What do Sociologists Do?

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CAREERS IN SOCIOLOGY

It's not an easy decision.
Choosing a career is an important rite of passage. It is a major part of the transition one makes from being a student of a discipline to a practitioner of that discipline. The choice of a career is not something one should take lightly or make haphazardly. In some cases, the choice of a career becomes a life long commitment. But is it realistic to expect that after four or five years of study a person is really prepared to choose a career that may last a lifetime? This is especially true since only about a quarter of these four or five years is actually spent studying a selected specialty. In some disciplines, the commitment to career requires a narrow focus of training. The greater the specialization, the less flexibility exists in career choices or changes after the commitment is made. To make a change in such a field later in life often requires earning additional degrees or substantial retraining. One of the greatest benefits of earning a bachelors degree in sociology is that it is, perhaps, the best "all-purpose" degree that qualifies the recipient for a wide variety of career choices.

When looking at a career choice from this perspective, it sounds like a decision more important than choosing a mate! But before being overwhelmed with decisions, relax and think in generalizations. It is not uncommon for people to change careers during their lifetime, not just once or twice, but several times. Even if the sociology major isn't the perfect choice for you, it can still lay a solid foundation to pursue many other career opportunities. Sociology has several advantages over other disciplines in offering career choices that will be challenging and personally satisfying.

Taking the first step in deciding.
When trying to decide if sociology is the major for you, the first thing to do is to determine if you are compatible to the general qualities and interests common to sociology majors. Ask yourself a few simple questions.

Are you interested in the social environment?
Are you interested in society?
Are you interested in contemporary society?
Do you care about people who are disadvantaged?
Do see problems in the world and feel that you can make a difference?
Do you like working with different groups of people?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, sociology is probably a major you should consider pursuing as an undergraduate in preparation for a career in the field. If you are not yet a sociology major, take a course or two in the discipline. Begin with the introductory course. If you find it of special interest and fulfilling, try an advanced course. By "testing the waters" with two or three courses in the discipline you will be able to make a more informed and calculated decision on whether or not sociology should be your choice as a major and career. Without making a commitment yet, you will only be using a few credits to make this decision. In most cases, some of these credits will probably apply to your general education requirements, so there's really nothing to lose!

What if sociology appears to be the choice for me?
If you do choose sociology as your major you will soon discover a very wide range of variety and freedom in matching your interests with course offerings, internship opportunities, and extra curricular activities within the community that will help accent your formal education. The following are just a few of the interests students of sociology share:

Biotechnology and genetics
Collective behavior
Community studies
Comparative institutions
Corrections
Criminology
Culture and personality
Deviant behavior
Ecology
Ethics
Formal organizations
History of social thought
Industrial sociology
Juvenile delinquency
Law
Marriage and family
Mass communication
Mass culture
Mathematical sociology
Medical sociology
Methodology
Minority groups

Political sociology

Population

Race relations

Research

Rural sociology

Small groups

Social change

Social control

Social disorganization

Social gerontology

Sociology of Everyday Life

Social organization

Social problems

Social psychology

Social stratification

Sociology of education

Sociology of knowledge

Sociology of religion

Sociology of the child

Statistics

Sociological theory

Urban sociology

Career opportunities associated with my sociology degree.
Upon graduation, you'll enter the job market with an edge on other well-qualified men and women who will be competing with you. As a sociology major, you will have a greater appreciation for cultural differences, the ability to examine situations analytically, an understanding of the sociological imagination, and a number of people skills that are synonymous with earning a sociology degree. These skills are transferable to just about every position for which you are qualified. Some of the areas of employment and associated careers especially enticing to sociology graduates include the following fields:

Advertising - Mass Communication Analyst, Motivational Research, Public Opinion Polls

Banking and Finance - Community Relations, Customer Relations, Employee Relations, Organizational Planning, Personnel Administration

Biotechnology - Research Assistant, Genetics Counselor, Public Relations

Communications Consumer Research, Labor Relations, Employee Relations, Mass Communications Analysis, Public Opinion Polls

Criminal Justice - Law Enforcement Officer (Federal, State, Regional, Municipal), Criminology, Delinquency Prevention, Corrections, Probation and Parole, Court Administration, Private Security

Insurance - Area Studies, Community Relations, Customer Relations, Employee Relations, Population Studies, Public Health

Manufacturing - Community Relations, Employment Interviewing, Customer Relations, Employee Relations, Population Studies, Public Health

Marketing - Consumer Research, Motivational Research, Population Administration

Merchandising - Consumer Research, Customer Relations, Personnel Administration

Medical Services - Alcoholism and Drug Abuse, Addiction Research, Community Relations, Employee Relations, Hospital Casework, Medical Sociology, Organizational Planning, Public Health

Recreation and Travel - Consultant, Tour Guide, Travel Liaison, Activities Travel Coordinator, Activities Director, Recreation Specialist, Therapeutic Recreation Aid

Social Services And Government - Child Welfare, Social Work, Community Agency, Community Planning and Development, Community Organization, Family Welfare, Group Interaction, Housing Studies, Interviewing, Manpower Resource Studies, Population Studies, Public Welfare and Housing Casework, Race Relations, Urban Planning

What is the outlook for employment opportunities a few years from now?
Career opportunities are undergoing a number of changes, all of which will be beneficial to the student who graduates with a degree in sociology. For the past several decades the American economy has been shifting more and more to a service-oriented emphasis. There are more people living in America over age 65 today than ever before. Social problems continue to plague every aspect of American life. Inner cities are facing both decay and reconstruction as a sprawling suburbia reshapes what used to be the small town and rural landscape. It's a shrinking world that relies more and more on global cooperation in international relations, marketing, and political cooperation. At the same time, society continues to be more credentialized, demanding that applicants possess a minimum of a four-year degree.

For more information:
If these few pages have inspired you to consider sociology as a major and subsequent career, you'll want to explore the following web sites for more information. You'll also want to attend various "Job Fairs" and other such events that your college or university may be hosting. Start attending these early in your college career. Even though the agencies may be looking for graduates, you'll begin your own network of possible career opportunities after you walk down the isle to receive your diploma. In addition, many of these agencies look for part-time employees and may offer summer employment or internships.

http://www.abacon.com/sociology/soclinks/index.html
Allyn and Bacon Sociology Links: A Complete List of Allyn and Bacon Link Pages. This super site provides a wealth of information on the various areas of interest related to sociology. It also contains links to agencies that may be of interest to sociology majors such as VISTA and the Peace Corps.

http://www.abacon.com/socsite/careers.html
Careers in Sociology(2nd Edition) by W. Richard Stephens Jr. This book answers the often asked questions, "What can I do with a degree in sociology?" It provides meaningful answers to a specific targeted audience, which is typical students 18 to 20 years of age taking their first sociology courses.

http://angelfire.com/or/sociologyshop
The Sociology Shop (TSS) is a concept, a website, and a goal. As a concept it is the idea that sociology, and critical sociology in particular, should be an exciting, broad, and informing subject. To paraphrase how one commentator put it, sociology in The Sociology Shop is broadly conceived of and knows no bounds, while stressing academic and intellectual matters and at the same time encompassing all aspects of life (economic, political, psychological, and so forth) of concern to non-academic audiences.

http://www.asanet.org
The American Sociological Association is the premier professional organization dedicated to the discipline. The ASA provides a wide variety of services through this link for sociologists, social scientists, students, and the public. Career and employment information linked to the site will be of special interest to sociology majors preparing to enter the job market.

http://www.asanet.org/page.ww?section=Careers+and+Jobs&name=Careers+in+Sociology
Careers in Sociology is a book offered by the American Sociological Association addressing careers in the field. It is regularly revised and reflects a collaboration of a number of sociologists. In addition to addressing questions and concerns college students may have about sociology, it also appeals to the high school senior as a potential student of the discipline.

http://www.asanet.org/page.ww?section=Careers+and+Jobs&name=Sociology%3A+A+World+of+Opportunities
Sociology: A World of Opportunities is an ASA publication addressing career opportunities from the global perspective.

http://www.asanet.org/page.ww?section=Publications&name=Publications
The American Sociological Association offers a wide range of pamphlets, brochures, and books on careers in sociology. Many of these are free and others are offered at a very low cost.

http://www.bradley.edu/las/soc/soc/career.html
Bradley University has developed this web link to its sociology program. It highlights careers in sociology and is a "user friendly: site. A variety of career and employment opportunities are covered.

http://www.csuchico.edu/soci/careers.html
The California State University at Chico provides an extensive web site featuring career information, area job listings in the area of Chico, CA, help on writing resumes and cover letters, and tips for successful interviews.

http://www.faculty.rsu.edu/~felwell/HomePage/careers.html
Why study sociology? If undecided on whether or not you want to study sociology, take a look at the careers sociology majors have landed. The site includes additional links to Career Stats, Careers in Sociology, Becoming an Applied Sociologist, and The Occupational Outlook booklet.

http://facweb.furman.edu/dept/sociology/Opportunities/Opportunities.htm
Careers in Sociology is an excellent web site originating from Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina. It provides solid career advice with instructions on how to receive further help from the American Sociological Association.

http://www.gettysburg.edu/academics/sociology_anthropology/career_graduate_opportunities/index.dot
Gettysburg College is the home base of this excellent website. Not only does it include helpful advice on careers in sociology related professions, it also provides excellent links to pages that discuss graduate schools offering degrees in sociology and tips on making a successful application for acceptance to graduate school.

http://sociology.missouri.edu/Undergraduate%20Program/Undergraduate_Program/Occupations.html
The University of Missouri at Columbia is the home of this website. It lists a number of professions related to sociology at the bachelor's, masters, and doctoral level. The site takes the reader through the university's undergraduate program including requirements for graduation with the Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology.

http://www.socialservices.com
Social Service.Com: The place to start your social service job search. This web site contains a "pull down" menu for both job seekers and employers/recruiters. Social Services.Com is a great place for social workers and other social service professionals to start looking for a social service or social work job. The service offers free e-mail notification of job postings. It also offers new job links in your state!

http://www.aacc.edu/socgeo/apsoqandahome.cfm
Applied Sociology and Sociological Practice. This growing site will provide information on applied sociology from contemporary sociologists. As an applied department, the Department of Sociology and Geography at Anne Arundel Community College welcomes you, applied clients and students to use the information on this site.

http://www.monster.com
Monster.com is one of the major Web job search services that provides assistance with preparing you and your job application for your job search. It also has numerous job field specific strategies which include government and corporation searches.

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