The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Department of Sociology College of Liberal Arts
Careers
With an advanced degree in sociology, there are a number of different occupational areas students may seek employment. These include, but are not limited to education, health care, law enforcement, and social work. Although teaching and conducting research remains the dominant activity among the thousands of professional sociologists today, other forms of employment are growing both in number and significance. In other sectors, sociologists work closely with economists, political scientists, anthropologists, psychologists, probation officers, and others reflecting a growing appreciation of sociology's contributions to interdisciplinary analysis and action. Today’s sociologists are able to embark upon literally hundreds of career paths.
For many positions within public agencies and the private sector, a master's degree suffices. For community college teaching, a master's degree may be acceptable, but a doctorate opens more doors. Teaching and research at the university level and high- level employment with good promotion prospects in non-academic research institutes, think tanks, private industry, and government agencies usually require a Ph.D.
Three activities form the common core of most sociological work are teaching, research, and practice. MA and PhD graduates, especially professors, may engage in all three simultaneously or at different times in their careers. BA graduates usually work in research or in applied settings in which the sociological perspective adds valued insights.
Teaching
Despite the broad applicability of sociology at the BA level, a substantial majority of graduate-level sociologists teach, whether in high schools, two-year colleges, four-year colleges, or universities. Sociology is a rewarding field to convey to others. It combines the importance of social relevance with the rigor of a scientific discipline.
Sociology is not only taught to future sociologists and to undergraduate students as part of their liberal arts education. It also forms an important part of pre-professional programs in law, education, business, medicine, engineering, social work, and nursing. In addition to the standard college and university courses, sociology courses are popular with adult and continuing education programs and are increasingly prominent in the nation's high schools.
Research
Sociology graduates can conduct research in a variety of employment settings, whether in a university; a public agency at the federal, state, or local level; a business or industrial firm: a research institute; or a non-profit or advocacy sector organization. Some self-employed sociologists’ researchers direct their own research and consulting firms.
Sociological Practice
Given the usefulness of their methods and perspectives, sociologists have developed many career paths that take research into the realm of intervention or "sociological practice." This broad category refers to positions that involve "applied" or "clinical" sociology-using sociology to affect positive change among individuals in families, organizations, communities, and societies.
Some sociological practitioners ("clinical sociologists") have expertise in counseling individuals and families. Others, "applied sociologists,” use sociological knowledge and research methods to effect larger-scale change, for example by conducting social and environmental impact assessments, evaluating programs, facilitating organizational development, mediating and resolving conflicts, or revamping social policies. AI these approaches have one thing in common; they help individuals, groups, organizations, or governments to identify problems and their deeper causes, and to suggest strategies for solution. The application of sociological knowledge is key to careers in the fields of policy making and administration, government, business, social services, and industry.
Careers to consider:
Social Practice: Counseling, halfway houses, human services, private foundations, vocational services
Criminal Justice: Corrections, law enforcement, judiciary, probation, parole
Education: Teaching, administration, alumni relations, placement offices, research, public and private schools
Government: Public administration, policy analysis, program development, social statistics, urban planning
Business: Human resources, management, market research, public relations, sales
Social Action: Community organizations, lobbying, political advocacy, religious work