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.
"What
can I do with a BA in sociology?"
As a strong liberal arts major, sociology provides several answers
to this important question:
* A BA in sociology is excellent preparation
for future graduate work in sociology in order to become a professor,
researcher, or applied sociologist.
* 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.
* 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.
* 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.
"What
can I do with an MA or PhD degree in sociology?"
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 sociologist:
* 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.
* Sociologists enter the corporate, non-profit,
and government worlds as directors of research, policy analysts,
consultants, human resource managers, and program managers.
* Practicing sociologists with advanced
degrees may be called research analysts, survey researchers, gerontologists,
statisticians, urban planners, community developers, criminologists,
or demographers.
* Some MA and PhD sociologists obtain
specialized training to become counselors, therapists, or program
directors in social service agencies.
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.