As you will see by looking below at the various social science disciplines, a great deal of knowledge goes into meeting the primary purpose of social studies as envisioned in 1992 by the National Council of Social Studies. Learning the points of contact and the commonalities of the various social science disciplines is one way of increasing that knowledge.

Learning Activity, Part 1

Before reading the content below, scan the above heading. Jot down some of the possible interrelationships between the various disciplines on the document provided.

Anthropology
According to the American Anthropological Association, anthropology "is the study of what makes us human." It comprises the sub-disciplines of archaeology (studying "human culture by analyzing the objects people have made"); biological anthropology (understanding "how humans adapt to different environments, what causes disease and early death, and how humans evolved from other animals"); cultural anthropology (the exploration of "how people in different places live and understand the world around them"); and linguistic anthropology, the study of how people communicate, across space and time (What is anthropology? 2019).

Economics
In the field of economics, "the study of individual decisions is called microeconomics. The study of the economy as a whole is called macroeconomics…. Using theoretical models or empirical data, [economists] evaluate programs, study human behavior, and explain social phenomena…. Economics intersects many disciplines. Its applications include health, gender, the environment, education, and immigration" (What is economics? 2019).

Geography
"Geographers explore both the physical properties of Earth's surface and the human societies spread across it. They also examine how human culture interacts with the natural environment and the way that locations and places can have an impact on people." Geography contains two broad categories: physical geography and human geography. The first comprises "the study of Earth's seasons, climate, atmosphere, soil, streams, landforms, and oceans," while the second "is the study of the distribution of networks of people and cultures on Earth's surface" (What is geography? 2019).

History
"History is the study of change over time, and it covers all aspects of human society. Political, social, economic, scientific, technological, medical, cultural, intellectual, religious and military developments are all part of history. Usually professional historians specialize in a particular aspect of history, a specific time period, a certain approach to history or a specific geographic region" (What is history? n.d.).

Political Science
Political scientists study governments, public policy, "political processes…and political behavior." Within these areas are further sub-areas: "political theory, political ideology, political economy, policy studies and analysis, comparative politics, [and] international relations," and more. Political science combines "humanistic and scientific perspectives" and uses "a variety of methodological approaches to examine the process, systems, and political dynamics of all countries and regions of the world" (For students: Political science opportunities, 2019).

Psychology
Psychology may be the most personal of the social science disciplines. As an area of research and practice, it "advances our understanding of human emotion, personality, intelligence, memory, perception, cognition, attention, and motivation, as well as the biological processes that drive these human functions and behaviours…. In essence, psychology studies individuals and groups to better understand how people, communities, and societies function and [find] ways to help them thrive" (What is psychology? 2019).

Sociology
According to the American Sociological Association, sociology "is…the study …of the social lives of people, groups, and societies[;] the study of our behavior as social beings, … from the analysis of short contacts between anonymous individuals on the street to the study of global social processes[;] … [and] an overarching unification of all studies of humankind, including history, psychology, and economics" (What is sociology? 2019).

Learning Activity, Part 2

Now that you have taken a look at the various social science disciplines, revisit the learning activity at the top of the page and jot down on the lines below any further interrelationships of these disciplines you may have noticed.