There are many specializations within social science, including:
- Anthropology – the study of human societies and cultures
- Sociology – the study of society and social behavior
- Political Science – the study of government, politics, and public policy
- Economics – the study of production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services
- Psychology – the study of the human mind and behavior
- History – the study of past events and their impact on the present
- Geography – the study of the earth and its features, including human societies and their interactions with the environment
- Linguistics – the study of language, its structure, and its use in society
- Archaeology – the study of human history through material remains
- Cultural Studies – the study of culture, including art, media, and popular culture.
These specializations may also have sub-fields or sub-disciplines within them, and many interdisciplinary fields of study that combine different social science disciplines.
There are several specializations within anthropology. Some of the major subfields of anthropology include:
- Cultural Anthropology – the study of human societies and cultures, including their beliefs, customs, and social practices
- Linguistic Anthropology – the study of language, its structure, and its use in society
- Biological Anthropology – the study of human biological evolution and variation, including genetics, primatology, and human osteology
- Archaeology – the study of human history through material remains
- Applied Anthropology – the use of anthropological methods and theories to solve practical problems in areas such as health, education, and development
Sociology has many specializations and subfields. Some of the major subfields of sociology include:
- Social Stratification – the study of social classes, inequality, and social mobility
- Sociology of Gender – the study of the ways in which gender shapes social interactions, relationships, and institutions
- Sociology of Family – the study of family structures and their relationship to larger social systems
- Sociology of Education – the study of the social organization and processes of education
- Criminology – the study of crime, deviance, and social control
- Political Sociology – the study of the relationship between politics and society, including the study of power, authority, and social movements
- Environmental Sociology – the study of the relationship between humans and the natural environment
- Medical Sociology – the study of the social aspects of health, illness, and healthcare systems
- Urban Sociology – the study of urban communities, urbanization, and the social and economic organization of cities
- Sociology of Religion – the study of the role of religion in society and its relationship to other social institutions.
Political Science is a diverse field with many specializations and subfields. Some of the major subfields of Political Science include:
- Political Theory – the study of political ideas, such as democracy, liberty, and justice
- Comparative Politics – the study of political systems and institutions across different countries and cultures
- International Relations – the study of the relationships between countries and the interactions of various international actors such as states, organizations and individuals
- Public Policy – the study of the formation, implementation, and evaluation of public policies by governments
- Political Methodology – the development and application of statistical and mathematical methods for the study of politics and social sciences
- Political Economy – the study of the relationship between politics and economics, including the roles of markets, governments, and international organizations
- Public Administration – the study of the organization, management, and policies of government agencies
- Political Behavior – the study of individual and group political behavior, including public opinion, voting behavior, and political participation
- International Political Economy – the study of the relationship between politics and economics in the international system, including trade, finance, and development.
Within each of these subfields, there may be further specializations and research areas. For example, within comparative politics, some common specializations include democratization, political parties, and civil society. Within international relations, some common specializations include conflict and security studies, international law, and diplomacy.
Economics is a vast field with many specializations and subfields. Some of the major subfields of economics include:
- Microeconomics – the study of the behavior of individual consumers, firms, and markets
- Macroeconomics – the study of the economy as a whole, including economic growth, inflation, and unemployment
- Econometrics – the application of statistical methods to economic data in order to test theories and make predictions
- Development Economics – the study of economic development and growth in low- and middle-income countries
- International Economics – the study of trade, finance, and capital flows between countries
- Public Economics – the study of government policies and their impact on the economy, including taxation, public goods, and social welfare programs
- Environmental Economics – the study of the relationship between economic activity and the environment, including pollution, natural resource use, and climate change
- Behavioral Economics – the study of the psychological and social factors that influence economic decision-making
- Health Economics – the study of the production, consumption, and distribution of healthcare services
- Industrial Organization – the study of the behavior and structure of industries and markets, including the analysis of market power and competition.
Within each of these subfields, there may be further specializations and research areas. For example, within development economics, some common specializations include poverty, education, and health. Within environmental economics, some common specializations include natural resource management, climate policy, and ecological economics.
Psychology is a vast field with many specializations and subfields. Some of the major subfields of psychology include:
- Abnormal Psychology – the study of abnormal behavior and mental illness
- Social Psychology – the study of the social and interpersonal aspects of human behavior, including attitudes, social influence, and group dynamics
- Cognitive Psychology – the study of mental processes such as perception, memory, and reasoning
- Developmental Psychology – the study of human development across the lifespan, including physical, cognitive, and social-emotional development
- Personality Psychology – the study of individual differences in personality and how they influence behavior
- Clinical Psychology – the application of psychological theories and techniques to the diagnosis and treatment of mental illness and other psychological disorders
- Forensic Psychology – the application of psychology to legal issues, such as criminal investigations, court proceedings, and corrections
- Neuropsychology – the study of the relationship between the brain and behavior, including the effects of brain injury and disease
- Industrial-Organizational Psychology – the study of human behavior in the workplace, including issues such as employee selection, training, and motivation
- Health Psychology – the study of the relationship between psychological factors and health, illness, and healthcare.
Within each of these subfields, there may be further specializations and research areas. For example, within social psychology, some common specializations include intergroup relations, social cognition, and attitudes. Within clinical psychology, some common specializations include child psychology, addiction psychology, and neuropsychology.
History is a broad field with many specializations and subfields. Some of the major subfields of history include:
- Political History – the study of political institutions, leaders, and events
- Social History – the study of everyday life, social structures, and cultural practices of people in the past
- Economic History – the study of economic systems and developments over time
- Intellectual History – the study of ideas and the history of thought
- Cultural History – the study of cultural practices, representations, and expressions of different societies and cultures
- Environmental History – the study of the relationship between humans and the natural environment in the past
- Diplomatic History – the study of the history of international relations, foreign policy, and diplomacy
- Military History – the study of warfare and the impact of armed conflict on societies and cultures
- Gender History – the study of the role of gender and sexuality in history
- Public History – the practice of presenting history to a broader public through museums, monuments, and other public spaces.
Within each of these subfields, there may be further specializations and research areas. For example, within social history, some common specializations include labor history, family history, and the history of everyday life. Within cultural history, some common specializations include the history of art, literature, and popular culture.
Geography is a broad field with many specializations and subfields. Some of the major subfields of geography include:
- Physical Geography – the study of the natural environment, including landforms, climate, and ecosystems
- Human Geography – the study of human activities and their relationship with the physical environment
- Geographical Information Science (GIS) – the development and application of spatial technologies for the study of geography
- Cultural Geography – the study of the relationship between human culture and the natural and built environment
- Urban Geography – the study of urban environments and processes of urbanization
- Economic Geography – the study of the economic activities of people and firms, including trade, industry, and finance
- Political Geography – the study of the relationship between politics and geography, including borders, territoriality, and geopolitics
- Historical Geography – the study of the spatial and environmental dimensions of historical processes and events
- Geomorphology – the study of the processes that shape the Earth’s surface, including landforms and natural hazards
- Biogeography – the study of the spatial patterns and processes of biodiversity and ecosystems.
Within each of these subfields, there may be further specializations and research areas. For example, within economic geography, some common specializations include globalization, regional development, and transportation. Within urban geography, some common specializations include gentrification, suburbanization, and urban planning.
Linguistics is a broad field with many specializations and subfields. Some of the major subfields of linguistics include:
- Phonetics – the study of the physical properties of speech sounds
- Phonology – the study of the sound patterns of languages and their relationship to grammar
- Morphology – the study of the structure of words and how they are formed from smaller units
- Syntax – the study of sentence structure and how words are combined to form grammatical sentences
- Semantics – the study of meaning in language
- Pragmatics – the study of the use of language in context and how meaning is conveyed beyond the literal meaning of words
- Historical Linguistics – the study of the evolution of languages over time
- Sociolinguistics – the study of the relationship between language and society, including the use of language in different social contexts and the social factors that influence language variation
- Psycholinguistics – the study of the mental processes involved in language comprehension, production, and acquisition
- Computational Linguistics – the development and use of computational models for the analysis and processing of natural language.
Within each of these subfields, there may be further specializations and research areas. For example, within sociolinguistics, some common specializations include language contact, multilingualism, and language and identity. Within computational linguistics, some common specializations include machine translation, natural language processing, and speech recognition.
Archaeology is a diverse field with many specializations and subfields. Some of the major subfields of archaeology include:
- Classical Archaeology – the study of the material culture of the ancient Greeks and Romans
- Prehistoric Archaeology – the study of human societies before the invention of writing
- Historical Archaeology – the study of human societies during the historical period, typically defined as after the invention of writing
- Underwater Archaeology – the study of submerged cultural resources, including shipwrecks and submerged cities
- Cultural Resource Management – the application of archaeological methods and techniques to the management of cultural resources in the context of development and construction projects
- Environmental Archaeology – the study of the relationship between human societies and the natural environment in the past, including the use of natural resources and the impact of environmental change on human societies
- Bioarchaeology – the study of human biological remains in archaeological contexts, including the analysis of human bones and teeth
- Archaeological Conservation – the study of the preservation and conservation of cultural heritage and archaeological materials
- Colonial Archaeology – the study of the archaeology of European colonialism and its impact on colonized populations
- Experimental Archaeology – the reconstruction and testing of ancient technologies and practices to gain insights into the past.
Within each of these subfields, there may be further specializations and research areas. For example, within prehistoric archaeology, some common specializations include the archaeology of the Paleolithic, Neolithic, and Bronze Age periods. Within historical archaeology, some common specializations include the archaeology of colonialism, urbanization, and industrialization.
Cultural Studies is a field that combines various interdisciplinary approaches to the study of culture. Some of the major specializations within Cultural Studies include:
- Cultural Theory – the study of the historical and contemporary meanings and practices of culture, and the impact of cultural systems on social life.
- Media Studies – the study of the relationship between media and culture, including the role of media in shaping cultural practices and identities.
- Visual Studies – the study of visual culture, including art, film, television, and photography, and the ways in which visual culture shapes and is shaped by social, political, and economic factors.
- Performance Studies – the study of performance as a cultural practice, including theatre, dance, and other forms of performance art.
- Popular Culture Studies – the study of popular culture, including the study of music, television, film, and other forms of popular entertainment, and their relationship to broader social and cultural issues.
- Globalization and Transnational Studies – the study of the global flows of people, ideas, and cultural products, and the impact of these flows on local and global cultures.
- Critical Race and Ethnic Studies – the study of race, ethnicity, and culture, including the ways in which race and ethnicity intersect with other social, political, and economic factors.
- Gender and Sexuality Studies – the study of gender and sexuality in cultural contexts, including the ways in which gender and sexuality intersect with other social, political, and economic factors.
- Postcolonial and Decolonial Studies – the study of the cultural, social, and political impacts of colonialism and imperialism, and the efforts to decolonize cultural practices, institutions, and power structures.
- Cultural Heritage Studies – the study of the preservation and interpretation of cultural heritage, including the ways in which heritage sites and artifacts are used to shape cultural identity, memory, and nationalism.
Within each of these specializations, there may be further subfields and research areas. For example, within media studies, some common specializations include film studies, game studies, and the study of social media. Within gender and sexuality studies, some common specializations include feminist theory, queer theory, and men’s studies.
