You’ve done your research and finally found the career that best suits your strengths and passions – yet, when you tell people you’re studying a social science, suddenly everyone has an opinion to offer.

It doesn’t matter if you’re studying geography, history, sociology, anthropology, political science or any of the very different courses that fit under this banner.

At some point, a whole bunch of ideas about what this degree says about you and your career prospects have set in, and frankly, most of them don’t make a whole lot of sense.

Here are the top three myths about social science… and why they’re just plain wrong.

Myth #1: It’s Not Specialised Enough

Social science is an umbrella term for a whole lot of things: linguistics, sociology, geography, political science… the list goes on. And the benefit of that, of course, is that a social sciences degree caters to many interests.

When you apply, you get to choose the area that you’re most interested in. So rather than getting a scattershot curriculum that serves you a little-bit-of-this and a little-bit-of-that, you get to do courses that are all about the specific area you’re passionate about.

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Myth #2: It’s Unclear What Job You’ll End Up With

 “But what will you do after you’ve graduated?” is a question social science students hear on repeat, unlike graduates of nursing or engineering (where the job options are pretty much spelled out in the title of their degrees).

The reality is, social science degrees give students pretty diverse skill sets, opening up a much wider range of careers than most other degrees. And hey, if you want to travel or move overseas one day, it’s worth noting that those skills are usually well-recognised around the world, too.

One huge advantage of this is that graduates aren’t pigeonholed – instead, they walk away from uni with broad skills and knowledge that can be applied to fit a whole lot of different (and interesting) job titles.

For example, an anthropology and sociology grad will be armed with the skills needed to make sense of the social world, exploring solutions to challenging social problems. And those skills are in high demand in roles like policy development, international affairs, and industrial relations.

We all know that careers are constantly evolving and we’re all set to have several careers in our lifetimes, so having a degree that expands, rather than limits your prospects is a win in our books!

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Myth #3: You’ll Be Stuck Behind A Desk

This is by far the most dubious myth of the lot. A social science degree is your key to a rewarding career that won’t just let you see the world — it could help you change it.

It’s easy to spot social science grads all over the news, from NGO founders fighting for human rights abroad to climate change specialists pushing through policies to promote sustainable living. Then there are international relations pros working around the globe in diplomatic roles and geography graduates working with remote communities worldwide to provide solutions for clean drinking water – no desks in sight.

These grads aren’t just testament to the good you can do in the world with social science; they’re also testament to the mind-boggling diversity of careers and opportunities that you’ll get out of a social sciences degree.

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Ready to get stuck into the world of social sciences? Head straight for Curtin University, which offers a range of degrees in the area. Find out more about undergrad study here and postgrad study here.