What can I do with a sociology degree?

Did you know that “sociologist” is ranked as one of the top ten best jobs in the U.S. based on income, physical and emotional job environment, employment outlook, physical demands, and stress?
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123119236117055127.html

http://www.careercast.com/jobs/content/JobsRated_Methodology

Why? Sociology majors develop practical skills that are valued and sought after in multiple sectors of the job market. These skills include:

• research methods
• data analysis
• problem solving
• analytical and critical thinking
• writing

This gives graduates the flexibility to start careers in a wide variety of settings after graduation. Sociology is a good practical choice, especially for those who are concerned about the consequences of narrow specialization in a volatile job market.

What can I do with a BA in sociology?

Earning a bachelor's degree in sociology will provide you with:

• Valuable knowledge for fields that involve investigative skills and working with diverse groups, such as journalism, politics, public relations, business, or public administration.

• A strong liberal arts foundation for entry-level positions in business, social service, and government, as well as for professions that require further study, such as law, education, medicine, social work, and counseling.

• Excellent preparation to continue your sociology education at the graduate level, should you want to become a professor, researcher, or applied sociologist.

What can I do with an MA or PhD degree in sociology?

By earning a graduate-level degree, you have a wide range of sociological career options, including those that may not carry the specific title of "sociologist":

• Sociologists become high school teachers or faculty in colleges and universities, who advise students, conduct and publish research. More than 3,000 colleges offer sociology courses.

• Sociologists enter the corporate, nonprofit, and government worlds as directors of research, policy analysts, consultants, human resource managers, and program managers.

• Practicing sociologists with advanced degrees may be called research analysts, survey researchers, gerontologists, statisticians, urban planners, community developers, criminologists, or demographers.

• Some sociologists with either a master of arts or doctoral degree or both get specialized training to become counselors, therapists, or program directors in social service agencies.

Below is a list of jobs sociology students from BSU have held after graduation:

Sociology Majors

Director of Community Relations for Sunrise Senior Living

I have found my Sociology degree very useful in the varied fields I've pursued in the past 10 years, both in operations and sales. Currently, I am the Director of Community Relations for Sunrise Senior Living where my primary role is to help families find senior living solutions for their loved ones. Additionally, I've found my degree to be beneficial when I was in direct operations leadership as a manager, leading 25 people.

Patient Input Data Coordination Manager, Fresenius Medical Care/North America

Currently, I am using demographic research methods and all of my statistics course work in my current job at Fresenius Medical Care/North America.

I am a Patient Input Data Coordination Manager in Indianapolis, IN. Fresenius is an international company based out of Bad Hombug, Germany- I specialize in data management and data analysis for Renal Care for patients who are on dialysis. I look at demographics and statistics on a daily basis along with various computer programs including Microsoft Excel, SPSS, and SAP. My BS and MA in Sociology helped me gain the necessary skills to work in the statistics/data analysis field and I can honestly say that I love my job.

Community Organizing with the ACLU of Wisconsin Madison

I'm putting my Sociology BS and Women's Studies minor to work in community organizing with the ACLU of Wisconsin Madison office. I love my job! Combined with a political science background, students could find lots of success in community organizing, lobbying, non-profit communications or public affairs education.

Family Case Manager at Indiana Department of Child Services

I graduated with a Bachelor in Science from BSU in December of 2007. My major was Sociology and my minor was Psychology. I have been employed since January of 2008 by the State of Indiana Department of Child Services Local Office in Marion County.
I am a Family Case Manager at DCS working in Child Welfare everyday.
I loved my time at BSU and especially enjoyed the Dept. of Sociology. I hope this program remains strong and prospers for many generations of students to enjoy in the future.


Sociology Graduate Students

Assistant Director of the Social Science Research Center

I have used my sociology Master's Degree to become the Assistant Director of the Social Science Research Center at Ball State University, as well as a post-secondary instructor of Sociology at both Ivy Tech and Ball State University campuses.

Assistant Director in the Office of Assessment

I have used my M.A. Sociology degree from Ball State, and especially my Graduate Certificate in Institutional Research in my current position as Assistant Director in the Office of Assessment at Kansas State University. I rely on my research methods and statistical background nearly every day when working on reports, research projects, etc. Ball State had prepared me well to enter the IR profession. I still find people, even when I attend IR conferences and workshops, who are amazed that there are IR courses and certificates in IR.


Sociology Minors

Planner at RATIO Architects

I minored in soc., but majored in urban planning and development. I now work as a planner at a multi-disciplinary firm in Indianapolis, RATIO Architects.

Sales Representative for Rivar's, Inc.

I graduated from Ball State in 2007 with a Sociology minor. I am now working in sales for a performance apparel company. Below is my professional contact information.

Marketing Consultant for Methodist Medical Group

I graduated in May 2007. I had a Public Relations Major and a Sociology Minor.

I'm currently a Marketing Consultant for Methodist Medical Group, a Partner of Clarian Health.

Research Attorney with the State of Michigan

I received your request for information regarding how I've used my sociology or BSU degree since graduation. My major was English, and my minor was Sociology. I attended law school after graduating from BSU, and I am now a research attorney with the State of Michigan.


Additional Positions with Sociology Background

Master of Science, Higher Education Student Affairs at Indiana University

1) Graduate Student - Candidate for Master of Science, Higher Education Student Affairs at Indiana University, May '09

2) Graduate Assistant (Career Advisor)
Indiana University Career Development Center

3) Upon completing my masters this spring, I am hoping to find a full time position as a Career Advisor or an advisor in an academic support office on campus.

Residence Director at Illinois Wesleyan University

After graduating from Ball State, I attended Indiana State University to pursue a masters degree. I graduated from there in May 2008 with a Masters in Student Affairs and Higher Education. My assistantship was with the Office of Residential Life as an Assistant Hall Director. So I supervised a staff of 10 RAs; advised students with their personal, academic, and occupational problems; talked with parents when I saw them; and lots of other little things.

Now, I am working at Illinois Wesleyan University as a Residence Director. I'm doing many of the same things I was doing during grad school. I am directly supervising 6 RAs, indirectly supervising 10 Desk Aides who work at the front desk in my hall, meeting with students to either talk about problems they are having in their lives or for a judicial meeting if they break policy, support the Hall Council in my building, and sit on different committees both within the Office of Residential Life and in the Division of Student Affairs.

As you can imagine, I am around lots of people almost all the time. I feel the class work at Ball State helped me in understanding how the students in my building are functioning and co-existing together, the mentality first year students come in with along with what their parents are hoping for, and in general how the campus as a society functions. It has served me well in working with campus politics and explaining to students why "the university" decided to do this instead of that.

Management Position at Private Foster Care Agency

I currently work at a private foster care agency in Muncie doing case management work.

Adjunct Faculty Member at Ivy Tech Community College

I am adjunct faculty member at Ivy Tech Community College teaching Introduction to Sociology. I have three face-to-face class and two online classes.

Corporate Vice President

I just made the transition to a position in my family's business.



Additional information can be found at: http://www.bsu.edu/sociology/article/0,,48046--,00.html.