Students who study sociology learn valuable skills in gathering, making sense of, and communicating data. They keenly observe the details of everyday people’s lives while keeping the institutions that affect us all in mind. This ability to move flexibly from micro- to macro-analysis sets up a sociologist for a variety of careers.
Indeed.com publishes entry-level listings like these for applicants with a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology: market research analyst, case manager (re-entry, social support, community support, family support, autism support, youth care, substance abuse), qualitative or technical research assistant, athletic academic advisor, legal assistant, paralegal, fact-checker, wellness trainer, police officer, and probation officer.
As with all fields, those with graduate degrees in Sociology are more highly sought after for their research and communications abilities. Sociologists with a Master’s Degree or Ph.D. hold administrative and research positions such as these:
Political and Economic Careers: political activist, speech writer, vocational counselor, civil servant, labor union organizer or administrator, grant writer, fundraiser, developer and fund-raiser for an NGO, diplomat.
Criminal Justice: social advocate (housing, victim services, services for families dealing with incarceration, substance abuse/addiction services), consultant and analyst for big projects at the local, state, and federal level.
Law and Society: lawyer, legal assistant, fact checker
Human Services: child welfare worker, social worker (further licensure required), guidance counselor, eldercare (activities director, hospice worker, geriatric specialist)
Education: student life administrator, education or admissions coordinator, alumni relations director, college/university professor
Analyst: pollster, data analyst, ethnographer, statistician, workforce planner, behavioral strategist, risk analyst, public health researcher, epidemiologist, urban planner
Organizations: quality assurance manager, organizational consultant, human resources administrator, hospital or human services administrator
Media/Culture: journalist, book or magazine editor, event manager, sales and marketing coordinator, fact-checker, pundit