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Sociology Degree Careers

What can you do with a College Degree in Sociology?

An undergraduate degree in sociology may lead to careers in advertising and market research, public-opinion polling, law enforcement and criminal justice, city planning, real estate, social work, community relations, and a variety of other occupations in the public and private sectors.  In order to facilitate the understanding of how sociology can be applied in real social organizations, students are encouraged to take an internship in an organization or agency serving the community or in a social research setting.  Our graduates are also prepared to continue the study of sociology at the graduate level for careers in human service, research, or teaching.

 Here are some careers that a Sociology major may enter:

  •  Administration: Sociologists in leadership roles help define policies toward in government and public agencies. By leading teams of researchers and human services workers, sociologists can reshape their communities.
  •  Business: Sociologists research consumer trends and work with market researchers to discover new opportunities to meet the public's needs. Some corporations employ sociologists to impact the social effects of major projects like plant relocations or store openings. Sociologists also help product designers understand the overall trends shaping consumer culture in order to inspire tomorrow's hot new products.
  •  Counseling: Some counselors and therapists study sociology in order to better understand some of the larger trends they see among patients. By using sociological understandings of the causes of “personal troubles,” counselors can focus their practices on critical needs in their communities.
  •  Education: An emphasis in Sociology enable teaching in the social sciences at the high school level. Ph.D. level graduates may pursue careers at the college and university level.
  •  Journalism: Newspapers and local broadcast news outlets employ sociologists to help understand the kinds of stories that engage readers, viewers, and listeners in a particular region. Sociologists work with editors and market researchers to identify the right balance of news that audience members expect with the stories that need to be reported to uphold civic responsibilities.
  • Politics: Campaign managers hire sociologists to identify critical neighborhoods that can make or break an election. By understanding the traditional voting patterns of key districts along with the crucial issues that concern voters, campaigners can deploy volunteers and activists to win over voters. Sociologists analyze patterns that affect the political and economic balance of the county. Sociologists can also help lawmakers predict the success or failure of proposed legislation based on voting patterns and current research findings.  
  •  Public Relations: By reviewing market research data and understanding historic trends, sociologists can anticipate challenges when rolling out new products or building infrastructure.
  • Research: Sociologists serve as independent research consultants who examine trends in human behavior for a variety of clients.
  • Senior Services: Numerous outreach organizations and government agencies are hiring sociologists to study the effects of an again population on our culture. Sociologists predict the opportunities for future generations to thrive in a country with far fewer residents.
  • Youth Services: Sociologists work in a variety of government agencies and nonprofit institutions to monitor the impact of policies and parental habits on today's young people. Sociologists examine the challenges that young people face when interacting with people of other generations. They also examine the significant cultural shifts driven by young people's tastes in popular culture.Community Organizing and Advocacy: Sociologists play an important role in non-profit organizations and advocacy agencies in organizing and advocating for social change on behalf of disadvantaged groups in society.

Adapted from: http://www.worldwidelearn.com/online-education-guide/social-science/sociology-major.htm