What can I do with a major in sociology?

Areas

Counseling
Case Management
Advocacy
Mental Health Services
Programming
Administration

Employers

Community service agencies
Advocacy groups
Federal, state, and local government
United Way agencies
Local branches of national non-profit organizations
Religiously-affiliated service organizations
Private foundations
Adoption and child-care agencies
Nursing homes and retirement communities
Hospitals and wellness centers
Halfway houses
Vocational services
Educational information services
Insurance companies

Sample occupations

Gain experience and develop helping skills through volunteer positions.
Spend summers working at camps, YMCA's, or other social service agencies.
Gain experience working with diverse populations.
Develop excellent communication skills.
Concentrate course work in an area of interest such as youth, gerontology, or poverty.
Learn a second language in order to interact with non-English speakers and increase marketability.
Serve as a peer mentor, resident assistant, or other student leader.
Earn a master's degree in social work, counseling, or other related fields to increase employment opportunities.
Most states require licensure or certification for positions involving the direct provision of therapeutic services to clients.

Areas

Corrections
Rehabilitation
Law Enforcement
Judiciary

Employers

Correctional institutions
Court systems
Federal, state, and local government (especially law enforcement agencies)

Sample occupations

Gain practical experience via part-time or summer jobs, internships, or volunteer work.
Volunteer to work with troubled youth.
Obtain a graduate or law degree for advancement.
Consider obtaining experience in a branch of the military.

Areas

Teaching
Research

Employers

Public and private schools
Colleges and universities
Adult education providers

Sample occupations

Obtain certification/licensure to teach grades K-12.
Become certified to teach multiple subjects and age groups for increased job opportunities.
Earn a graduate degree for post-secondary teaching opportunities.
Assist a professor with research.
Take extra courses in research and statistics.
Develop exceptional written and oral communication skills.
Volunteer as a tutor.
Secure strong personal recommendations, particularly from professors.

Areas

Social Statistics
Demography
Public Administration
Policy Analysis
Research
Program Development
Human Services
City Planning
Law Enforcement

Employers

Federal departments and agencies such as:

• Departments of Agriculture, Education, Interior, Commerce, Defense
• Health and Human Services
• Drug Enforcement Administration
• Environmental Protection Agency
• Housing and Urban Development
• Veteran's Administration
• National Institute of Health
• National Institute of Aging

State and local government
Peace Corps

Sample occupations

Supplement curriculum with coursework in statistics and social research.
Develop exceptional computer, communication, and research skills.
Gain work experience via government internships, part-time jobs, or summer work.
Develop a specialty such as aging, family, criminal justice, or healthcare.
Learn the federal job application process.
Obtain a graduate degree for advanced positions.
Consider beginning a career with the government by joining the military.

Areas

Research
Data Analysis
Demography
Market Research
Information Sourcing

Employers

Universities
Government agencies
Research institutes
Non-profit agencies
Community organizations
Private industries
Advertising and marketing firms
Consulting organizations
Information brokers
Newspapers, magazines, news agencies
Public opinion research polls

Sample occupations

Develop exceptional quantitative, statistical, and writing skills.
Learn to use statistics software packages as well as database, spreadsheet, and desktop publishing programs.
Volunteer to help a professor with a research project.
Obtain an advanced degree in sociology for research administration positions.
Earn certification in applied social research by The American Sociological Association.
Network with professionals working in areas of interest.
Gain experience working on teams.

Areas

Employers

Waste management firms
Health agencies
Local planning agencies
Environmental advocacy groups
Environmental periodicals
Federal government
Regional, state, and local agencies
Consulting firms
Private industry

Sample occupations

Enhance curriculum with courses in ecology, environmental science, and statistics.
Join environment-related student organizations.
Volunteer to work on environmental clean-up projects.
Find a related internship, part-time, or summer job.
Obtain a graduate degree for advancement.

Areas

Human Resources: Training and Development, Recruiting
Management
Sales
Marketing
Public Relations
Office Administration

Employers

Insurance firms
Retail stores
Banks
Staffing agencies
Manufacturing companies
Service industries
Non-profit organizations
Healthcare organizations

Sample occupations

Earn a minor in business or supplement curriculum with courses in general business, accounting, and finance.
Gain business experience through part-time jobs, summer work, and internships.
Develop excellent computer skills.
Learn to use software applications such as spreadsheets, databases, and word processing.
Hone written and oral communication skills.
Join related professional organizations.
Seek leadership roles in student organizations.