Jobs
for Sociology Majors
Here are some resources that give advice on jobs for sociology
majors.
The UConn Career Services website for sociology majors: http://www.career.uconn.edu/majors/sociology.html
An on-line book about what can be done with a B.A. in sociology,
entitled Careers in Sociology, 2/e, by W. Richard Stephens,
Jr. http://www.abacon.com/socsite/careers.html
American Sociological Association career resources for the
sociology major http://www.asanet.org/student/jobsearch.html
The career advantages of a degree in sociology http://www.asanet.org/student/career/major.html
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). |