$799 Per credit*
Gain the Reasoning and Writing Skills Hiring Managers Seek
Our Associate of Arts in Social Sciences degree will help you hone a strong fundamental understanding of social sciences. You will build quantitative reasoning skills and learn to write and think creatively, logically, and analytically as you explore the multitude of subject areas beneath the Social Sciences umbrella.
Social issues, human behavior, institutions, and media at large will become your topics of focus—engaging with trends and changes throughout history as well as those still taking shape in the present day.
An Associate of Arts in Social Sciences degree will equip you to analyze and interpret our wider world while advancing your personal or career goals.
Tuition*
Number of Credits
60 credits
Study Options
Online: may be completed 100% online
Hybrid: choose a mix of online and onsite courses
Onsite: all courses onsite
Online | Onsite | Hybrid
Fall | Spring | Summer
Full-Time | Part-Time
*For Fall ’26 or Spring ’27. See NYU Bursar site for more info.
4%
job growth 2024-2034
$51.8K
median salary
100%
working and/or in school
17,954
NYU SPS DAUS division alumni
Why This Degree?
Where You’ll Go
Employers value the skills liberal arts associate degree graduates hold.
Companies Hiring for this Degree
- Verizon Communications
- Marriott International
- Walmart
- GameStop
- Harbor Freight Tools
- Bank of America
- Accenture
- Elevance Health
- Advantage Solutions
- Bridgestone Corporation
- Siemens
- Lowe's
- Carter's
- Aston Carter
- State of South Carolina
- HCA Healthcare
- TEK Systems
- T-Mobile US
- Johns Hopkins
- Robert Half
- Capital One
Top Roles for this Degree
- Branch Managers
- Customer Service
- Operations Managers
- Project Coordinators
- Human Resources
- Project Managers
- Sales
- Account Managers
- Recruiters
- IT Support Specialists
The above data is sourced from Lightcast
Application Deadlines
Real World Experiences
Your journey might begin in the classroom, but we ensure that you can learn through experience—rolling up your sleeves and taking your studies to the real world.
Applied Learning
Courses are designed to tackle real-world problems as part of the curriculum. Students have the opportunities to work with real-world clients, solve real problems in course assignments, and work in co-ops, work study, internships and, in some cases, apprenticeships.
Learn More About Applied Learning
Global Field Intensives (GFI)
SPS offers a range of GFIs for students to explore and engage with businesses in that host location. Students meet with companies, explore the culture of the location, and interact with local residents.
Learn More About Global Field Intensives
Career Compass
The Career Compass is a growing online collection of real organizational challenges from companies and industries where DAUS students aspire to work. Students tackle these projects through their courses or outside of class—with direct feedback throughout from faculty—so that they graduate with a robust portfolio that demonstrates their career readiness and prepares them for professional success.
Students
You’ll find our students applying the skills they learned here in careers across business and academia.
Receiving the acceptance letter from NYU reinforced the notion that hard work and perseverance yield rewarding outcomes."
From Ecuador to NYU with Big Dreams
Read Carlos's Story
Receiving the acceptance letter from NYU reinforced the notion that hard work and perseverance yield rewarding outcomes."
Faculty
Our professors are masters of the classroom, but what they teach comes directly from their own experiences.
View Faculty DirectoryIt's an interesting time to put out music, but I'm sure to never lose sight of the fact that there is always a hunger for art."
Immanuel Wilkins
Adjunct Instructor, Division of Applied Undergraduate Studies
Read Immanuel's Story
It's an interesting time to put out music, but I'm sure to never lose sight of the fact that there is always a hunger for art."
Frequently Asked Questions
Associate Degrees in Social Science
What can I do with an Associate Degree?
The benefits of earning an associate degree can include increasing your earning potential, gaining greater job security, having additional career options, and advancing in your current career.
Associate degrees at NYU SPS transfer seamlessly into bachelor degree options and can make obtaining your NYU bachelor’s degree more affordable.
Is a Social Sciences education worth it?
A Social Sciences program is an interdisciplinary program that explores the social sciences, natural sciences, arts, human behavior, and much more, equipping you with in-demand skills, such as critical thinking.
What is the difference between an AA and an AS degree?
An Associate of Arts (AA) degree focuses on a liberal arts and social sciences-based general education, while an Associate of Science (AS) degree focuses more specifically on business, science, and technical fields.
How long does it typically take to earn a AA in Social Sciences at NYU SPS?
An Associate of Arts degree in Social Sciences at DAUS requires 60 credit hours. The degree can be completed in two years.
What can I do with an AA in Social Sciences?
Professionals who've earned an Associate of Arts In Social Sciences qualify for entry-level positions in fields as diverse as administration, human services, customer service, and project management. Additionally, earning an associate degree is an ideal launching pad for those considering going on to earn their bachelor's degree.
Does an AA in Social Sciences encompass any human behavior or liberal arts studies?
Yes. An AA in Social Sciences requires general education courses in areas such as the humanities, writing, quantitative reasoning, critical thinking, problem-solving, as well as the behavioral sciences.
Why should I study at NYU SPS Division of Applied Undergraduate Studies?
How does starting with an associate degree help me earn an NYU bachelor’s degree?
At NYU SPS, starting with an associate degree from the Division of Applied Undergraduate Studies (DAUS) gets you halfway to a DAUS bachelor’s degree at a reduced cost. If you are eligible for the Federal Pell Grant or New York State TAP, you may be able to complete the associate degree with no out-of-pocket tuition cost. You will gain career momentum from the associate credential, which you can put to work right away. Progress automatically, without reapplying or losing credits, into a DAUS bachelor’s degree. With or without additional financial aid for the bachelor’s program, you will earn the most affordable NYU bachelor’s degree.
Can I transfer credit earned from prior learning toward my DAUS associate degree?
DAUS allows students to bring a maximum of 30 credits into an associate’s degree.
Admissions Information
What are the admissions requirements for an Associate Degree in Social Sciences?
You can find information about admissions requirements on the Undergraduate Admissions page.
Do I qualify for admission into the NYU SPS Division of Applied Undergraduate Studies?
Applicants to our Associate and Bachelor's degrees must have completed some college credit in order to apply to the summer or fall semesters. Applicants who have not completed any college coursework may apply to the spring semester.
Learn moreIs an Associate of Arts degree affordable?
NYU SPS offers special pricing for its associate degrees that make them more affordable and competitive with CUNY and other community colleges.
If you are Pell/TAP eligible, you can complete an AA at effectively no cost. Our associate degrees are half the cost of our bachelor’s degrees.
We offer financial aid and scholarships for those who qualify.
How do I qualify for Guaranteed Admission?
To qualify for guaranteed admission, AA in Social Sciences degree candidates must have maintained a 2.8 GPA in high school and meet one of the following criteria:
- NYC public school graduate
- United States active service member or veteran
Can I afford this NYU degree?
Yes: NYU associate degrees are comparably priced to community colleges, and if you are eligible for Federal Pell grants or New York State TAP and start in the spring semester, NYU SPS will make up any difference between tuition and your government aid. You will complete the associate degree at no out-of-pocket tuition cost and be halfway done with an NYU SPS DAUS bachelor’s degree. Continue automatically into the DAUS bachelor’s degree without reapplying or losing credits.
Learn MoreAs an NYU SPS DAUS student, am I eligible for financial aid?
SPS Division of Applied Undergraduate Studies (DAUS) students are eligible to apply for several sources of financial aid. US citizens, permanent residents, and eligible non-citizens are eligible for NYU SPS DAUS Scholarship consideration and federal financial aid. Please note, students admitted to DAUS are not eligible for the NYU Promise (which is only available to first-time, full-time students).
NY State aid may be available for New York State residents. All applicants, regardless of citizenship status, may apply for private loans, and external (non-NYU) scholarships.
