Why Sociology

Career Outcomes

Given the breadth, adaptability, and utility of Sociology, employment opportunities abound for BA graduates. You can secure entry level positions in many of the areas previously mentioned in defining the scope of sociology. The following is just a list of examples—many other paths may be open to you. Employment sectors include:

• social services—in rehabilitation, case management, group work with youth or the elderly, recreation, or administration
• community work—in fund-raising for social service organizations, nonprofits, child-care or community development agencies, or environmental groups
• corrections—in probation, parole, or other criminal justice work
• business—in advertising, marketing and consumer research, insurance, real estate, personnel work, training, or sales
• college settings—in admissions, alumni relations, or placement offices
• health services—in family planning, substance abuse, rehabilitation counseling, health planning, hospital admissions, and insurance companies
• publishing, journalism, and public relations—in writing, research, and editing
• government services—in federal, state, and local government jobs in such areas as transportation, housing, agriculture, and labor
• teaching—in elementary and secondary schools, in conjunction with appropriate teacher certification, as well as in higher education such as colleges and universities (with a terminal degree).

Obtaining work experience before applying to graduate school might improve your chances of acceptance and make further education more meaningful. An entry level job might also help you sharpen your interests and decide future directions—continuing to climb the career ladder, changing fields, or furthering your education.

The Liberal Arts Advantage

A bachelor’s degree in sociology provides an excellent liberal arts foundation for embarking on the wide range of career paths that many liberal arts majors pursue. Undergraduate training in sociology can open a variety of doors in business and the human services. Sociology majors who enter the business world work in sales, marketing, customer relations, or human resources. Those who enter human services work with youths at risk, the elderly, or people experiencing problems related to poverty, substance abuse, or the justice system.

When we ask sociology majors who are already employed outside academic settings to reflect on their education with the wisdom of hindsight, they value most highly their undergraduate courses in social research methods, statistics, and computer skills. These courses help make BA undergraduates marketable, especially in today’s highly technical and data-oriented work environment. In addition, sociology majors develop analytical skills and the ability to understand issues within a “macro” or social structural perspective. Learning the process of critical thinking and how to bring evidence to bear in support of an argument is extremely important in a fast-changing job market.

Consequently, with a BA in sociology, there is a competitive advantage in today’s information society. The solid base you receive in understanding social change—as well as in research design, data analysis, statistics, theory, and sociological concepts—enables you to compete for support positions (such as program, administrative, or research assistant) in research, policy analysis, program evaluation, and countless other social science endeavors.

The well-educated sociology BA graduate acquires a sense of history, an understanding of other cultures and times; the interconnectedness of social life; and different frameworks of thought. Proficiency is gained at gathering information and putting it into perspective. Sociological training helps students bring breadth and depth of understanding to the workplace. A sociology graduate learns to think abstractly, formulate problems, ask appropriate questions, search for answers, analyze situations and data, organize material, write well, and make oral presentations that help others develop insight and make decisions. Sociology BA graduates have an advantage in understanding human behavior on three levels:

• how individuals behave in organizations, families, and communities
• the ways in which these social units function as groups
• the wider social, political, and economic contexts in which decisions are made and in which groups function, including race, sex, and social class.

Multidisciplinary Possibilities

The power of a sociology major is amplified when taking a multidisciplinary approach. Employment analysts predict that the most successful people in the 21st century will be those who have been exposed to a wide variety of disciplines and have taken the time to study in some depth outside their field. 

You can begin the process of multiplying your perspectives as an undergraduate major in sociology by planning a double major with an area such as criminal justice, economics, English, anthropology, a second language, political science, or education. Or, you can take a minor or concentration in computer science, business management, marketing, human services, law and society, social work, or pre-law—just to name a few possibilities. Work with your advisor to develop an integrated set of courses that will provide depth in one or more areas.