Resources for Sociology Majors

Sociology as a Major and Career

Sociology is the study of group life. As a social science, it combines scientific and humanistic perspectives in the study of urban and rural life, family patterns and relationships, social change, inter-group relations, social class, environment, technology and communications, health care and illness, social movements, community responses to disasters, and pressing contemporary social issues.

Sociology is a valuable liberal arts major for students planning careers in a wide variety of fields including social research, criminology, demography, social psychology, public administration, gerontology, education, rehabilitation, social work, and market research. It provides a useful background for those planning to enter law, business, medicine, community planning, architecture, and politics. In many professional schools, sociology courses are part of the requirements.

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Sociology as a Major

Sociology as a Career

Graduate School in Sociology

Sociology as a Major

If you enjoy learning about organizations, communities, families, diversity, and how people live and work together in harmony or discord, sociology may be for you. If you like the subject matter in your social studies courses and you are interested in what makes societies work, then consider taking one or more sociology courses in college. Here are some helpful hints as you prepare for college:

Acquire basic writing and mathematical skills. These skills are prerequisites for passing entrance examinations and for success in college.
Discuss plans with your teacher and high school career counselor.
Decide on a desirable region or state and the school(s) you might be interested in attending.
Write colleges and universities for catalogues, applications, and scholarship information.
Complete applications and send to the college or university you would like to attend. Follow all instructions for applying.
After you have enrolled, take a sociology course or two.
At a community college, courses in sociology are offered toward an Associate's degree. This is a good way to see if sociology is something you should pursue in a B.A. program.
Remember that sociology makes an excellent "double major" with business, social work, education, criminology, women's studies, and other majors.
You can declare your sociology major at any time, but it is best to visit the sociology department during your freshman or sophomore year to discuss sequencing of courses.