Sociology Careers

Factual Questions
1

I’m a student who has recently switched majors to Sociology. It was a spur-of-the moment decision because I needed a new major FAST and it sounded enjoyable to me and better suited for my skills. Now that I’ve already started the process of changing majors, people started asking me what kind of job I can get with a Soc degree… and I have no idea. All the advising center tells me is very vague and insinuates that with sociology you can do anything! cue rainbows and unicorns

So what actual jobs can I get with a Soc degree, or have I unwittingly entered a field with no options without a PhD, and even then, the only option is teaching?

(may or may not be GQ, move if needed)

2

You can get any job where a college degree is required. Doesn’t have to be in the sociology field.

3

I’ve known a few people with Sociology degrees. One was a teacher, a few were case workers for social services, and one made sandwiches at the place I used to wait table before I went back to school.

4

Sociology and social science fields in general are excellent first steps toward graduate school.

But I suspect that’s not what you wanted to hear.

5

My husband has a master’s degree in Sociology. He’s a deputy warden in a state prison and he also teaches sociology to undergrads at our local branch campus.

It’s not exactly a major which opens a lot of doors. I guess it all depends on what you want to do.

6

Well, I’m coming out of an Animal Science major, which is pretty obvious in its career options, which are also significantly limited, which may be what makes this more puzzling for me.

7

I’d also think it would be a decent entry point for Law School and possibly Medical School. How much book learnin’ you want to be doing?

8

Not that much, that’s for sure! Actually, science classes are why I had to leave Animal Science and my dreams of vet school. :frowning: So med school is definitely out!

9

My husband’s probation officer has a degree in sociology.

10

I have a BA in Sociology from Univ of Oklahoma. I have a MA in Sociology from Duke. I was working on a Ph.D. when I decided that it was money that I wanted. I am now a Unix Systems Admin. Go figure.

Make sure you take and really understand your Social Statistics course. Take and really understand your Research Methods courses. There is work in survey research (and no I don’t mean working in a call center). I would highly recommend taking a Math Department based statistics course in addition to your Sociology courses.
The link below is to the American Sociology Association. It has good information concerning careers in sociology

The following link is a survey of seniors majoring in Sociology and where they are going:

http://www.asanet.org/galleries/default-file/BandB_Chartbook.pdf

11

My sister majored in Sociology, and now is a Pyschotherapist (she has received her Masters since that time). When she graduated with her Sociology degree, she went on to work with troubled kids (runaways, molestation victims, etc.), and eventually started working with Hospice as a counselor.

A good field if you like to help people.

12

a sociology degree is as useless (or as useful!) as any liberal arts degree.
To earn a salary , you’re going to have to do something else, not based on your sociology degree.–but having a degree can help you open doors.
Don’t count on your studies as leading to a career. Start thinking about the “Something else”–and look for ways to use those other interests to create a career.
Intern at a newspaper,or a politician’s campaign. Volunteer at a charity, helping children/elderly/ prison rehab/whatever. Then try to get a real job in whatever field you’ve done your volunteering. Having a degree (any degree, whether it’s in sociology or Greek philosophy )may help you at that point.