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Public Affairs & Social Sciences
What Are Public Affairs & Social Sciences?
Social sciences address a range of human issues. They explore the structure and impact of groups. Social and behavioral scientists examine phenomena from social, cultural, political, technological and biological perspectives. Public Affairs covers a variety of areas including government, corporate responsibility, and information and communications management. In its broadest sense it describes the relationship of organizations with their stakeholders.
Social sciences and public affairs encompass the following fields of study:
- Anthropology – the study of human diversity from a cultural, biological, and historical lens
- Sociology – the study of human social activity
- Psychology – the study of the human mind and behavior
- Social work – an interdisciplinary field of study blending psychology, sociology, ethnic studies and public policy
- Law – the study of the societal rules that govern behavior
- Global studies – an interdisciplinary field studying social, political and cultural relationships across the world
- Political science – the study of political entities and processes
- Emergency management – the study of managing disasters and minimizing their impact
- Public policy – the study of systems of law addressing a given topic
Who Should Study Public Affairs & Social Sciences?
If you plan on studying one of these subjects, you may ideally answer “yes” to the following questions:
- Do I truly enjoy learning about different human processes?
- Am I curious about people?
- Do I enjoy listening to people?
- Could I spend all day reading about, listening to, or writing other peoples’ life stories?
- Do I want to make a difference in the world by doing work that “gives back”?
- Also, you should ideally answer “no” to the following questions: Do people bore me?
- Do I have a low tolerance for socializing?
- Am I drawn to working alone, and being in minimal contact with others?
Types of Social Science and Public Affairs Careers
There are many fields of study within public affairs & social sciences, so there are many career paths from which to choose. Those holding social and behavioral science degrees may find work in:
- Government
- Business
- Law firms
- Non-governmental organizations
- Education
- Private industry
- Nonprofits
- Universities
- Newspapers
- Broadcast television
- Think tanks
- Charitable foundations
Refine Your Search
Sponsored Degree Programs
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University of Amsterdam
Security Governance & Conflict Resolution
During this course we will look at how thinking and speaking about security has changed over time and how various stakeholders have adopted differing interpretations.
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Webster University
Master of Arts in International Relations
The MA in International Relations examines the challenges and dangers of this post-Cold war era and its promise for a safer, more equitable, more caring global system.
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Tilburg University
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University of Twente
Public Administration and Public Policy
The University of Twente is a university with a strong international outlook. We have placed the strengthening of international contacts and exchanges high on our priorities for development.
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Fontys
Industrial Engineering & Management
Industrial Engineering & Management (IE&M) prepares you for managing a technological company by offering an optimized program developed and improved over several decades.
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Institute for Environmental Studies
European Postgraduate Course in Environmental Management (EPCEM)
EPCEM is an intensive one-year course with a international focus, that starts each year in September. It is organized by several Dutch, French and Eastern European universities.
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International School for Humanities and Social Sciences
Summer Institute on Alcohol, Drugs and Addiction
Courses, seminars and dialogues in Amsterdam on theories and concepts as they have been developed in the field of addiction studies The seminar takes place in Amsterdam from July 13 - 26 and all class
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Institute of Social Studies
Master of Arts in Development Studies
With a strong focus on training in the theory and methods relevant to development studies, the MA programme aims to equip graduates to apply insights in policy analysis in a practical context.
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Hague University, The
European Studies (ES3/ES4)
The programme comprises a propaedeutic, or foundation year, followed by a two-year main phase (three-years for ES4 students). Every year is broken down into four blocks.
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Amsterdam School of International Relations
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Stenden University
International Hotel Management
The International Hotel Management (IHM) programme at Stenden develops the wide range of competencies required in today’s dynamic and captivating world of hospitality.
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Larenstein University of Professional Education
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Radboud University
Cognitive Neuroscience
The Cognitive Neuroscience Master’s programme at Radboud University is unique in the world because of its multidisciplinary approach.
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Erasmus University Rotterdam
Urban Management Course
The 13 months course is a joint MA program of the Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies and Erasmus University Rotterdam.
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Maastricht University
Infonomics
The growing interest in the emerging, digital economy and e-business world is reflected in the rapidly changing international business and policy environment.
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Leiden University
MA Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology
The Leiden MA in Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology is unique in the way it combines the analysis of cultural difference with a critical perspective on global development.
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University of Groningen
Research Master in Clinical and Psychosocial Epidemiology
This 2-year programme offers an excellent training for a scientific career in epidemiological research.
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Wageningen University
Aquaculture and Fisheries
Established in 1876, Wageningen University has evolved into one of the world's leading centres in the life sciences and natural resource management.
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Vriji Universiteit
Social Psychology
Become the best scientist and scholar that you can be! Our Master’s programme in Social Psychology takes a multidisciplinary approach to understanding fundamental social psychological processes.
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Utrecht University
Migration, Ethnic Relations and Multiculturalism
The programme in Migration, Ethnic Relations and Multiculturalism (MERM) is the oldest Research Master’s programme at Utrecht University and was recently (2009) evaluated as one of the top three resea
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Universiteit van Amsterdam
Master's Programme in European Communication Studies
This programme explores the political, economic, technological and cultural dynamics of the European communications landscape, giving particular attention to the impact of globalisation, commercialisa
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Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Economics (MPhil)
The Tinbergen Institute (TI) is the research and graduate school of the economics faculties of the Vrije Universiteit (VU), Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR) and the University of Amsterdam (UvA).
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Delft University of Technology
International Program in Systems Engineering, Policy Analysis and Management
A unique two year program at the interface of technology and management offered by a top European engineering university. Language of instruction: English.
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European Postgraduate Course in Environmental Management
EPCEM
This postgraduate course takes place at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and is a one-year, full time course preparing experts for environmental problem solving with an interdisciplinary approach and
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