Sociology Degrees
Learning about human behavior within society is an interesting and enlightening education as well as a strong basis for many career paths. Sociology degrees provide an education that prepares students to work in a number of fields including Social Policy, Human Services, Criminal Justice, Community Relations, Social Science Research and Market Research. Sociology majors can typically choose to focus in one specialty area such as demography, criminology, politics, health or gerontology among many others.
Because sociology majors are able to work in a variety of fields, they may have a wider range of job options after graduation. However, jobs that are traditionally filled by those with a more career-focused degree may be harder to obtain. Sociology majors who specialize in criminal justice, gerontology and health will likely have the most job opportunities.
Degree Options
- Associate's Degree – An associate's degree in sociology will prepare students for some entry-level positions in fields such as human services or corrections and is a good basis for transferring to a related four-year degree program.
- Bachelor's Degree – A bachelor's degree will prepare graduates for a wide range of entry-level positions or to continue on with a graduate degree in a variety of fields.
- Master's Degree – A master's degree will qualify graduates for positions in management, research or social policy or as a community college instructor, demographer or urban planner.
- Doctoral Degree – A doctoral degree will enable graduates to become university and college instructors or obtain management positions in industry, research and policy institutions or government agencies.
Schools
Sociology degree programs are widely available at community colleges, universities and four-year colleges as well as at many highly regarded online schools. These schools need to be accredited by a regional accreditation agency to ensure that credits can be transferred and so that employers will give full value to the degree.
Coursework
Some examples of sociology coursework are described below:
- Principles of Sociology – Examines basic concepts, principles and methods of sociological analysis.
- Social Institutions – A variety of social institutions including family, educational, religious, political and health are examined from a variety of perspectives.
- Social Deviation – Students study the sociology of social problems such as crime, addiction and juvenile delinquency.
- Criminal Justice – This course covers components of the criminal justice system including the history, philosophy, structure and functions.
- Political Sociology – Sociopolitical structures, processes and institutions are examined. Topics such as power, authority, legitimacy, political identity and global integration are covered.
- Research Methods - Students study rationale, design and methods of sociological research.
Aptitudes and Interests
Students who choose to study sociology should have an innate interest in understanding human behavior and the interaction between individuals and society. Since sociology majors will often find themselves in careers working directly with individuals, good communication skills, a desire to help people improve their lives and an ability to build trusting relationships are all qualities they should possess.
Career Options
Career opportunities are numerous and span many different fields. Some of the options are listed here:
- Probation Officer
- Corrections Officer
- Human Service Assistant
- Market Research Analyst
- Social Science Researcher
Related Majors
- Anthropology - This is the study of humans throughout history and from different cultures.
- Social Work - Study of individual behavior along with hands-on counseling training.
- Criminal Justice - Includes study of human behavior along with criminal justice system and corrections courses.
- Public Health - Focus is on policy impact on public health issues.
How To Evaluate Sociology Degree Programs
Some important factors to consider when choosing a sociology program are listed below:
- Concentrations – Sociology programs at different schools offer a wide variety of concentrations so students will want to make sure their interests are represented among the options.
- Minors – Some students may want to minor in particular field so they need to verify beforehand that they will be allowed to choose that minor.
- Type of Degree – Sociology degrees can be earned as an Arts (A.A., B.A., M.A.) degree or a Science (A.S., B.S., M.S.) degree. Students may want to research which type is more applicable to their career goals since some employers prefer one type over the other.
- Convenience - Students who plan to work part-time or full-time may will want to look for a program that offers courses online or during evenings and weekends.
- Costs - Tuition and financial aid vary significantly between schools so students need to assess the overall costs and amount of loans that will need to be taken.
Resources
American Sociological Association
International Sociological Association
Urban Institute – Research of Record
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