To major in Sociology?

Question

I studied a 1/2 semester course of sociology in high school and I love it. It was really interesting and the class was very discussion and opinion focused class. I love these kind of things.

If I were to major this in college, what are some jobs that I can have as an adult?? Any decent jobs?

Answer 1

My BS is in Sociology (LOVED it!) it's an awesome line of study! As for careers though, it really depends on what you like to do. First off, go talk to a college career counselor (keep asking around) and ask about it for where you live.

But really, to keep it simple, think along the same lines as social work. (if you hit it early on enough, you may even be able to double count many of the classes and even double major in social work, psychology or even anthropology.) those are some other classes you may want to look into as they are all based on the study of people.

good luck!

Answer 2

Sociology is a GREAT area of study.  As said in an earlier post…you should check with your university career counselor to cover all of your options.  I’m glad you said the ‘discussion’ aspect of your Sociology course was fun for you….I truly believe that the BEST way to learn concepts in Sociology is through discussion.  I am including a link to the ASA website where you can see a list of careers in Sociology once you have obtained your Bachelor's. You can also check out the ASA website for jobs w/a Master's, etc. GOOD LUCK to you!

http://www.asanet.org/cs/root/leftnav/ca...

http://www.asanet.org/

Here are a few examples:

Administration: A professional with a degree in sociology is well prepared for administrative positions, particularly in government and public agencies that administer human services. Sociologists in leadership roles help define policies toward groups of people in need of public assistance. By leading teams of researchers and social work professionals, sociologists can reshape their communities.

Business: A degree in sociology prepares a student for a career in 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.

Corrections: As the prison population in our country continues to expand, many local governments hire sociologists to understand the impact of tougher laws on neighborhoods. Sociologists also help corrections officials determine the effects of new programs and regulations on the prison population.

Counseling: Some counselors and therapists study sociology in order to better understand some of the larger trends they see among patients. By using the kinds of pattern analysis techniques that sociologists are known for, counselors can focus their practices on critical needs in their communities.

Education: A person with a sociology degree may choose to pursue a career in education. A bachelor's degree and teaching certificate are adequate for teaching classes such as political science, history, and social science at the high school level. Ph.D. level graduates may pursue careers at the college and university level.

Investigations: Sociology professionals play larger roles at major investigative bureaus, especially the Federal Bureau of Investigations. Working with detectives and profilers, sociologists help law enforcement officials anticipate crime by identifying obscure patterns. Targeting areas that are likely to be the focus of criminals allows officials to deploy scarce resources more effectively. Therefore, investigators can close cases more quickly while improving the quality of life in previously dangerous areas.

Journalism: Sociology majors with a proven ability to communicate well may find a home for their talents in a variety of news gathering organizations. 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: Sociology degree holders can play numerous roles in the political community. Campaign managers hire sociology professionals who can 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.  At numerous government organizations, sociologists analyze patterns that can affect the political and economic balance of the county. Examining the trends in housing construction and measuring the number of citizens who move to new cities can provide lawmakers with a clear picture of the challenges facing Americans today. Sociologists can also help lawmakers predict the success or failure of proposed legislation based on voting patterns and current research findings.  Most importantly, sociologists manage the process of counting citizens in our census program every ten years. Instead of merely counting individuals in the country, as mandated by law, sociologists use the opportunity to conduct deeper interviews that reveal larger trends when compared to past results.

Public Relations: Some sociology majors with an interest in journalism find jobs as public relations officers for major corporations. By reviewing market research data and understanding historic trends, sociologists can anticipate challenges when rolling out new products or building infrastructure. Sociologists who truly  

Answer 3

Well there's no way to add much to the answer including the ASA website but here's what I learned while getting my BS in Soc...

I was worried, too, about what I would use it for.  I took my concerns to a couple of very trusted professors, and to my adviser.  

The point is...Sociology teaches fundamental skills.  By majoring in Soc, you will learn how to learn better.  You will learn critical thinking skills other majors do not offer.  You will learn to be analytical and critical, but also instinctively offer suggestions for improvement.  You will find that you come up with inventive ideas before others.  Sociology teaches your mind to work in a new way, to look at the world in a new way.

Also, you mentioned you love the open discussion atmosphere...this is a huge benefit of the program.  In that regard, a Sociology degree will equip you with group work skills.  You will learn to be independent but also to work closely with others and how to feed your ideas off one another.

These skills are crucial in the job market right now.  

I got hired at State Farm Ins. a week after graduating with my BS in Soc.

You should go for it.  It's amazing.  It ends up being not just a major but a part of who you are.

Good luck!

Answer 4

I was a double major in both Psychology and Sociology (both Bachelor of Arts degrees).  After graduation, the highest paying job that I found (and worked at for four years) was at the Social Security Administration as a caseworker.  I am currently in a transition to teaching program obtaining my master's in Education...which is to say, I didn't end up happy at the caseworker position.  If you like the field, and want to do research, you absolutely have to obtain at least a master's degree in Sociology.  Otherwise, you will end up doing case-manager types of positions - maybe something you're interested in, maybe not.