Twenty years ago, there was really only one career in sociology. To be a sociologist was to be a professor in an academic setting. Today, although teaching remains the dominant activity among the 15,000 professional sociologists in the United States, other forms of employment are gaining in both number and significance.

Sociologists are employed as researchers, administrators and consultants by private organizations and government agencies at federal, state and local levels. Those sociologists who become researchers and consultants may be involved in such areas as community development, urban planning, health care delivery, criminological research, planning social welfare programs, and various aspects of program evaluation. Others with computer and methodological skills may become statisticians or affiliates of various research institutes (working, for example, with the Census Bureau, a public opinion institute, or federal agencies planning health and education programs).

Yet there are reasons to study sociology even if you do not intend to become a sociologist. The subject matter of sociology holds considerable interest for its own sake. Sociology provides many distinctive ways of looking at the world so as to generate new ideas and assess the old. Thus, sociology offers valuable preparation for a variety of careers and is a popular major for students planning futures in such professions as law, business, education, medicine, and city planning… not to mention social work, politics, and public administration.

Sociology majors might consider the possibility of graduate school; either in sociology or in a related field, since a master’s or doctor’s degree widens the range of career options. If you are thinking of pursuing graduate study in sociology, you are urged to discuss your interests and career plans as soon as possible with faculty members who may be able to offer advice.

Majors should also be aware of the department’s internship program (Sociology 380). Work with a community organization, social agency, or research institute can provide a student with practical experience and useful contacts for future employment. Students may work in such settings as an alderman’s office, a hospital for single mothers, juvenile court, the Better Government Association, consumers’ groups and neighborhood organizations. This is ideal way to learn first hand about the kind of work and training that you might like to pursue after graduation.

For more information about the field and profession of sociology, contact:

The American Sociological Association, 1722 “N” Street, NW, Washington, DC 20036