Overview
The State of California offers a variety of social sciences careers to support agencies across the state.
Social sciences professionals in state government help implement regulations, conduct research and analysis, evaluate programs and improve services for a variety of populations across California. These roles may focus on areas such as political science, economics, housing, behavioral health and social services.
What You Might Work On
In California state government, professionals in this field often:
- Perform research on policies and regulations, and draft reports with findings
- Answer the public’s questions about state-funded programs or policies
- Provide treatment to vulnerable populations in state institutions
Is This a Good Fit?
While roles and responsibilities vary, you might enjoy this field if you:
- Want to implement policies and programs that have a broad public impact
- Practice as a trained professional in psychology or social work in the public sector
- Enjoy performing research and analysis as part of your job
Job Classifications
What are job classifications?
Job classifications map to specific job titles found across California state government. A corresponding code maps to the required exam for that classification. For example, 00109252 is the code for psychologist.
How to use them:
You can use the job classifications to search for positions on CalCareers in the classification section within the advanced search filter. You can also use key words to find roles in the search bar on the home page. Below is a list of common examples, but additional roles and classifications can be found on CalCareers.
| Exam Code | Classification Name | Common Keywords | What You’ll Do |
|---|---|---|---|
| 00109252 | Psychologist | Psychologist; Psychology | Conduct psychological evaluations in accordance with applicable laws and regulations and submit detailed reports of findings. |
| 00105617 | Research Writer | Research; Writing | Summarize and interpret facts and trends shown in technical studies and reports; assist in the writing of releases and publications and of addresses to be given by other staff members. |
| 00101805 | Political Reform Consultant | Political Science; Reform | Make and communicate technical interpretations of the Political Reform Act of 1974 to those affected by the law; provide general information to the public concerning the law. |
| 00102801 | State Historian | Historian; History | Assigned tasks related to the collection, identification, classification, evaluation and preservation of a variety of objects and sites of historical interest |
| 00109871 | Social Work Associate | Social Work; Social Worker | Provide orientation to new patients or clients about hospital or community programs; interview patients or clients, relatives and others to obtain social information to be used in planning the treatment program. |
Where You Could Work
State government is broad — so where do you start?
One approach is to focus on a type of role. Another is to focus on a mission area or the kind of impact you want to have (i.e., in public health, education, transportation or elsewhere).
Keep in mind: mission areas often span multiple agencies, so you may find relevant roles in places you wouldn’t expect!
Professionals in this field work across many state agencies depending on mission area, including:
- Economics: California Secretary of State
- Psychology and Social Work: California Department of Human Services
- Public Policy: California State Controller’s Office
Examples of California Agencies with Social Sciences
Did you know you could have a social sciences career at one of these agencies? Note: This is not an exhaustive list of all the options in California state government, but a helpful starting place as you begin exploring your future social sciences career!
| Agency Name |
|---|
| California Department of Education |
| California Department of Real Estate |
| California Department of Rehabilitation |
| California Department of State Hospitals |
| California Secretary of State |
| California State Controller’s Office |
Sample Positions
Customer Service Analyst [00105157]
| Employer / agency | California Secretary of State |
|---|---|
| Location(s) | Sacramento County |
| Mission context | Uphold the rights of Californians while also striving to make our government, elections and businesses both accessible and transparent. |
In this role, you may:
- Review documents filed with the Political Reform Division and guide the public on filing and procedures
- Stay updated on changing regulations and rules, inform and train public area staff on campaign and lobbying registration and disclosure topics
Research Data Specialist – Economist [00105758]
| Employer / agency | California Department of Fish and Wildlife |
|---|---|
| Location(s) | Yolo County |
| Mission context | Manage and protect California’s diverse wildlife and the habitats upon which they depend. |
In this role, you may:
- Conduct economic studies to evaluate and assess the impact of fish, wildlife, habitat and human recreational losses due to oil spills
- Develop research methods and techniques to aid in the assessment of economic compensation to the public for injuries to aquatic and terrestrial natural resources
Psychologist [01009873]
| Employer / agency | California Department of State Hospitals |
|---|---|
| Location(s) | Los Angeles County |
| Mission context | Provide evaluation and treatment for individuals with complex behavioral health needs in a safe, equitable and responsible manner by leading innovation and excellence across a continuum of care. |
In this role, you may:
- Participate in a multidisciplinary treatment team providing assessments, diagnostic clarification and treatment for patients
- Work with community groups to develop supportive resources and conduct mental health education
