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Social Science Internship Jobs (NOW HIRING)

PPL

R&D Business Intern - Fall 2026

Providence, RI · On-site

Overview The PPL R&D Department is looking for business and/or social sciences interns to begin in August 2026 who are passionate about renewable energy, including wind and solar, energy storage ...

PPL

R&D Business Intern - Fall 2026

Allentown, PA · On-site

Overview The PPL R&D Department is looking for business and/or social sciences interns to begin in August 2026 who are passionate about renewable energy, including wind and solar, energy storage ...

PPL

R&D Business Intern - Fall 2026

Lexington, KY · On-site

Overview The PPL R&D Department is looking for business and/or social sciences interns to begin in August 2026 who are passionate about renewable energy, including wind and solar, energy storage ...

PPL

R&D Business Intern - Fall 2026

Louisville, KY · On-site

Overview The PPL R&D Department is looking for business and/or social sciences interns to begin in August 2026 who are passionate about renewable energy, including wind and solar, energy storage ...

Rutgers University

$2.7K/wk

Position Information Recruitment/Posting Title Instructor/Internship Coordinator for CCAS ... social sciences, and fine arts. The Faculty of Arts and Sciences includes three schools: the ...

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How much do social science internship jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 8, 2026, the average hourly pay for social science internship in the United States is $16.65, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $14.42 and $18.51 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

Is $20 an hour good for an internship?

For a social science internship, $20 an hour is generally considered above average, as many internships pay between minimum wage and $15 per hour. Higher pay may reflect specialized skills, competitive programs, or remote work options. Interns should also consider the experience, mentorship, and skill development opportunities offered alongside pay.

Which job is best for social science students?

Social science students often find internships and entry-level roles in research, policy analysis, community outreach, or social services to be suitable. These positions typically require strong analytical, communication, and research skills, and may involve working with data analysis tools or conducting interviews. Choosing a role aligned with their interests and skills can provide valuable experience for future careers.

What types of projects and tasks can I expect as a Social Science Intern?

As a Social Science Intern, you can expect to engage in a variety of projects, including assisting with data collection, literature reviews, survey design, and the analysis of qualitative or quantitative data. You may also help prepare reports, participate in team meetings, and contribute to research presentations. Interns typically work closely with experienced researchers and may have opportunities to collaborate across departments, gaining exposure to different areas within the field. This hands-on experience is valuable for developing both technical and communication skills, and often serves as a stepping stone to more specialized roles or graduate study.

What are the big 4 internships?

The 'Big 4' internships typically refer to internship programs offered by the four largest professional services firms: Deloitte, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), Ernst & Young (EY), and KPMG. These internships provide experience in consulting, auditing, tax, and advisory services and are highly competitive for students pursuing careers in business, finance, or accounting. For social science internships, these firms may offer roles related to research, data analysis, or policy consulting within their advisory divisions.

What careers can you get with a social science degree?

A social science internship can lead to careers in fields such as social research, policy analysis, community development, human resources, and public administration. These roles often require strong analytical, communication, and research skills, and may involve working in government agencies, non-profit organizations, or private companies.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Social Science Intern, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Social Science Intern, you need a strong background in research methods, data analysis, and social science theory, typically supported by coursework in sociology, psychology, or related fields. Familiarity with statistical software (such as SPSS, R, or NVivo) and experience conducting literature reviews are commonly required. Strong communication, critical thinking, and teamwork skills help interns effectively collaborate and present findings. These skills are important for producing rigorous research, supporting project goals, and contributing meaningfully to the team.

What is a Social Science Internship?

A Social Science Internship is a temporary position that allows students or recent graduates to gain practical experience in fields such as psychology, sociology, anthropology, political science, or related disciplines. Interns typically assist with research, data analysis, community outreach, or program development under the supervision of professionals. These internships provide valuable hands-on learning, networking opportunities, and insight into potential career paths within the social sciences.

What is the difference between Social Science Internship vs Social Research Assistant?

AspectSocial Science InternshipSocial Research Assistant
Required CredentialsTypically pursuing or recent graduate in social sciencesUsually requires a bachelor's degree in social sciences or related field
Work EnvironmentInternship programs, often in academic, government, or NGO settingsResearch projects, data collection, analysis in academic or research institutions
Employer & Industry UsageUsed by universities, NGOs, government agencies for trainingCommon in research firms, universities, policy institutes
Search & Comparison IntentUnderstanding entry-level opportunities in social sciencesLooking for research support roles in social science projects

In summary, a Social Science Internship is an entry-level, often educational experience designed for students or recent graduates, while a Social Research Assistant is a more specialized role involving active research support, typically requiring a relevant degree. Both roles are vital in social science research but differ mainly in experience level and job responsibilities.

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Social Science Internship jobs near you
Senior Computational Social Scientist

Senior Computational Social Scientist

Protagonist

Washington, DC • On-site

Full-time

Re-posted 3 days ago

Job description

Join Our Talented Team at Protagonist
We fuse rigorous, methodologically sound analysis with our cutting-edge technology platform, Narrative Analytics®. This powerful combination enables us to quantitatively analyze open-source media, deliver strategic recommendations, and craft executive-level communication strategies for clients with missions that matter.
Why Us?
Our team is a vibrant mix of communication specialists, data scientists, and subject matter experts with extensive experience across U.S. Government agencies, non-profit organizations, and Fortune 500 companies. By joining Protagonist, you'll immerse yourself in a collaborative environment where innovation thrives, and your contributions truly matter.
What We Do
  • Innovative Solutions: We co-develop cutting-edge solutions with our clients to address tough communication problems and capitalize on opportunities to make a tangible impact.
  • Data-Driven Insights: Our tools and methodologies provide actionable insights that help clients meet their communication objectives and stay ahead of global challenges.
  • Applied Expertise: We integrate our solutions within client organizations, leveraging our profound expertise to address critical issues and ensure sustainable success.
Be Part of Something Bigger
At Protagonist, you'll work on compelling projects that make a real difference. We seek talented individuals eager to contribute to our mission and grow alongside us. If you're passionate about communication, data analysis, and making an impact, we invite you to explore a career with Protagonist.
Explore Your Future with Us!
Ready to take the next step in your career? Join us at Protagonist and be part of a team that's making a difference.
Washington, DC | Full-Time | Hybrid
Job Description
In this role, you'll apply data science and analytic methods directly to projects, turning large, often unstructured datasets into findings that teams and clients can act on. Our work lives at the intersection of data science and social science: we pair computational techniques with an understanding of the social, political, and information dynamics behind the data. This is a multi-hatted role. You'll help lead our internal data efforts, stay hands-on with analysis and client delivery, and partner with the product team to shape Narrative Analytics™, the platform our analysts use every day. Whether you come from a social science research background, a product-and-analytics path, or a more technical track, what matters most is that you can take messy, real-world data and make it useful to our internal team and end customers.
Responsibilities
  • Lead our data efforts
    • Guide internal data science work: shape the approach, hold quality high, and keep analysis reproducible and defensible.
    • Design and apply classification models, clustering, and other ML/AI approaches to surface insight from large, unstructured datasets.
    • Translate qualitative research questions into structured analytical workflows.
  • Build AI-powered analytical workflows
    • Design prompts, LLM chains, and agentic workflows that automate classification, thematic coding, entity extraction, and summarization at scale.
    • Build and evaluate repeatable analytical products with real quality controls and human-in-the-loop checks.
    • Experiment with emerging techniques (RAG, multi-step reasoning, tool-using agents) to extend what we can deliver.
  • Make data usable and clear
    • Handle complex cleaning, transformation, and wrangling so the data stays trustworthy.
    • Build dashboards and visualizations (Tableau, Superset, or similar) that make insight clear to clients and colleagues alike.
    • Turn findings into actionable recommendations and present them directly to clients with clarity and confidence.
  • Shape the product and work across streams
    • Work hand in hand with the product team to shape Narrative Analytics™ around what users actually need, bringing the analyst's and client's perspective into product design.
    • Collaborate across analytics, product, and client teams so the work fits together and reaches the people who depend on it.
    • Mentor junior analysts and interns and contribute technical sections to proposals and white papers.
Requirements
  • Must be eligible to work on US Government contracts.
  • A degree in a quantitative or analytical field (data science, computer science, statistics, computational social science, political science, economics, communications, or a related discipline), or equivalent hands-on experience.
  • 5+ years of relevant experience with a bachelor's (or 3+ with an advanced degree), including at least 2 years focused on data science with a track record of real impact.
  • Hands-on experience working with text-as-data: media, social media, or open-source text corpora.
  • Working proficiency in Python and/or R, plus solid SQL for pulling, transforming, and validating data.
  • Familiarity with core NLP and ML methods (text classification, topic modeling, sentiment and stance detection, embeddings, transformers) and with applying LLMs in real workflows (prompt engineering, structured outputs, integration).
  • The ability to explain technical work to non-technical audiences and to thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative team.
Ideal Candidates
  • Existing security clearance (SECRET or higher) a plus
  • Experience designing structured content analysis or analytical frameworks for text data.
  • Experience in information environment assessment, strategic communication analysis, or media landscape monitoring.
  • Experience shaping analytical tools or platforms around real user needs.
  • Experience with computational social science methods (network analysis, narrative framing, document similarity) that go beyond keyword search.
  • Experience translating social science research questions into scalable computational approaches.
Additional Information
If you're passionate about technology and making an impact, apply today! Protagonist is dedicated to fostering a welcoming and innovative environment where everyone's voice can make a difference.
Protagonist is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Salary Range: $82,216-$129,885 based on education and level of relevant experience.
Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

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