Sociology Careers

Human Services

• Community service agencies
• Advocacy groups
• Federal, state, and local government
• United Way agencies
• Local branches of national non-profit organizations
• Religiously-affiliated service organizations
• Private foundations
• Adoption and child care agencies
• Nursing homes and retirement communities
• Hospitals and wellness centers
• Halfway houses
• Vocational services
• Educational information services
• Insurance companies

• Gain experience and develop helping skills through volunteer positions.
• Spend summers working at camps, YMCA’s, or other social service agencies.
• Gain experience working with a variety of populations.
• Develop excellent communication skills.
• Concentrate course work in an area of interest such as youth, gerontology, or poverty.
• Learn a second language in order to interact with non-
• English speakers and increase marketability.
• Serve as a peer mentor, resident assistant, or other student leader.
• Earn a master’s degree in social work, counseling, or other related field to increase employment opportunities.
• Most states require licensure or certification for positions involving the direct provision of therapeutic services to clients.

Criminal Justice

• Correctional institutions
• Court systems
• Federal, state, and local government (especially law enforcement agencies)

• Gain practical experience via part-time or summer jobs, internships, or volunteer work.
• Volunteer to work with troubled youth.
• Obtain a graduate or law degree for advancement.
• Consider obtaining experience in a branch of the military.

Education

• Public and private schools
• Colleges and universities
• Adult education providers

• Obtain certification/licensure to teach grades K-12.
• Become certified to teach multiple subjects and age groups for increased job opportunities.
• Earn a graduate degree for post-secondary teaching opportunities.
• Assist a professor with research.
• Take extra courses in research and statistics.
• Develop exceptional written and oral communication skills.
• Volunteer as a tutor.
• Secure strong personal recommendations, particularly from professors.

Government

• Federal departments and agencies such as:
  • Departments of Agriculture, Education, Interior, Commerce, Defense
  • Health and Human Services
  • Drug Enforcement Administration
  • Environmental Protection Agency
  • Housing and Urban Development
  • Veteran’s Administration
  • National Institutes of Health
  • National Institute of Aging
• State and local government
• Peace Corps

• Supplement curriculum with coursework in statistics and social research.
• Develop exceptional computer, communication, and research skills.
• Gain work experience via government internships, part-time jobs, or summer work.
• Develop a specialty such as aging, family, criminal justice, or healthcare.
• Learn the federal job application process.
• Obtain a graduate degree for advanced positions.
• Consider beginning a career with the government by joining the military.

Social Science Research

• Universities
• Government agencies
• Research institutes
• Non-profit agencies
• Community organizations
• Private industries
• Advertising and marketing firms
• Consulting organizations
• Information brokers
• Newspapers, magazines, news agencies
• Public opinion research polls

• Develop exceptional quantitative, statistical, and writing skills.
• Learn to use statistics software packages as well as database, spreadsheet, and desktop publishing programs.
• Volunteer to help a professor with a research project.
• Obtain an advanced degree in sociology for research administration positions.
• Earn certification in applied social research by The American Sociological Association.
• Network with professionals working in areas of interest.
• Gain experience working on teams.

Environment and Society

• Waste management firms
• Health agencies
• Local planning agencies
• Environmental advocacy groups
• Environmental periodicals
• Federal government
• Regional, state, and local agencies
• Consulting firms
• Private industry

• Enhance curriculum with courses in ecology, environmental science, and statistics.
• Join environment-related student organizations.
• Volunteer to work on environmental clean-up projects.
• Find a related internship, part-time, or summer job.
• Obtain a graduate degree for advancement.

Business

• Insurance firms
• Retail stores
• Banks
• Staffing agencies
• Manufacturing companies
• Service industries
• Non-profit organizations
• Healthcare organizations

• Earn a minor in business or supplement curriculum with courses in general business, accounting, and finance.
• Gain business experience through part-time jobs, summer work, and internships.
• Develop excellent computer skills.
• Learn to use software applications such as spreadsheets, databases, and word processing.
• Hone written and oral communication skills.
• Join related professional associations.
• Seek leadership roles in student organizations.