What can I do with an M.A. or Ph.D in Sociology?

Question

Besides research?

Answer 1

If it's an MA, you can get into project work (not the same as social services - you need a different qualification for that) community development, working for Non-Government Organisations or charities etc. Usually, when you do an MA, you will specialise in a particular area which will then help you to gain employment in that area e.g. sociology of education - you may get work with a school outreach program, a university access program or with the Department of Education, if you research the sociology of sport, you could end up working for a sportwear company as a market researcher etc, if you do sociology of health, you could work for a hospital or health care company etc. If you are politically minded, you may get work as a lobbyist for a group representing the issue you researched for your thesis. It really depends on your area of expertise.

If you do a PhD, all of the above are possible, although most PhD students go on to a life of academia - lecturing and research.

Answer 2

Teach at a university

Be a top public relations manager at a company.

Answer 3

Be a grunt down at the Social Services center.

Answer 4

Lots of things.  I would imagine that most of the initially accessible opportunities would be in social services organizations, either governmental or non-profit...but you needn't be trapped in that box for the long term.  You can parlay social services experience into things like urban planning, criminology-related work, journalism, etc...your imagination is the limit.

A lot depends on your vocational background, not just your degree.  If you've never been in the workplace and you have a freshly minted MA, you're probably going to have to do some time in an entry level position (just like someone with a lesser degree).  If you work hard and get noticed, however, you're likely to advance up the career ladder (either within the same organization or elsewhere) faster than someone without the MA...by the same token, if you try to coast on your educational credentials, a go-getter with a BA is going to eat your lunch.

If you really like the field of study, but not enough to stay in academia, try to identify some industries and jobs you might like...then look for ways to use an advanced sociology degree as a back door into that field.  

A back door is a job that might not be exactly what you want to do, but which the company/industry you're looking at needs to fill...clerical work, low-level information technology jobs, anything that doesn't involve wielding a mop.  Once you're in the door, you will have more access to information about the jobs you do want and you'll have more opportunities to network and call attention to your abilities.