What do sociology majors become

As a graduate with a sociology degree, you will have a foundation for better understanding and engaging with the globalizing world. You will be equipped with the tools needed to make sense of the shifting social world and contribute solutions to difficult social problems. UC Davis students and alumni should connect with the Internship and Career Center ICC to learn more about career options and job opportunities and how to market the skills learned from the sociology major to an employer.

Given the breadth, adaptability and utility of studying sociology, employment opportunities abound for graduates who have an A. The following list of possibilities is only illustrative — many other paths may be open to you and additional education or training may be required.

Are you fascinated by issues of gender and identity, social movements, ethnic cultures and identities or class and the political economy?

If so, then following a major in Sociology is a great way of gaining an understanding of our cultural, political and global interactions. A diverse field of study, majoring in Sociology can provide you with the skills and knowledge to succeed in a variety of careers. Market researchers employ statistical methods mastered by sociology majors to analyze data. Market researchers often track preferences for specific consumer groups.

An understanding of group processes and advanced communication skills help sociology majors facilitate focus group interactions and conduct interviews with consumers. Media planners assess the advertising needs of clients and design a media plan to enhance sales to various groups. Like sociology majors, they must be able to interpret research and analyze the preferences of their target population. Media planners are aided by sociological knowledge as they study the characteristics of various groups in order to select the best possible media to advertise their product.

Policy analysts research issues that affect the public. They recommend legislation to address those problems.

Knowledge of sociology helps analysts to assess the impact of legislation on social problems and various populations. Sociology majors have the foundation to analyze issues like welfare, poverty, substance abuse, job training, education, healthcare, and gay marriage. Policy analysts—like sociology majors—rely on strong writing skills to represent the findings of their research and convince legislators and the public of the viability of their recommendations.

PR specialists need to be the ultimate communicators. As such, they must have the sociology major's ability to understand an audience and its attitudes, needs, and preferences. Writing skills are critical for crafting high-impact press releases. Public relations staff must have the interpersonal skills to talk to the media and convince them to cover stories about their client or organization. They need to convey ideas clearly to staff and clients and engender support and consent for their ideas.

Social workers apply the knowledge of social dynamics and social institutions learned as a sociology major to assess client issues and help to resolve problems. They make referrals to appropriate community agencies to leverage resources on behalf of individuals and families. Active listening and verbal communication skills are essential to assessing problems and advising clients about ways to improve their lives. Survey researchers and pollsters measure attitudes and opinions in areas familiar to the sociology major, like social and political issues, health, culture, and consumer products.

They carefully compose survey questions to elicit clear answers. Survey researchers use the data collection and statistical analysis techniques that sociology majors learn. They write and present reports to share their findings with clients. Survey researchers use knowledge of groups and sub-cultures as they assess the opinions of targeted demographics. If you are aspiring to make your mark in the world by addressing issues that affect society, you have chosen the right degree.

A sociologist looks at and examines social behavior and social influence in cultures, institutions and groups to determine how society, overall, is impacted. A sociologist has the opportunity for an interesting career that will allow you to explore relationships and society.

Whether you have just graduated, you are still in school, you are interested in adding an advanced degree, or you are already employed and considering a degree beneficial to your career, the investment in time, energy and money to obtain a sociology degree pays off in many ways. On the job front, organizations, institutes and businesses are working toward a better understanding of social behavior and finding appropriate ways to address that behavior. To that end, there is an ongoing need to fill job vacancies with the expert research and observations of skilled sociologists.

This figure can vary based on several factors, starting with the industry you choose, the level of your degree and the job title you hold within a company. Salaries are also affected by the job location and the cost of living in your area. Some of the industries with top-paying salaries for sociologists include:. When you are planning your career path and goals, it is important to consider where you want to work and the type of work you plan to do, as each state has its own requirements for licensing.

You may be wondering what the degree will do for you, what jobs are available and what career paths are open for people with sociology degrees. These are legitimate questions associated with having or working toward a sociology degree that the information that follows should answer.

If your interest lies in understanding culture, power and social behavior and how the three intertwine and directly influence society, then your sociology degree will serve you well. Sociology is a broad field with numerous applicable career paths, where the skills you have learned and acquired are usable toward the goals you set for your professional and personal path.

In other words, a sociology degree will be beneficial well into the future. Even more so if you continue your education. Employment opportunities in a variety of industries provide you with diverse choices. This is especially important as you travel your career path. If you choose to take a detour at some point along the path you are following, you will not find a shortage of industries where your skills are applicable.

For some individuals, starting out in entry-level positions allows them to determine if that is the field they want to work in and make an adjustment early on if it is not.

When searching for a job, take advantage of as many job finding resources as possible that list available sociology positions.