What to do with a Sociology Degree

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=110 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="12bf0f21egerdp.jpg"> <div> <B><IMG SRC="12c203c0.jpg" border=0 width="32" height="60" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B><FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#66334C" FACE="Arial" ><B>SOCIOLOGY 212: RESEARCH METHODS</B></FONT><B>      |     </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="SOCIOLOGY 212: RESEARCH METHODS"><U><B>home</B></U></A></div> <div> back to<B>  </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="SOCIOLOGY 212: RESEARCH METHODS"><U><B>SOCIOLOGY 212: RESEARCH METHODS</B></U></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=210 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="12af2f02egerdp.jpg"> <div> <A HREF="id2.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Syllabus"><U>Syllabus</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id3.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Research Project"><U>Research Project</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id32.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Course Grading"><U>Course Grading</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id4.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Exercises"><U>Exercises</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id5.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Articles / Overheads "><U>Articles / Overheads </U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id6.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="SPSS Tutorial"><U>SPSS Tutorial</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id20.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Excel Graphs/Charts Tutorial"><U>Excel Graphs/Charts Tutorial</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id21.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Contact Info"><U>Contact Info</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id29.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Past Research Titles"><U>Past Research Titles</U></A></div> <div> <B>What to do with a Sociology Degree</B></div> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" height=370 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="12df0f03.jpg"> <div> What to do with a Sociology Degree</div> <bR> <div> <I> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="658" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=CENTER HEIGHT= 111 WIDTH="648"><div> <I><B>What can I do with a sociology degree?</B></I></div> <div> Believe it or not, there are many careers out there for sociology majors. Below, you will find areas of job interest, employers who hire in that area, and strategies (including classes to take, experience to gain, interviewing, etc.) to get that job. </div> <div>  </div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></I></div> <bR> <div> <B> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="664" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=CENTER HEIGHT= 20 WIDTH="148"><div> <B>Areas</B></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=CENTER WIDTH="248"><div> <B>Employers</B></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=CENTER WIDTH="248"><div> <B>Strategies</B></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 204 WIDTH="148"><div> <B>Environment & Society</B></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Waste Management Firms </div> <div> Health Agencies </div> <div> Local Planning Agencies </div> <div> Environmental Advocacy Groups </div> <div> National Advocacy Groups </div> <div> Environmental Periodicals </div> <div> Federal Government </div> <div> Regional, State, & Local Agencies </div> <div> Consulting Firms </div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="248"><div> Take courses in general and urban ecology, statistics, and public speaking.  </div> <div> Learn skills in communication networking, electronic mail, and analytical writing. </div> <div> Gain experience via part-time or internships and volunteer work. </div> <div> Obtain graduate degree for advancement. </div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 173 ><NOBR><div> <B>Criminal Justice--</B> </div> <div> Corrections </div> <div> Rehabilitation </div> <div> Law Enforcement </div> <div> Judiciary</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="248"><div> Correction Institutions </div> <div> Court Systems </div> <div> Federal, State, & Local Government, </div> <div> Law Enforcement Agencies </div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="248"><div> Emphasize research methods, statistics and computer skills. </div> <div> Gain essential practical experience via part-time, internships, & volunteer work. </div> <div> Learn skills in communication networking & electronic mail. </div> <div> Obtain graduate degree for advancement. </div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 313 WIDTH="148"><div> <B>Demography</B></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="248"><div> Companies & Organizations doing demographic forecasting and population studies. </div> <div> Companies compiling market research data. </div> <div> Consulting firms </div> <div> Business & Industry </div> <div> International, Federal & State Agencies </div> <div> Government & Regional Planning Departments </div> <div> Colleges & Universities </div> <div> Foundations </div> <div> Advertising & Marketing Firms </div> <div> Private Research Firms </div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="248"><div> Take courses in social research methods, statistics, computer applications, population, social movements, calculus, & foreign language. </div> <div> Develop good communication skills. </div> <div> Gain essential practical experience via part-time, internships, & volunteer work. </div> <div> Learn skills in communication networking & electronic mail. </div> <div> Obtain graduate degree for advancement. </div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 393 ><NOBR><div> <B>Human Services--</B> </div> <div> Counseling </div> <div> Advocacy </div> <div> Mental Health Services </div> <div> Social Services-- </div> <div> --<I>Administration</I> </div> <div> <I>--Programming</I> </div> <div> <I>--Recreation</I></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="248"><div> Advocacy Groups </div> <div> Federal, State, & Local Government </div> <div> United Way Agencies/Local Branches of National Non-Profit Organizations </div> <div> Religiously-Affiliated Service Organizations </div> <div> Adoption & Child Care Agencies </div> <div> Public & Private Nursing Homes </div> <div> Hospitals </div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="248"><div> Learn skills in communication networking & electronic mail. </div> <div> Concentrate course work in area of interest. </div> <div> Pursue excellent academic record. </div> <div> Emphasize research methods, statistics and computer skills. </div> <div> Obtain counseling courses and experience for counseling & case worker positions. </div> <div> Acquire related experience. </div> <div> Obtain graduate degree for advancement. </div> <div> Consider business minor or double major for positions in administration, & master's in health care administration for advancement. </div> <div> May need master's degree in social work. </div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 357 ><NOBR><div> <B>Business--</B> </div> <div> Demography/Planning </div> <div> Human Resources </div> <div> Management </div> <div> Sales </div> <div> Advertising </div> <div> Marketing </div> <div> Consumer Research </div> <div> Insurance </div> <div> Real Estate </div> <div> Personnel/Training </div> <div> Administration</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="248"><div> Research Departments/Firms </div> <div> Personnel/Industrial Relations Departments </div> <div> Marketing/Management Firms </div> <div> Organizational Planning Departments/Firms </div> <div> International Business </div> <div> Manufacturing Firms </div> <div> Advertising Firms </div> <div> Consumer Research/Public Relations Firms </div> <div> Insurance/Real Estate Companies </div> <div> Publishing Firms </div> <div> Consulting Firms </div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="248"><div> Focus on an occupational area: personnel, industrial relations, management, marketing, or public relations. </div> <div> Take courses in labor relations, industrial psychology, sociology of work, personnel management, public speaking, writing, social psychology, and human/social interaction. </div> <div> Gain related experience. </div> <div> Learn skills in communication networking & electronic mail. </div> <div> Obtain graduate degree for advancement. </div> <div> Stress work experience, social skills, public speaking, writing skills, statistics & research training when interviewing. </div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 254 ><NOBR><div> <B>Education--</B> </div> <div> Teaching </div> <div> Administration </div> <div> Alumni Relations </div> <div> Placement Offices </div> <div> Research</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Public & Private Schools </div> <div> Colleges & Universities </div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="248"><div> Obtain certification/licensing to teach grades K-12. </div> <div> Volunteer as a tutor. </div> <div> Obtain Ph.D. to teach and for advanced research positions in colleges & universities. </div> <div> Secure strong personal recommendations. </div> <div> Learn skills in communication networking & electronic mail. </div> <div> Take courses in sociology of education, social psychology, developmental psychology, </div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 355 WIDTH="148"><div> <B>Social Science Research--</B> </div> <div> --Market Research Analysis </div> <div> --Evaluation Research</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="248"><div> Federal Government </div> <div> National Headquarters of Non-Profit Organizations </div> <div> Firms conducting social, market, or statistical research </div> <div> Public Relations Firms </div> <div> Professional Periodicals </div> <div> Newspapers & Magazines </div> <div> Social Service Agencies </div> <div> Hospitals </div> <div> Business & Industry </div> <div> Labor Unions </div> <div> Professional Sociologists </div> <div> Universities </div> <div> Religious Organizations </div> <div> Public Opinion Research Polls </div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="248"><div> Learn federal government job application process. </div> <div> Develop strong quantitative, statistical, writing, informational gathering, and assimilating skills. </div> <div> Take courses in research methods and statistics. </div> <div> Learn skills in communication networking & electronic mail. </div> <div> Acquire related experience. </div> <div> Obtain graduate degree for advancement and specialized areas. </div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 305 ><NOBR><div> <B>Community Relations</B></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="248"><div> Federal, State, & Local Government </div> <div> National headquarters & local branches of non-profit organizations </div> <div> Private Social Service Organizations </div> <div> Religiously Affiliated Service Organizations </div> <div> Child Care Agencies </div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="248"><div> Learn federal, state & local government job application process. </div> <div> Obtain experience in counseling, advocacy or administration. </div> <div> Acquire knowledge of community problems & government resources. </div> <div> Gain volunteer experience. </div> <div> Take courses in public speaking, inequality, social classes, race relations, gender, social psychology, social/human interaction. </div> <div> Learn skills in communication networking & electronic mail. </div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 305 ><NOBR><div> <B>Government--</B> </div> <div> Social Science Analysis </div> <div> Social Statistics </div> <div> Demography </div> <div> Administration </div> <div> Management </div> <div> Program Development </div> <div> Policy Analysis </div> <div> Personnel </div> <div> Research </div> <div> Investigation</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="248"><div> Public Assistance Agencies </div> <div> Federal, State, Local, & County Government </div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="248"><div> Learn federal, state & local government job application process. </div> <div> Learn skills in communication networking & electronic mail. </div> <div> Obtain experience in research & evaluation. </div> <div> Acquire skills in survey & evaluation research, and specialties in such fields as medical/health sociology, aging, criminal justice, demography, and family. </div> <div> Gain experience via co-op programs and volunteer work. </div> <div> Obtain graduate degree for advancement. </div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></B></div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="658" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=CENTER HEIGHT= 78 WIDTH="648"><div> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >T</FONT>his list was originally prepared by the Career Planning staff, Career Services at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (1994). It has been updated and altered by the USI Department of Sociology to better fit the needs of USI sociology students. <I>Dr. Ronda Priest</I> </div> <div> <I>March 27, 1999</I> </div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> Sociology: A World of Opportunitites<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> Most people who think of themselves as "sociologists" or have the word "sociologist" in their job title, have graduate training, but BAs in sociology apply the sociological perspective to a wide variety of jobs in such sectors as business, the health professions, the criminal justice system, social services, and government. </div> <div> <I><B>"What can I do with a BA in sociology?"</B></I> As a strong liberal arts major, sociology provides several answers to this important question:</div> <div> A BA in sociology is excellent preparation for future graduate work in sociology in order to become a professor, researcher, or applied sociologist. </div> <div> The undergraduate degree provides a strong liberal arts preparation for entry level positions throughout the business, social service, and government worlds. Employers look for people with the skills that an undergraduate education in sociology provides. </div> <div> Since its subject matter is intrinsically fascinating, sociology offers valuable preparation for careers in journalism, politics, public relations, business, or public administration--fields that involve investigative skills and working with diverse groups. </div> <div> Many students choose sociology because they see it as a broad liberal arts base for professions such as law, education, medicine, social work, and counseling. Sociology provides a rich fund of knowledge that directly pertains to each of these fields. </div> <div> <I><B>"What can I do with an MA or PhD degree in sociology?" </B></I>With advanced degrees, the more likely it is that a job will have the title sociologist, but many opportunities exist--the diversity of sociological careers ranges much further than what you might find under "S" in the Sunday newspaper employment ads. Many jobs outside of academia do not necessarily carry the specific title of <I>sociologist</I>: </div> <div> Sociologists become high school teachers or faculty in colleges and universities, advising students, conducting research, and publishing their work. Over 3000 colleges offer sociology courses. </div> <div> Sociologists enter the corporate, non-profit, and government worlds as directors of research, policy analysts, consultants, human resource managers, and program managers. </div> <div> Practicing sociologists with advanced degrees may be called research analysts, survey researchers, gerontologists, statisticians, urban planners, community developers, criminologists, or demographers. </div> <div> Some MA and PhD sociologists obtain specialized training to become counselors, therapists, or program directors in social service agencies. </div> <div> Today, sociologists embark upon literally hundreds of career paths. Although teaching and conducting research remains the dominant activity among the thousands of professional sociologists today, other forms of employment are growing both in number and significance. In some sectors, sociologists work closely with economists, political scientists, anthropologists, psychologists, social workers, and others, reflecting a growing appreciation of sociology's contributions to interdisciplinary analysis and action. </div> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000066" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www.asanet.org/student/career/careers.html" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.asanet.org/student/career/car"><U><IMG SRC="16103030.png" border=0 width="3" height="3" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></FONT>   <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000066" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www.asanet.org/page.ww?section=Students&name=Students+3-column" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.asanet.org/page.ww?section=St"><U><U>Homepage</U></U></A></FONT><A HREF="http://www.asanet.org/page.ww?section=Students&name=Students+3-column" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.asanet.org/page.ww?section=St"><U>  </U></A> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000066" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www.asanet.org/student/career/path.html" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.asanet.org/student/career/pat"><U><IMG SRC="16303030.png" border=0 width="3" height="3" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></FONT></div> <div> <IMG SRC="16513010.png" border=0 width="1555" height="1" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Last Updated on November 30, 2003 For more information email <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000066" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="mailto:apap@asanet.org" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:apap@asanet.org"><U><U>apap@asanet.org</U></U></A></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>ADDITIONAL LINKS</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Majoring in Sociology: A Guide for Students </B></div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.asanet.org/galleries/default-file/majoring.pdf" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.asanet.org/galleries/default-"><U><B>http://www.asanet.org/galleries/default-file/majoring.pdf</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <B>Student Forum</B></div> <div> <B>h</B><A HREF="http://www.asanet.org/page.ww?section=Students&name=Student+Forum" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.asanet.org/page.ww?section=St"><U><B>ttp://www.asanet.org/page.ww?section=Students&name=Student+Forum</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <B>Careers in Sociology     </B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000066" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www.asanet.org/page.ww?section=Careers+and+Jobs&name=Careers+in+Sociology" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.asanet.org/page.ww?section=Ca"><U><B>http://www.asanet.org/page.ww?section=Careers+and+Jobs&name=Careers+in+Sociology</B></U></A></FONT></div> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>