Have you ever wondered what “studies” degrees are?
Programs like global studies, ethnic studies, science studies, and legal studies are popular paths of study in higher education.
How are these programs different from other degrees? What options are available to study? Are these degrees expensive, and what salaries can you expect from them?
If you’re considering a degree in one of the “studies” programs, this read is for you!
Different “Studies” Degrees
There are several “studies” degree programs. Most, if not all, are interdisciplinary and equip you with skills you can use in everyday life situations.
Let’s look at a few examples of these programs and what they entail.
Specifically, we’ll discuss gender, cultural, religious, science, and legal studies.
Gender studies
Gender studies degrees dive into the social, cultural, and political constructions of gender.
They offer unique perspectives on the world, helping you understand how existing social norms around gender affect our lives.
Pursuing gender studies will open your mind to different ways of thinking and analyzing social issues.
You’ll gain the knowledge and skills needed to challenge gender differences relating to several subjects like equal pay and access to resources.
Students in this program explore new approaches to various questions, such as:
- What is gender inequality? Is it based on differences in lived experiences across historical periods or inherent differences between men and women?
- Does gender play a role in different professions, say medicine, engineering, science, or technology?
If you’re interested in understanding the answers to these questions, then gender studies is for you.
You should know that studies on gender aim to create a more inclusive world, where society’s expectations of a person’s gender don’t restrict their opportunities in life. This kind of world is essential to strive towards.
Most graduates of this program become researchers, policy analysts, public relations specialists, or social justice advocates.
Cultural studies
Cultural studies degrees use a multidisciplinary approach to analyze social structures, human behaviors, and attitudes.
These degrees draw from the theory and practice of various social sciences and humanities degrees. Some areas that you will be exposed to include history, sociology, anthropology, politics, literature, economics, and communications.
This field aims to identify how culture builds society and how we can use it to drive social change.
Are you interested in initiatives that make the world a better place? This degree might be interesting to you!
Specializing in cultural studies teaches you how to approach cultures as practices and processes. These interact and change constantly, as opposed to being fixed structures.
Cultural studies can increase your awareness of the world and how you function within it.
With this degree, you can work as an anthropologist, archeologist, diversity and inclusion manager, and more.
Religious studies
Religious studies focus on examining religions across the globe.
In this program, students take a comparative, factual, and fair-minded approach to exploring the beliefs, customs, and institutions of different religions.
Expect to compare and contrast different aspects of religions. This process includes analyzing the historical context of specific beliefs or institutions and their operating principles.
Religion is a significant aspect of human life and has been for centuries. Studying it will help you understand yourself, your community, and the context you operate within it. You’ll also gain insight into how religious practices shape the world.
Getting a degree in religious studies gives you the skills necessary to join various professions. You could find yourself working in the field of mediation, teaching, social work, and more.
Science studies
As a discipline, science studies is a versatile research area. It defines the role of science and scientific processes in broad contexts. These may be historical, political, social, or philosophical contexts.
Degrees in science studies are arguably the most flexible of all the studies degrees.
You can choose to explore the interaction of science and everyday life, as well as the contribution of scientific processes to various subjects. Some common examples you might be exposed to include bioethics, pollution, and in-vitro fertilization.
These degrees involve analyzing the production, presentation, and reception of scientific knowledge in various situations.
You’ll also examine the methods scientists use to investigate specific phenomena, including:
- Research ethics and science policy
- The relation between cognition, emotion, and rationality when employing scientific processes in different contexts
If you’d like to get into the science world but have no clue where to start, this program may clarify things for you.
With a degree in science studies, you can work as a researcher or a data analyst. You can also venture into specific fields, such as geology.
Legal studies
Legal studies degrees are concerned with the law.
The field offers a broad understanding of legal systems, the formation of regulations, and the primary stakeholders in the legal process.
You’ll learn how the law interacts with different aspects of society, including political, social, and economic issues. Besides this, majoring in legal studies will help you develop several important skills.
These include:
- Effective language and communication skills
- Analytic reasoning and problem-solving skills
- Critical thinking skills
You’ll examine topics such as environmental law, legal theory, criminal justice, commercial law, legal research and writing, and so on. With exposure to these topics, a legal studies education provides several career options.
A legal studies degree is a good entry point into the law profession. You can also become a paralegal, social worker, corrections officer, police detective, and more.
How Do “Studies” Degrees Compare To Others?
The main difference between “studies” and professional degree programs is their multidisciplinary approach.
“Studies” degrees offer courses in a range of subjects. You have the unique advantage of choosing areas you’re interested in and would enjoy learning.
You also get a broad-based educational foundation without committing to a specific field of study, as is required in other degree programs.
This makes “studies” degrees the best option for you if you’re undecided about what to pursue. You can always pair it with another major if you find one that you would like to pursue.
Which “Studies” Degree Is The Most Expensive?
The cost of a “studies” degree depends on the institution offering it and how they’ve structured its curriculum.
From the programs we’ve discussed, cultural studies degrees are the most expensive to pursue.
They cost more than $10,000 in tuition and fees per academic year. The other degrees discussed cost between $5 672 and $9,499 per year.
Which “Studies” Degree Has The Highest Salary Outcome?
“Studies” degrees can lead to good job opportunities. The opportunities you can expect depend on the degree you pursue, as well as the courses you take.
From the “studies” degrees we discussed, cultural studies degrees have the highest expected salary outcomes.
With a cultural studies degree, you’ll earn a median annual income of about $52,529. This is higher in comparison to some degrees like religious studies, the average income for which is around $46,581.
If you use your cultural studies degree to become an anthropologist or an archaeologist, you can expect to earn around $ 61,910 annually.
Final Thoughts
Generally, “studies” degrees lay the groundwork for pursuing a variety of careers.
While we’ve only looked at a few options, there are many more out there. From regional and disability studies to French, Tibetan, and industrial studies, the options are endless!
Go through this list of studies degrees to find one that matches your current interests. This may be the first step to finding your career path if you’re still weighing your options.
After completing her degree in Conservation Biology, Righa took the freelance route to become a content writer. She now works at a content marketing firm and spends most of her free time gardening and bird-watching.