Careers in Sociology

What can I do with a sociology degree?

Believe it or not, there are many careers out there for sociology majors. Below, you will find areas of job interest, employers who hire in that area, and strategies (including classes to take, experience to gain, interviewing, etc.) to get that job.

Areas	Employers	Strategies
Environment & Society	Waste Management Firms Health Agencies Local Planning Agencies Environmental Advocacy Groups National Advocacy Groups Environmental Periodicals Federal Government Regional, State, & Local Agencies Consulting Firms	Take courses in general and urban ecology, statistics and public speaking. Learn skills in communication networking, electronic mail and analytical writing. Gain experience via part-time or internships and volunteer work. Obtain graduate degree for advancement.
Criminal Justice Corrections Rehabilitation Law Enforcement Judiciary	Correction Institutions Court Systems Federal, State, & Local Government Law Enforcement Agencies	Emphasize research methods, statistics and computer skills. Gain essential practical experience via part-time, internships and volunteer work. Learn skills in communication networking and electronic mail. Obtain graduate degree for advancement.
Demography	Companies and Organizations doing demographic forecasting and population studies Companies compiling market research data Consulting firms Business and Industry International, Federal and State Agencies Government and Regional Planning Departments Colleges and Universities Foundations Advertising and Marketing Firms Private Research Firms	Take courses in social research methods, statistics, computer applications, population, social movements, calculus and foreign language. Develop good communication skills. Gain essential practical experience via part-time, internships and volunteer work. Learn skills in communication networking and electronic mail. Obtain graduate degree for advancement.
Human Services Counseling Advocacy Mental Health Services Social Services: - Administration - Programming - Recreation	Advocacy Groups Federal, State and Local Government United Way Agencies/Local Branches of National Non-Profit Organizations Religiously-Affiliated Service Organizations Adoption and Child Care Agencies Public and Private Nursing Homes Hospitals	Learn skills in communication networking and electronic mail. Concentrate course work in area of interest. Pursue excellent academic record. Emphasize research methods, statistics and computer skills. Obtain counseling courses and experience for counseling and case worker positions. Acquire related experience. Obtain graduate degree for advancement. Consider business minor or double major for positions in administration, and master's in health care administration for advancement. May need master's degree in social work.
Business Demography/Planning Human Resources Management Sales Advertising Marketing Consumer Research Insurance Real Estate Personnel/Training Administration	Research Departments/Firms Personnel/Industrial Relations Departments Marketing/Management Firms Organizational Planning Departments/Firms International Business Manufacturing Firms Advertising Firms Consumer Research/Public Relations Firms Insurance/Real Estate Companies Publishing Firms Consulting Firms	Focus on an occupational area: personnel, industrial relations, management, marketing or public relations. Take courses in labor relations, industrial psychology, sociology of work, personnel management, public speaking, writing, social psychology and human/social interaction. Gain related experience. Learn skills in communication networking and electronic mail.聽 Obtain graduate degree for advancement. Stress work experience, social skills, public speaking, writing skills, statistics and research training when interviewing.
Education Teaching Administration Alumni Relations Placement Offices Research	Public and Private Schools Colleges and Universities	Obtain certification/licensing to teach grades K-12. Volunteer as a tutor. Obtain Ph.D. to teach and for advanced research positions in colleges and universities. Secure strong personal recommendations. Learn skills in communication networking and electronic mail. Take courses in sociology of education, social psychology and developmental psychology.
Social Science Research Market Research Analysis Evaluation Research	Federal Government National Headquarters of Non-Profit Organizations Firms conducting social, market, or statistical research Public Relations Firms Professional Periodicals Newspapers and Magazines Social Service Agencies Hospitals Business and Industry Labor Unions Professional Sociologists Universities Religious Organizations Public Opinion Research Polls	Learn federal government job application process. Develop strong quantitative, statistical, writing, informational gathering and assimilating skills. Take courses in research methods and statistics. Learn skills in communication networking and electronic mail. Acquire related experience. Obtain graduate degree for advancement and specialized areas.
Community Relations	Federal, State and Local Government National headquarters & local branches of non-profit organizations Private Social Service Organizations Religiously Affiliated Service Organizations Child Care Agencies	Learn federal, state and local government job application process. Obtain experience in counseling, advocacy or administration. Acquire knowledge of community problems and government resources. Gain volunteer experience. Take courses in public speaking, inequality, social classes, race relations, gender, social psychology, social/human interaction. Learn skills in communication networking and electronic mail.
Government Social Science Analysis Social Statistics Demography Administration Management Program Development Policy Analysis Personnel Research Investigation	Public Assistance Agencies Federal, State, Local and County Government	Learn federal, state and local government job application process. Learn skills in communication networking and electronic mail. Obtain experience in research and evaluation. Acquire skills in survey and evaluation research, and specialties in such fields as medical/health sociology, aging, criminal justice, demography and family. Gain experience via co-op programs and volunteer work. Obtain graduate degree for advancement.

This list was originally prepared by the Career Planning staff, Career Services at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. It has been updated and altered by 91社区 Sociology, Anthropology, and Criminal Justice Studies to better fit the needs of 91社区 sociology students.