Sociology

This guide contains only a partial list of occupational titles and career fields that may be of interest to students considering a sociology major. In addition to the skills and knowledge gained through your college course work in this major, you may also need to acquire career related work experience, additional work related skills and/or additional education. Some of the occupations require an advanced degree to enter the field.

After you have identified possible occupations of interest to you, it is important to investigate the nature of work; education and training requirements; skills and special talents needed; types of employers; future trends and employment outlook related to each of these careers.

We have set up links to internet sites that provide detailed job descriptions of these occupations. You may also want to research these occupations by reading the books and literature available in the Philadelphia House Career Resource Library, by talking with individuals working in the field and by contacting related professional associations.

This guide also provides information about obtaining related work experience including links to possible internships. However for the best information on current, local internships contact Sally Cardenas, Director of Internships and Community-Based Learning at 562-464-4533 or email her at scardenas@whittier.edu.

Career Options

Sociology Related Occupations
Activist Adoption Counselor Affirmative Action Coordinator
Aging Specialist AIDS Counselor Alcohol and Drug Case Worker
Anthropologist Arbitrator Archivist
Behavioral Researcher Career Services Counselor Case Worker
Child Welfare Officer City Manager Clinical Sociologist
College Student Personnel College/University Professor Consumer Advocate
Correctional Officer Criminal Investigator Criminologist
Crisis Center Counselor Cryptoanalyst Dean of Students
Demographer Employment Interviewer Family Guidance Clinic Worker
Foster Care Worker Fund-Raiser/ Development Officer Gerontologist
Healthcare Administrator Human Resources Administrator Immigration Attorney
Labor Relations Representative Marketing Research Analyst Marriage and Family Therapist
Medical Sociologist Mental Health Counselor News Correspondent
Parole Officer Patient Representative Peace Corps Worker
Penologist Political Researcher Political Sociologist
Population Genetics Researcher Population Specialist Probation Officer
Public Administrator Public Health Educator Public Health Statistician
Public Opinion Analyst Public Policy Analyst Recreation Therapist
Rehabilitation Counselor Research Analyst, Television Researcher
School Community Relations Coordinator School Counselor School Social Worker
Social Ethnologist Social Movement Organizer Social Welfare Examiner/Administrator
Social Psychologist Social Worker Sociologist
Statistician Teacher, Social Science Technical Writer
Urban Planner Urban Sociologist Veterans Affairs Specialist
Welfare Counselor Youth Program Director  

 

Typical Employers

Advocacy groups, colleges and universities, consulting firms, courts and correctional institutions, government agencies, hospitals and clinics, law enforcement agencies, mental health agencies, non-profit organizations, public and private schools, rehabilitation agencies, research and development firms, retirement communities.

Liberal Arts Related Occupations (click here for more options)

Marketable Skills Associated with Sociology Major

  • Research: utilizing research methods, research theory and statistics, evaluating evidence, examining electronic data sources
  • Critical Thinking: thinking conceptually, understanding components of complex problems; analyzing relationships between factors
  • Communication: proficient in interpersonal communications, interacting effectively with people of different backgrounds in various situations, speaking to groups, presenting research findings, writing articulately and analytically
  • Human Relations: understanding human relationships, diversity, and identifying cultural/social considerations, crisis intervention, counseling
  • Problem solving abilities
  • Thorough knowledge of community resources

  • Ability to work well under pressure and to maintain composure in stressful situations

Getting Career Related Work Experience

To be competitive in today's job market and to improve your qualifications for graduate school, gaining career related work experience while you are a college student is very important.

Career related work experience can include various forms of paid and volunteer experience (i.e. internships, some work study positions, summer or part-time jobs in your career field of interest, possibly fellowships, and some volunteer positions)

Religious Studies Related Internships