Unlock Your Career Potential
This program is designed to prepare you to pursue careers as social researchers, policy analysts, community service managers, elder care workers, social workers, human resources specialists, teachers, or urban planners.
See Courses & Program Info
View a complete list of program courses; major-related and elective requirements; credit opportunities; and more.
This program requires a total of 120 credits.
- 30 Required Major Credits: Review the required major core courses outlined below or view the recommended course sequence to progress through this program.
- 41 General Education Credits: Review the options available to fulfill the 41 credits of general education coursework for bachelor's degrees.
- 49 Minor & Elective Credits: Review a list of available academic minors or see the course catalog or Schedule of Classes to help you select elective courses.
Required Major Courses
- 6 credits of introductory (100-level) social science coursework, chosen from the following:
- (3 Credits, ANTH 102)
- (3 Credits, GERO 100)
- (3 Credits, PSYC 100)
- (3 Credits, SOCY 100)
- (3 Credits, BEHS 210)
- (3 Credits, BEHS 220) or (3 Credits, BEHS 250)
- (3 Credits, BEHS 300)
- (3 Credits, BEHS 495)
- Upper-level ANTH, BEHS, GERO, PSYC, or SOCY courses (12 credits): Focused study in anthropology, gerontology, psychology, or sociology recommended
Related Required Course
The following may be applied to general education requirements:
- (3 Credits, STAT 200)
Degree Focus
To align with the 12-credit upper-level requirement listed above, we recommend you choose from one of the following groups of classes below to align with your career interests:
Anthropology Focus
- (3 Credits, ANTH 345)
- (3 Credits, ANTH 346)
- (3 Credits, ANTH 350)
- (3 Credits, ANTH 351)
Gerontology Focus
- (3 Credits, GERO 302)
- (3 Credits, GERO 311)
- (3 Credits, GERO 427)
- (3 Credits, GERO 320)
Psychology Focus
- (3 Credits, PSYC 338)
- (3 Credits, PSYC 354)
- (3 Credits, PSYC 386)
- (3 Credits, PSYC 437)
Sociology Focus
- (3 Credits, SOCY 313)
- (3 Credits, SOCY 325)
- (3 Credits, SOCY 423)
- (3 Credits, SOCY 350)
Accelerated Pathway
Through an accelerated pathway, students who complete this program may be eligible to reduce their total coursework for a Master of Arts in Teaching by up to 12 credits.
If you’re majoring in a different field but are still interested in this subject area, you can explore a minor in a related area like African American studies, art, art history, diversity awareness, East Asian studies, economics, history, philosophy, political science, psychology, or sociology.
Develop Well-Rounded Skills in Social Science
In an increasingly complex and interconnected world, understanding social dynamics, human behavior, and cultural trends is vital in making a meaningful impact across a range of fields. This online social science degree is designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills they need to navigate and influence this evolving environment. The program aims to help you build key competencies in areas like social research methods, cultural analysis, social policy development, global issues, conflict resolution, communication, critical thinking, and more. Program directors regularly review and update the curriculum with an emphasis on helping students achieve the following:
40%+
Hiring Consideration
More than 40 percent of employers would consider hiring college graduates who have exposure to global learning experiences or completed a portfolio of work highlighting their skills.
Source: Association of American Colleges & Universities and Hanover Research | “How College Contributes to Workforce Success” | April 1, 2021
7%
Job Growth
Employment of sociologists is projected to grow 7 percent from 2023 to 2033, faster than the average for all occupations.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | Occupational Outlook Handbook | Last Reviewed: April 1, 2025
Apply Real-World Skills in Your Courses
Throughout the curriculum, your instructors will assign coursework that may help you prioritize real-world skills and hands-on experiences. In past courses, students have been able to complete the following projects:
- Construct a plan to address a workplace issue, including a sociological analysis of the issue, a discussion of its importance, your rationale for the solution, and a solution implementation strategy.
- Create a poster that presents an interdisciplinary examination of a social issue of concern in your community, including causes, stakeholders, and potential solutions.
- Develop a detailed presentation addressing the importance of engaging anthropological knowledge in problem-solving for a community health issue.
Explore UMGC Insights
Gain insights from our faculty and staff and dive deeper into a range of topics, including choosing a school, student experiences, and more.
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FAQs
Get answers to questions that current and prospective students are asking about program admission, credibility, certifications, and more.
UMGC’s online social science degree is a 120-credit bachelor's degree program that covers topics like anthropology, behavioral sciences, gerontology, psychology, sociology, and more. The program can help students prepare to work in a variety of industries, corporations, nonprofits, and government organizations in areas such as law, political science, economics, social work, and more.
UMGC's online social science degree is a 120-credit bachelor's degree program with courses offered year-round. The time it will take you to complete your degree will depend on several factors, including your goals, how many transfer credits you have, your course load each semester, and whether you are able to benefit from one or more of our fast paths to credit, including credit for prior learning and credit for military education and training.
Tuition rates for the online social science degree from UMGC are very competitive and appear at the top of this page. We offer a low in-state rate for Maryland residents and a reduced tuition rate for military service members and their spouses and dependent children. We also offer scholarships for those who qualify, an interest-free monthly payment plan, and no-cost digital materials in place of most textbooks to help make your program even more affordable.
You do not need any background or experience in a social science discipline to apply for and graduate from UMGC's social science program. As long as you meet our undergraduate admission requirements, you can enroll in this program.
If you’re majoring in a different academic program but are still interested in subject area, you can explore a minor in a related area like African American studies, art, art history, diversity awareness, East Asian studies, economics, history, philosophy, political science, psychology, or sociology.
We recommend that social science majors explore the following student organizations:
Pi Gamma Mu (Social Science Disciplines)
Pi Gamma Mu recognizes outstanding scholarship in the social sciences. UMGC's Maryland Theta chapter was recently added to the society’s Roll of Distinction and was also the winner of the 2020 UMGC Student Organization Awards Best in Show Activities and Events Award. It is available to undergraduate students. Membership is by invitation only. You must have completed at least 45 credits toward your degree to be eligible. If you have earned at least 20 credits in social science coursework (including at least 9 credits at UMGC) and have a GPA in the top 35 percent, you may be invited to join. For more information, please email marylandtheta@umgc.edu.
Sigma Phi Omega (Gerontology & Aging Services)
Sigma Phi Omega recognizes excellence among students studying gerontology and aging, and acknowledges the outstanding service of professionals who work with or on behalf of older persons. The society provides a link between educators, practitioners, and administrators in various settings. It is available to undergraduate students. To be eligible, you must be in at least your second term of enrollment at UMGC, have completed a minimum of 12 credits, and have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.3. Membership is open to undergraduate students majoring or minoring in gerontology and aging services, social science majors focusing on gerontology, and students in related fields with an interest in aging. For more information, please email spo@umgc.edu.
Behavioral & Social Science Student Association
The Behavioral and Social Science Student Association provides resources on careers in social science-related fields. Activities have included guest speakers, discussions on making an impact in your community, and sharing research opportunities. It is available to students, alumni, staff, and faculty. Students and alumni can join the Behavioral and Social Science Student Association group on CareerQuest.
