Specialize your study in social sciences
At Jamestown Community College, you can explore anthropology, geography, history, and political science as specializations within the general Social Sciences degree.
Anthropology
Anthropology is the study of human beings, past and present, and our closest primate relatives. Because humans are complex, anthropology draws on the social sciences, biological sciences, physical sciences, and humanities. Jobs in anthropology and archaeology are growing. Students with anthropology degrees can also pursue careers in medicine and public health, advertising, businesses and corporations, law, education, and science.
JCC offers a broad, four-fields approach, and students can take many different courses, including Human Evolution; Introduction to Cultural Anthropology; Introduction to Forensic Anthropology; and Sex, Sexuality and Gender. Students can also gain field experience in anthropology internships, which have included internships in archaeology and local food systems. The anthropology faculty at JCC regularly join with faculty in other departments to offer interdisciplinary and Honors courses.
- 2023 median pay for anthropologists and archeologists: $63,800/year according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Geography
Geography is a spatial science that includes the study of places and the relationships between people and their environments. It seeks to understand where things are found, why they are there, what occurs in a particular space, and how that changes over time. Geographers explore both the physical properties of Earth’s surface and the human societies spread across it. They also examine how humans interact with the natural environment and the way that locations and places impact and influence human societies and development.
Embedded within this spatial science are subdisciplines, such as human, economic, and political geography that help us understand both historical and current events. Geography promotes knowledge of our world and the critical thinking skills required to understand it. Careers requiring knowledge of geography range from oil drillers, pilots, and engineers to forestry workers, government workers, and teachers. Graduates can also find jobs as anthropologists, cartographers, urban planners, and surveyors.
- 2023 median pay for geographers: $90,880/year according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
History
Historians seek to understand change over time. Through the study of history at JCC, you can better understand the rapid change to contemporary society and make decisions in your personal lives, careers, communities, and political positions. History also offers opportunities for lifelong learning.
JCC prepares you for a wide variety of careers that require weighing the credibility of evidence, interpreting information from a variety of sources and contexts, thinking critically about ideas, and communicating via writing, speaking, or technology. Careers in history include teaching, writing, historical research, law, business, not-for-profit management, government service, museum curation, and travel.
- 2023 median pay for historians: $72,890/year according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Political science
Political science is the study of government and politics at the national, state, and local levels as well as globally. JCC’s political science curriculum is excellent preparation for professional careers in law, government, public administration, urban planning, teaching, politics, and journalism. Most careers in political science require advanced studies at the master’s level and beyond. Studying political science also prepares you to exercise your rights as an American citizen.
Students interested in pursuing careers related to political science need to develop excellent skills in writing and speaking, as well as an understanding of the theoretical underpinnings and practical applications of government and politics. Students interested in global careers are encouraged to develop second language skills.
- 2023 median pay for political scientists: $132,350/year according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics