you. Learn more about social science careers.

Social and community service managers take charge of day-to-day operations for nonprofit organizations, faith-based groups, and social services agencies. Tasks might include organizing events, speaking with major donors, and liaising with boards. These positions usually require a bachelor’s degree and significant relevant experience.

Median Annual Salary (May 2021):$74,000

Health education specialists and community health workers create programs to inform communities about health and well-being. They can work for government agencies, healthcare facilities, and nonprofit organizations. Job candidates usually need a relevant bachelor’s degree to qualify for positions.

Median Annual Salary (May 2021):$48,860

These professionals serve as entry-level workers in human resources departments. They often participate in hiring, onboarding, screening, compensation, and benefits. They usually need a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field, although companies also hire candidates with degrees in social science fields like political science and economics.

Median Annual Salary (May 2021):$62,290

Teaching students in grades 9-12 of ages 14-18, high school teachers usually give lessons, create assessments, and provide mentorship in a specific subject area. Bachelor’s degree-holders in social sciences can teach lessons in their major. If you want to teach in a public high school, you must also earn a state-issued teaching license.

Median Annual Salary (May 2021):$61,820

Counselors provide treatment and support to patients dealing with issues like stress, anxiety, substance misuse, behavioral disorders, and addiction. These professionals can work in private practice, counseling centers, and other healthcare facilities. Most positions require a bachelor’s degree and a state-issued license, although some jobs require a master’s degree.

Median Annual Salary (May 2021):$48,520

Continuing education is an option for bachelor’s degree-holders in any social science field. Graduates can choose to pursue professional paths by earning master’s degrees in fields like teaching or counseling. They can also pursue careers in academia by enrolling in Ph.D. programs in relevant fields like psychology, sociology, and political science.

It’s fairly common for social science graduates to pursue further education. Advanced degrees can make them more competitive for entry-level careers and open up additional options, including positions like psychologist, political scientist, economist, and professor.

Average costs for social science programs vary widely, as there are many different social science fields that students can pursue. No matter the field, for the lowest tuition rates, consider enrolling online at an in-state public university as opposed to an out-of-state private school. Online students often save on fees for room and board, transportation, and parking.

Distance learners should determine whether they prefer synchronous or asynchronous learning. Synchronous learning involves live, scheduled online sessions at specific times of the week, while asynchronous learning does not. You should also consider whether you prefer full-time, part-time, or accelerated enrollment.

Even if you enroll in an online bachelor’s in social sciences program, you may want to choose a school close to you. Some of these programs include in-person requirements, which are easier to fulfill if you live near campus. Furthermore, many schools maintain relationships with local employers for internships and jobs.

Accreditation is a third-party review process that verifies the quality of a school’s programs, services, and general offerings. You should only enroll at schools that hold accreditation. Otherwise, you cannot receive federal financial aid, and employers may not want to hire you.

Student support can make a huge difference in the quality of a program, especially for online learners. Before enrolling in any program, check for student services like mentorship opportunities, internship placements, tutoring, advising, career services, and networking events.

Rankings compiled by the BestColleges Ranking Team

Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.

Each year, the BestColleges Ranking Team evaluates hundreds of programs to produce our annual Best Online Bachelor’s in [SUBJECT] ranking. In 2022, the team sourced the most recent data available from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System and College Navigator, both of which are hosted by the National Center for Education Statistics. We identified [NUMBER OF SCHOOLS] schools that qualify for our ranking list based on the following criteria.

To ensure the accuracy and quality of our final ranked list, the ranking team reviewed each qualifying school to ensure it met the criteria for our ranking, and then applied our proprietary ranking methodology to identify the best schools offering this program in the nation. Each school is ranked based on a formula measuring academic factors (60%) and affordability (40%).

The BestColleges Ranking Team is made up of contributors from our data science and product management teams. These contributors operate independently from the editorial team. All BestColleges school rankings are produced by the ranking team and are free of editorial influence. Read our Editorial Policy and Standards to learn more.

In rare cases, yes. To earn a bachelor’s degree in one year, you must have already completed significant college credits. If you are starting from square one, with no prior college education, you may be able to complete certain accelerated online bachelor’s programs in two years.

Two-year bachelor’s programs are most common at schools like Western Governors University, which offers competency-based education. This means that you move through coursework at the speed of mastery. You can move through material you already understand by passing assessments and tests.

The value of any degree is subjective and depends on the goals and strengths of each individual student. Nevertheless, for the right type of student, pursuing an accelerated bachelor’s degree is worth it.

Accelerated programs, while occasionally stressful and often rigorous, allow students to enter the workforce more quickly, which may increase their lifetime earning potential. Furthermore, students who pursue accelerated programs at schools that charge tuition by semester often save money by spending less time enrolled.

Yes, accelerated bachelor’s degrees are as valuable as traditional degrees. Employers do not distinguish between accelerated degrees and degrees earned over the course of four years. In most cases, accelerated degrees and their traditional counterparts cover the exact same course material.

Some employers may even be impressed by your ability to earn a degree in such a compressed time frame. They may read this commitment as an ability to complete high-leverage work on deadline, a valuable skill in almost any career.

It depends. If you do not have any other significant commitments and have the capacity to take multiple rigorous courses each semester, an accelerated bachelor’s degree in social sciences might be right for you. Prospective social science students should make sure they want to study a field like anthropology, sociology, or political science, all of which require critical thinking and qualitative research skills.

If you have a job or significant family commitments, full-time or part-time enrollment might provide a better fit. It may be tough to keep up with accelerated coursework if you have other obligations to fulfill.

While rates can vary widely by school and by program, average tuition costs for accelerated bachelor’s programs often range from $300-$600 per credit. This tuition rate is comparable to average costs for full-time and part-time bachelor’s programs, meaning that there usually isn’t a significant difference in affordability based on delivery method.

Accelerated programs provide the highest savings at schools that charge tuition by semester instead of by credit. Since you spend fewer semesters enrolled in accelerated programs, the total bill is often lower than it would be if you enrolled full time or part time.

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