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Social sciences degree for single parents: tips for going back to school

While it will take planning, a social sciences degree for single parents can lead to fulfilling and rewarding career.

When considering returning to school, single parents may feel overwhelmed with the decision and unsure of where to turn. There are many issues to balance, from childcare to financing to scheduling. While it will take planning, a social sciences degree for single parents can lead to fulfilling and rewarding career.

A social science degree can open many doors depending on the subject focus, from a career in history to a career in sociology. These careers have varying educational needs with some requiring students to complete certificate programs while others require a master's degree.

These days, being a single parent will not make you an outsider among students and faculty. In fact, 12 percent of post-secondary students are single parents; that's almost 1 in 8. Colleges have academic advisers on site to help students go over their educational goals and determine what schooling is needed to acheive their career goals. Advisors can help also parents examine how to get the schooling they need without having a negative impact on family life. Many colleges provide other support programs for single parents, which can be quite advantageous and invaluable. 

Between work and childcare, very rarely do single parents have the ability to go to school full time. This may deter them from pursuing education but a social sciences degree for single parents can be achieved through part-time and online classes. Whether you're looking to obtain an associate degree or a bachelor's degree, there are many options in schooling that can fit in your schedule.

Many colleges offer flexible scheduling with varied times for classes. Rather than taking on a full course load, single parents are able to take a few classes at a time that work with their schedule, acheiving their degree over time rather than all at once. Meeting social sciences degree requirements doesn't have to require spending hours in a classroom. Many single parents are taking advantage of online study in a distance learning format that allows students to complete courses online from home. These courses vary in structure with some allowing students to work at their own pace and others requiring students to adhere to a schedule of assignment completion.

A career in psychology or in counseling requires more training than other social science careers. Internships may be required for this type of social sciences degree.

You may qualify for state assistance for childcare if you need it in order to attend work or school. By seeking this bit of help, obtaining your education can be a lot easier. 

Colleges today provide flexiblity for their students to acheive an upper-level education despite hardships. A social sciences degree for single parents is obtainable with the right resources and planning. By talking with advisers and understanding what type of scheduling your school offers, you can begin working toward this useful degree.

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