social science
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social science
An academic discipline that deals with how people live together in society. The term is often used in the plural for subjects such as sociology, political science, or ethnology.
Sie studiert Sozialwissenschaften im Master an der Humboldt-Universität.
She is studying social sciences in a master's program at Humboldt University.
The word is made up of 'sozial' (concerning society) and 'Wissenschaft' (science/academic discipline). So it literally refers to the science that deals with society.
Die Sozialwissenschaft untersucht das menschliche Zusammenleben.
Social science studies human coexistence.
The plural form 'Sozialwissenschaften' (social sciences) is used very frequently. It usually does not mean just one discipline, but a whole field of subjects such as sociology, political science, and communication studies.
An unserer Universität gibt es eine Fakultät für Sozialwissenschaften.
At our university, there is a faculty of social sciences.
In an academic context, this word is often combined with the verbs 'studieren' (to study) and 'forschen' (to do research).
Viele junge Leute wollen heute Sozialwissenschaften studieren.
Many young people today want to study social sciences.
sociology
'Soziologie' and 'Sozialwissenschaft' both deal with people in society. 'Soziologie' is a specific subject that studies social life, groups, structures, and developments. 'Sozialwissenschaft' is more general and can refer to several subjects, for example sociology, political science, or ethnology. That is why the words can be confused, especially in the context of studying or university. A simple guide is: sociology is a social science, but social science is not always just sociology.
In den Sozialwissenschaften geht es nicht nur um Soziologie, sondern auch um Politik und Kultur.
The social sciences are not only about sociology, but also about politics and culture.
Nach dem Abitur möchte Lena Soziologie studieren.
After finishing school, Lena wants to study sociology.