Jobs for Sociology Majors

What can you do with a sociology degree? Here are some sources that help to answer that question.

UConn Career Services website for sociology majors

An on-line book by W. Richard Stephens, Jr.: Careers in Sociology

The website of American Sociological Association has a section with information for students.

A book that you can buy: Great Jobs for Sociology Majors , 2nd Ed, by Stephen E. Lambert.

Areas	Employers	Strategies
Environment & Society	Health Agencies Local Planning Agencies Environmental Advocacy Groups National Advocacy Groups Environmental Periodicals Federal Government Regional, State, & Local Agencies Consulting Firms Waste Management Firms	Take courses in general and urban ecology, statistics, and public speaking. Learn skills in communication networking and analytical writing. Gain experience via part-time or internships and volunteer work. Obtain graduate degree for advancement.
Criminal Justice-- Corrections Rehabilitation Law Enforcement Judiciary	Correction Institutions Court Systems Federal, State, & Local Government, Law Enforcement Agencies	Emphasize research methods, statistics and computer skills. Gain essential practical experience via part-time, internships, & volunteer work. Learn skills in communication networking & electronic mail. Obtain graduate degree for advancement.
Demography	Companies & Organizations doing demographic forecasting and population studies. Companies compiling market research data. Consulting firms Business & Industry International, Federal & State Agencies Government & Regional Planning Departments Colleges & Universities Foundations Advertising & Marketing Firms Private Research Firms	Take courses in social research methods, statistics, computer applications, population, social movements, calculus, & foreign language. Develop good communication skills. Gain essential practical experience via part-time, internships, & volunteer work. Learn skills in communication networking & electronic mail. Obtain graduate degree for advancement.
Human Services-- Counseling Advocacy Mental Health Services Social Services-- --Administration --Programming --Recreatio	Advocacy Groups Federal, State, & Local Government United Way Agencies/Local Branches of National Non-Profit Organizations Religiously-Affiliated Service Organizations Adoption & Child Care Agencies Public & Private Nursing Homes Hospitals	Learn skills in communication networking & electronic mail. Concentrate course work in area of interest. Pursue excellent academic record. Emphasize research methods, statistics and computer skills. Obtain counseling courses and experience for counseling & case worker positions. Acquire related experience. Obtain graduate degree for advancement. Consider business minor or double major for positions in administration, & master's in health care administration for advancement. May need master's degree in social work.
Business-- Demography/ Planning Human Resources Management Sales Advertising Marketing Consumer Research Insurance Real Estate Personnel/ Training Administration	Research Departments/Firms Personnel/Industrial Relations Departments Marketing/Management Firms Organizational Planning Departments/Firms International Business Manufacturing Firms Advertising Firms Consumer Research/Public Relations Firms Insurance/Real Estate Companies Publishing Firms Consulting Firms	Focus on an occupational area: personnel, industrial relations, management, marketing, or public relations. Take courses in labor relations, industrial psychology, sociology of work, personnel management, public speaking, writing, social psychology, and human/social interaction. Gain related experience. Learn skills in communication networking & electronic mail. Obtain graduate degree for advancement. Stress work experience, social skills, public speaking, writing skills, statistics & research training when interviewing.
Education-- Teaching Administration Alumni Relations Placement Offices Research	Public & Private Schools Colleges & Universities	Obtain certification/licensing to teach grades K-12. Volunteer as a tutor. Obtain Ph.D. to teach and for advanced research positions in colleges & universities. Secure strong personal recommendations. Learn skills in communication networking & electronic mail. Take courses in sociology of education, social psychology, developmental psychology,
Social Science Research-- --Market Research Analysis --Evaluation Research	Federal Government National Headquarters of Non-Profit Organizations Firms conducting social, market, or statistical research Public Relations Firms Professional Periodicals Newspapers & Magazines Social Service Agencies Hospitals Business & Industry Labor Unions Professional Sociologists Universities Religious Organizations Public Opinion Research Polls	Learn federal government job application process. Develop strong quantitative, statistical, writing, informational gathering, and assimilating skills. Take courses in research methods and statistics. Learn skills in communication networking & electronic mail. Acquire related experience. Obtain graduate degree for advancement and specialized areas.
Community Relations	Federal, State, & Local Government National headquarters & local branches of non-profit organizations Private Social Service Organizations Religiously Affiliated Service Organizations Child Care Agencies	Learn federal, state & local government job application process. Obtain experience in counseling, advocacy or administration. Acquire knowledge of community problems & government resources. Gain volunteer experience. Take courses in public speaking, inequality, social classes, race relations, gender, social psychology, social/human interaction. Learn skills in communication networking.
Government-- Social Science Analysis Social Statistics Demography Administration Management Program Development Policy Analysis Personnel Research Investigation	Public Assistance Agencies Federal, State, Local, & County Government	Learn federal, state & local government job application process. Learn skills in communication networking & electronic mail. Obtain experience in research & evaluation. Acquire skills in survey & evaluation research, and specialties in such fields as medical/health sociology, aging, criminal justice, demography, and family. Gain experience via co-op programs and volunteer work. Obtain graduate degree for advancement.

This list was originally prepared by the Career Planning staff, Career Services at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (1994).