|
|
Undergraduate Studies
at
Washington State University
Career Prospects for Sociology Majors
[Undergraduate Studies Homepage]
Business and Marketing
If you are thinking of a career in business or of pursuing an MBA when you leave Washington State University, strongly consider a sociology degree. Entering the business world or working on an MBA requires you have strong communication and analytical skills. Employers look for individuals who have the ability to synthesize information, creative thinkers, and people who are effective at working with people in group settings. Moreover, all major corporations and many other businesses—have market research departments.
Undergraduate sociology courses can prepare you for a job in the business world and for obtaining an MBA. To begin, sociology courses teach you written and oral communication skills as well as how to conduct and interpret empirical research. Specifically, the research methods sequence in the department -- Introduction to Social Research (Soc. 320) and Quantitavie Techniques in Sociology I (Soc. 321) -- will teach you how to read, evaluate, and conduct research. Our advanced methods and statistics courses will help you further develop your quantitative skills. These skills are especially crucial for individuals interested in working in a company's market research area or for those who must evaluate their company's performance. In addition, Social Inequality (Soc. 340) instructs students about workplace policy (for example, your rights as a worker and guidelines governing employer action) as well as how the workplace and organizations affect worker outcomes. Sociology of Work and Occupations (Soc. 343) teaches students about theories of the workplace, facts on the structure and order of workplaces, and about the causes and consequences of workplace hierarchy.
In today's economy, business career jobs are hard to find. When you diversify your skill set with the knowledge a sociology degree gives you, you can be as competitive, if not more, than other undergraduate majors. Indeed, some of the nation's largest companies actively recruit non-business majors because of the depth and breadth of knowledge non-business majors have and because businesses today must deal with many social issues: diversity in the workplace, communication, globalization, management-employee relations. What is more, MBA students hail from all disciplines. In fact, in 2004, one of the nation's top MBA programs 13 percent of MBA graduates were social science majors and an additional 21 percent were Liberal Arts majors.
[Top of Page] Criminal Justice
A degree in sociology can be particularly useful for careers in the criminal and juvenile justice fields, including law enforcement, probation/parole, and corrections. Agencies hiring in these fields are placing increased emphasis on well-developed social skills and an understanding of individual and group behavior, including sensitivity in dealing with diverse populations. A grounding in social research methods and statistics that is provided through a Sociology degree are also particularly useful in the criminal and juvenile justice fields.
[Top of Page]
Education
Sociology coursework provides a solid basis for a wide variety of careers related to K-12 and higher education administration/student services. Sociology majors become teachers in either public or private schools, school administrators, and research consultants on educational issues. Other educational careers open to those with undergraduate sociology training include college admissions officer, alumni relations, student services professional, and career counselor.
Students specifically interested in teaching should be aware that they will need to be certified. Some students major in Education and automatically certify. Others major in a variety of fields, and then need additional training (such as a Master's degree) to obtain certification. Thus becoming a teacher or administrator, particularly in a public school, generally requires college coursework geared toward teacher preparation beyond the sociology BA, such as an MA or MS in teaching (either elementary or secondary). Whether or not you acquire an advanced degree, as a sociology major you will develop skills that will help you be successful in an education-related career.
There are many sociology courses that could help students prepare for education-related careers. You should plan your coursework with your particular future goals in mind. If interested in becoming a career counselor at a college or university, for example, you should take such courses as Sociology of Professions and Occupations (Soc. 343) and Social Inequality (Soc. 345). Future teachers would benefit from coursework on such topics as Sociology of Education (Soc. XXX), The Family (Soc. 351), Sociology of Education (Soc. 405), and Urbanization and Community Organization (Soc. 433). You might also want to seek out related coursework in other disciplines. We encourage you to discuss your future plans with your advisor and other faculty members when drawing up your course schedule.
In addition, you should pursue internships, work study positions, research assistantships or volunteer work that relate to your specific career goals. For example, students who wish to become teachers could seek out summer internships working in academic-oriented summer programs for youth. Many non-profit organizations are also likely to have paid or volunteer opportunities that would provide relevant experiences. Volunteering as a tutor or youth mentor would also provide valuable experiences for those seeking teaching careers. If you wish to become a consultant in educational settings, you should seek opportunities to become a research assistant on faculty research projects for credit. Work study positions in admissions or student services can also help you determine if obtaining a long-term career in one of these areas would be right for you.
For those who would like to enter the classroom shortly after graduation without first earning a Masters degree, programs like Teach for America (TFA) can provide an alternative route to teacher certification for exceptional students. TFA is a competitive program that hires qualified BA holders from a variety of disciplines to work as teachers for at least two years in "high need" school districts (generally urban and rural high poverty schools) around the country. TFA corps members receive intensive training during the summer before entering the classroom and continue working on their certification while teaching. One need not pursue undergraduate coursework in education to apply to this program, in fact Teach for America corps members are more likely to have a BA in a social science discipline like Sociology than any other area of study (36% hold social science diplomas). Many educators transition to teaching after starting their careers in other areas of employment, such as in the non-profit sector. The AmeriCorps program also provides many entry-level opportunities for those interested in gaining experiences in education-related non-profit organizations immediately after graduating.
[Top of Page]
Environment and Technology
The critical association between societal well-being and environmental quality is increasingly becoming a topic of Sociological inquiry. Environmental Sociology as a subdiscipline within Sociology explores the various forms of interaction between human societies and the environment, focusing on the social dimensions of the surrounding natural and human-made environments. For example, Environmental Sociologists seek to understand environmentalism as a social movement, the ways in which societal members perceive of environmental problems, and the origins of human-caused environmental degradation. The inequitable social distribution of environmental hazards is another central area of Environmental Sociological research, examining the processes by which socially disadvantaged populations come to experience greater exposures to a variety of environmental hazards. These environmental inequities are investigated at the individual level as well as at the community level, national level, and global level.
Students completing this track will be prepared for employment in a wide variety of private and public agencies with an environmental mission; for example, local and state departments of ecology, community recycling programs, environmental action groups, consulting firms, lobbying organizations, and international non-governmental organizations. The courses in this option, while focused on the relationships between human societies and the environment, are aimed at a balance between sociological theory, empirical research methods and substantive investigations. Sociology faculty participating in the environmental sociology track are known for their research on topics including risk, environmental impacts of technology, the effects of international trade and investment on environmental degradation, and militarism and environmental racism. Students interested in studying environmental sociology should take the following courses: Population, Resources, and the Future (Soc. 331), Society and Environment (Soc. 332), Ecology of Human Societies (Soc. 415), Society and Technology (Soc. 430), Political Sociology (Soc. 442) and Collective Behavior and Social Movements (Soc. 474).
[Top of Page] Graduate School
Students who enjoy studying sociology and who do well in their courses may want to consider a professional career as a sociologist. In order to pursue a professional career in sociology, it is necessary to attend graduate school. There are over one hundred graduate programs in sociology in the United States. All of them offer at least the M.A. degree in sociology and most of them offer the Ph.D. degree. It is possible to be gain employment as a researcher in some organizations or as an instructor at a community college with only an M.A. degree. However. a Ph.D. degree is required for to gain employment as a faculty member in a four-year college or university or as a senior researcher in most government agencies, research institutes, or corporations. In addition, these positions usually require applicants to possess demonstratable skills in research methods and statistical techniques. M.A. programs typically require the successful completion of two years of graduate coursework and independent study, including courses in theory, research methods, and statistics, as well as the completion of a thesis . Ph.D. programs usually require the successful completion of an additional two to three years of graduate coursework and independent study, including additional courses in research methods and statistics, as well as the completion of a dissertation.
Most of the students who are admitted to graduate programs in sociology apply for and receive financial assistance in the form of a research or teaching assistantship. The stipends paid to research and teaching assistants are usually sufficient to pay their living expenses and tuition costs. In general, graduate programs require applicants to submit letters of recommendation from three of their professors, a copy of their Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores, and a copy of their transcripts. In order to be considered for financial assistance, most students submit their applications by the end of the year prior to the year they plan to enter graduate school.
[Top of Page]
Law
What skills will increase the likelihood that you will get into the law school you prefer? What skills will help you succeed professionally once you complete law school? How can you develop and demonstrate those skills?
The best preparation for law school is academic excellence. Law schools consider an applicant's LSAT score, GPA, and personal statement. The LSAT is an exam that all law school applicants are required to take. It does not test knowledge of the law or criminal justice system. Instead, it is designed to evaluate students' ability to think analytically. This means that the content of the courses you take is not as important as their rigor. The best preparation for getting into law school is to take the most difficult courses you can with the most demanding professors. The more that you can develop skills in analytical thinking, applying abstract ideas to new situations, problem solving, reading of difficult material, and writing, the better off you will be. These skills are not only important for getting into law school. They also are important for succeeding as a law student and as an attorney.
In order to develop these skills, we recommend that students interested in law specialize in the research and analysis track. This specialization trains students to think abstractly and to apply abstract ideas to new empirical situations. In addition, students should take courses that emphasize writing. For example, you may want to consider a minor in English to develop your reading and writing skills.
If you are interested in particular kinds of law: environmental law, family law, labor law, corporate practice, and so forth, then you should take substantive courses that will give you a background in those areas. For example, to prepare for family law, you might take Sociology of the Family (Soc. 351). Similarly, to prepare for a career in environmental law, you should take our Environmental Sociology (Soc. 332) and Human Ecology (Soc. 415) courses.
[Top of Page]
Medicine and Health
Not all health care careers require a bachelor's degree in the biological sciences. The vast majority of these careers, however, require skills in effective social interaction, critical thinking, and problem solving. Whether or not you are a physician, nurse, health educator, or hospital administrator your ability to communicate effectively with people from diverse economic, social, and ethnic backgrounds plays a major role in how successful you will be. An undergraduate degree in sociology provides you with the opportunity not only to develop these skills through written and oral course projects, but also by understanding the social influences that enable effective interpersonal and organization communication to occur. Courses in Social Psychology (Soc 350), Race Class and Gender (Soc 300) and Medical Sociology (Soc 446) are especially helpful in developing these skills.
Because medical and health professionals work in a social environment, they are faced with making a wide array of decisions that are influenced by political, cultural, economic and ethical factors. Having a background in sociology provides important tools to effectively address such dilemmas as providing culturally relevant health care, how best to influence sexually active teens to practice safe sex, how to prevent kids from buying cigarettes from neighborhood markets, how best to staff a hospital with limited resources, or how influence legislators to vote for health care reform legislation.
WSU graduates from our sociology program have pursued direct service careers as doctors, nurses, medical social workers, and public health educators. Their BAs in sociology also make them competitive for administrative and advocacy careers in health related non-profit organizations, mental health services, substance abuse centers, public and private hospitals, and within veterans' affairs.
[Top of Page]
Leadership in Faith Communities
Sociology can provide a useful course of study for those interested in future leadership positions in faith communities. Sociology is a science viewing ethical and moral issues through secular lenses. For students who are comfortable with this approach, sociology can provide a strong background for faith-oriented work. Sociologists have been interested in religion and moral culture since the beginnings of the discipline. Early sociologists sought to understand the origins and consequences of moral cultures. Our courses on Beliefs, Norms, and Values (Sociology 455), Sociology of Religion (341), Development of Social Theory (Sociology 410), Deviance (Sociology 360), and Criminology (Sociology 361) will all provide students with a sociological view of how groups enforce moral values and the reasons that people follow group norms or disobey them. The department also offers a range of courses that may be useful preparation for a counseling role. For example, our courses on family (Sociology 351), inequality (Sociology 340), and aging (Sociology 356) provide understanding of diverse life situations. Introduction to Social Psychology (Sociology 350) teaches basic principles of human interaction.
[Top of Page]
Non-Profit Sector
In recent years there has been an explosion in the number of non-profits working on a range of issues from the environment, to health care, to child welfare. These organizations may consist of one or two people, or may employ hundreds. They provide a variety of career opportunities for sociology majors.
Non-profits need people who are flexible and have diverse skills. While some non-profits are large, bureaucratic organizations, others are very small. In these small workplaces, employees must be generalists. A single individual might be responsible for maintaining a membership database, writing a quarterly newsletter, and updating the organization webpage. These organizations require people who are versatile, can solve problems, and who can work on different kinds of tasks. One type of job in non-profit organizations is grass-roots organizing. Many non-profits are grass-roots organizations -- that is, they seek to motivate members of the public to take action on a particular issue. These groups need organizers, people who can help to develop a membership base, run telephone banks, and so forth. They need people who can engage others in the issue the non-profit is working on and get others involved.
Another area in which demand is growing and likely will continue to grow is development (fund-raising). Non-profits need to raise money in order to fulfill their mission. Without money, they cannot do their job. Therefore fundraising is essential to many of these organizations' existence. Non-profits will hire college graduates to work on development -- help to plan fund-raising events, run direct-mail campaigns, membership renewal campaigns, and so forth. These positions tend to have good upward mobility. As new employees become seasoned, develop skills, and demonstrate their abilities and good judgment, they will be given more opportunities for increased direct donor contact and grant writing. Communications positions also may be available. Non-profits often lack people with good communication skills who can do outreach to the public and media. These positions require good writing and interpersonal skills.
In general, non-profits look for people who have demonstrated an interest in a social issue. This need not be the exact issue the non-profit works on, but applicants will be seen more favorably if they have shown commitment to something related. Non-profits also need reliable employees who are self-starters. In the non-profit world there is always more to be done than can possibly be completed. People don't have time to supervise careless employees. They want people who are willing and eager to work hard, be responsible, and pay attention to detail. Employees who come into an organization and demonstrate reliability and good judgment will have opportunities for advancement.
How can a sociology major prepare you for these kinds of positions? Sociology courses, our internship program, and the sociology club all provide opportunities for you to develop important skills and to demonstrate to potential non-profit employers that you have what they are looking for.
First, courses that focus on understanding human behavior and social interaction, as well as contemporary social issues, will provide good intellectual background. A social psychology course (Soc. 350) will help you understand human motivation and social interaction. Other courses can teach you about substantive areas. For example, if you are interested in health issues, you should take our Medical Sociology course (Sociology 446). Good grades, of course, will help to demonstrate to potential employers that you are responsible. Writing skills are always in demand for letters, webpages, and newsletters. So, you should take as many courses that emphasize writing as you can. You many want to consider minoring in English in order to improve your writing skills. In addition, our methods and statistics program will provide you with basic skills that non-profits looking for generalists are likely to value.
Second, our internship program provides the opportunity to obtain course credit for work experiences. Internships with non-profit organizations can be very, very important in opening doors in the non-profit world. Participating in an internship at a non-profit demonstrates interest -- something non-profits care about. In addition, it allows you to show that you are reliable and have good judgment. Internship supervisors can provide recommendations to potential non-profit employers that will carry weight. Third, the sociology club provides students with the opportunity to get experience in activities like event planning. The sociology club is driven by students. This means that you, the students, are responsible for its activities. Event planning at this level has many similarities to even planning done by development personnel in non-profit organizations. Planning events, publicizing them, making arrangements for them, getting good turn out; all of these are skills that a good development person needs. If you take advantage of these kinds of activities, you will be in a better position to demonstrate to potential employers that you have relevant experience and are responsible.
[Top of Page]
Public Policy
There are two principle routes to working on public policy issues. The first is to work for a non-profit organization that seeks to influence policy. The second is to get involved in the political system, working for politicians and other policy makers (and eventually, perhaps running for office yourself). Young people can have a surprising influence. For example, if you visit Congressional and Senate offices in Washington D.C., you will see very important positions being held by people under thirty. Within a year or two of being hired, one can have very important responsibilities. State government offers many opportunities as well.
These jobs require an understanding of public policy issues and the ability to think analytically about those issues. They also require good communication skills, both written and verbal. General courses that help students develop tools to think rigorously about social problems, their causes, and their potential solutions include Introduction to Sociology (Sociology 101), Social Problems (Sociology 102), and Public Policy (Sociology 424). You should also take courses on the specific issues you are interested in. For example, if you're interested in education, you might take a sociology of education course. Courses in crime or deviance are relevant for drug policy. Keep in mind that when you take a course in a specific area (like sociology of education) you will learn not only about education, but you will also develop skills that can be transferred to thinking about other policy issues. You will learn how to think about education policy. But the skills you learn can also be transferred to thinking about other policy issues. Any course that helps you think about how institutions affect policy, and how institutions stumble, will be useful.
Internships are a great way to move into this world. Some of our students participate in legislative internships in Olympia. These are not only good experiences. They also provide you with contacts who can provide introductions to others who may be looking to hire.
[Top of Page]
Social Welfare/Social Work
A BA in sociology is an ideal undergraduate degree for students interested in working with publicly run and not for profit human and social service agencies. Such agencies work with youth, families, the elderly, and communities in addition to specialized populations needing services for mental health concerns, substance use, rehabilitation, and domestic violence. Taking courses such as Social Inequality (Soc. 340), Social Psychology (Soc. 350), Sociology of the Family (Soc. 351), Sociology of Education (Soc. 405), and Urbanization and Community Organization (Soc. 433) provides you an opportunity to understand how individuals behave in families, groups, and communities.
Our course in Social Inequality, for example, invites students to critically engage topics vitally important to people working in human and social services, including trends in income inequality, social mobility and education, inequality in the workplace, and inequality in the criminal justice system. Social Psychology prepares students to understand the social influences on personal identity, interpersonal interactions and relationships. Our family course provides a unique perspective on understanding trends in family structure and helps students understand the family in its social, political, and economic contexts. Given this perspective, Urbanization and Community Organization provides students with an opportunity to experience two learning environments. One of course is the interactive classroom; the other is the community. Community service learning enables students to enhance their understanding of community by applying scholarly work discussed in class to community work done over the course of the semester. Reciprocally community service experiences provide "real life" examples of course materials. These and related sociology courses also enable you to understand the interconnectedness of social life by exploring the roles that history, public policy, cultural norms and values have on human social behavior.
A graduate with a BA in Sociology who is interested in pursuing a career in human and social services would look for job titles such as social worker, child life specialist, juvenile probation officer, community development specialist, mental health advocate, and case manager. Many of our students find work in these areas after earning their BA degrees, while others find that their sociology training provides preparation for entrance into graduate programs in Social Work (MSW), Public Health (MPH) and Public Administration (MPA).
[Top of Page]
Contact us: soc@wsu.edu, Voice: 509.335.4595, Fax: 509.335.6419, Accessibility | Policies | Copyright
Sociology Department, PO Box 644020, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164-4020 USA
|
