Sociology is one of the most misunderstood fields of study. Tell a group of people that you’re majoring in sociology and the first question they’ll ask is “uh, what are you going to do with that?” Fortunately, the answer is “plenty.”
Sociology is the study of the interaction, structure, collective behavior, and development of organized groups of people. Sociologists can find work in just about any area of business, and in health care, environment & society, government, demography, criminal justice, human services, education, community relations, and social science research. The list of specific job titles is extensive, but just a few are:
- -Advocate
- -College Administrator
- -Community Relations Specialist
- -Consultant
- -Consumer Researcher
- -Director of Advertising
- -Law Enforcement Officer
- -Marketing Manager
- -Mental Health Counselor
- -Personnel Training
- -Public Assistance Agent
- -Social Science Analyst
- -Teacher
- -Waste Manager
Salaries for these positions vary greatly by level of education, experience, company, and location, but you can expect to make anywhere from $27,000 per year on the low end up to $95,000+ on the high end. Management, director and postsecondary education positions typically fall on the higher end of the pay scale.
If you are interested in a sociology career, you should enroll in an accredited bachelor’s degree program with a major or focus in sociology. Although a bachelor’s degree is a great start, many professionals in this field hold a masters degree or higher. An undergraduate program can prepare you for an entry to mid-level career and/or for a master’s program. All program’s have specific course requirements, but you can always take additional courses that will help prepare you for multiple positions.
According to Top Online Colleges, major requirements may include, but are not limited to:
- -Advanced Social Theory
- -Directed Readings in Sociology
- -Feminist Theories of Social Order
- -Introduction of Social Theory
- -Introduction to Society
- -Medical Sociology
- -Population Analysis
- -Practicum in Applied Social Research
- -Race and Ethnic Group Relations
- -Religion in Society
- -Research Methodology
- -Rural Sociology
- -Social Deviance
- -Social Inequality
- -Social Movements
- -Social Problems
- -Society and the Future
- -Sociological Research
- -Sociology of Childhood
- -Sociology of Education
- -Sociology of Gender Roles
- -Sociology of Law
- -Sociology of Sport
- -Statistics for Social Research
- -The Family
- -The Individual in Society
- -Urban Sociology
- -Work, Industry, and Society
- -Internship Program
To find the best sociology program, browse through college ranking sites such as Princetonreview.com and Petersons.com. You can also try U.S. News & World Report College Rankings. If you decide to search on your own through Bing or Google, always check the schools website for accreditation, especially if you have never heard of the school or the school operates exclusively online. This does not mean that unfamiliar schools and online schools do not offer high quality programs—most do, but you have to be careful today thanks to the proliferation of diploma mills and schools that have recently lost accreditation.
The following accrediting agencies are recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. It is important to note that, the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC) is one of the top accrediting agencies for online colleges and programs.
- -The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
- -The Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP)
- -The Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA)
- -The Distance Education and Training Council (DETC)
- -Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools
- -New England Association of Schools and Colleges
- -North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
- -Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
- -Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
To review the full list of recognized agencies, visit the U.S. Department of Education.
