What is Sociology and Why Should I Study It?
A sociology major will study the patterns of relationships among people, how behavior
is shaped by these patterns, and how conflicts and cooperation among groups affect
social structures and effect social change. Majors will study society (organizations,
networks, communities, cultures, structures, and groups) and behaviors within society
(individual and group human interactions, from small family relationships to large,
global interactions). Human behavior is inherently social. Because of this fact, the
topics sociology can cover are, in many ways, boundless - crime, sports, intimate
relationships, religion, work, race, economics, gender, and immigration. Sociology
is also not limited by a time frame since sociologists can study current day events
and historical events. The scope of sociology is broad, extensive, diverse, and relevant.
I wanted to study something that would help me make the world a better place. Sociology stood out because it helps us bring deeper understanding to why inequality exists and what we can do about it.
—Canton Winer, UCI Sociology Alumni and Assistant Professor, Sociology & Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at Northern Illinois University
“As a discipline, sociology emerged in response to rapid transformation in society, and it continues to offer explanations for the causes, patterns, and consequences of social, political, economic, and technological upheaval and change.” Read the full article on the Psychology Today’s website.
Think Sociology.
What Can You Do With A Sociology Degree?
“Sociology graduates work in all employment sectors—nonprofit, private, and public.
They hold all kinds of jobs, including policy analyst, market researcher, nonprofit
advocate, trainer, writer, social services professional, project manager, teacher,
and many, many others. Graduating with an undergraduate degree in sociology opens
doors to a wide range of career opportunities that require a deep understanding of
human behavior. The adaptability of this major ensures that graduates can navigate
our ever-changing job market with confidence. When you graduate with a degree in sociology,
you will be ready to contribute your sociological insights to a world in need of critical
thinkers, advocates for social responsibility, and informed citizens.”
Read the full details on the American Sociological Association’s webpage.
Because the subject matter of sociology is so vast ….My past students embody their passion in a plethora of fields such as social work, business, law, the non-profit sector, and even medicine!
—Pablo Victoria Torres, Sociology Lecturer
“Does sociology have ample job opportunities? This is one of those majors with no
set path after graduation, which can be scary as you’re planning to enter the workforce
for the first time. The trade-off is that, yes, you’ll actually have a lot of flexibility
in what you do with your degree and you can take your career in so many different
directions.”
Example careers for a B.A. degree in Sociology:
Learning and Development Specialist
Social Worker
HR Coordinator
Paralegal
Urban Planner
Community Health Worker
Market Research Analyst
Public Relations Specialist
Diversity Manager
School Counselor
Read the full article by The Muse.
As an Associate Professor at San Diego Mesa College, I work with brilliant students and practice applied Sociology with them in the community. I put that research to action as a member of the executive board of our union, AFT Guild Local 1931, and as a publicly elected Trustee for the San Diego County Board of Education. None of this would have been possible without UC Irvine’s Sociology department and our amazing faculty.
—Erin M. Evans, UCI Sociology Alumni and Associate Professor and Assnt. Chair of Sociology at San Diego Mesa College; Trustee, San Diego County Board of Education-District 4; Faculty VP, The AFT Guild Local 1931
Think Sociology.
What Are You Going To Do With That: A Workshop for Sociology Undergraduate Students
This webinar hosted by the American Sociological Association (ASA) discussed the challenges undergraduates students can face after college. Dr. Kerry Greer will address how to turn your sociological training into employable skills and whether graduate school is the best path for you. Watch this to answer the question, “what are you going to do with that?”
I gained advanced statistical knowledge that was essential to my pursuit of employment at a federal statistical agency. I learned how to design and implement research projects and effectively communicate the results for broader impact.
—Christin Landivar, UCI Sociology Alumni and Specialist in Sociology, UCI
Employability With A Sociology Degree
A Sociology degree prepares you to work in a complex, social world. While in the job
market, a sociology major has the advantage of understanding social interactions and
having a confident grasp on research, data, and analytical skills.
I think Sociology offers an incredible set of skills that are invaluable to a number of different sectors, both academic and non-academic. First, domain expertise. Pick you topic: race and racial justice, gender, organizations, globalism, social movements - you name it. We are the world experts on it. Second, research design skills and training. Unlike a lot of other disciplines, we are generally not pigeonholed into specific methods to do the work that we do, which helps us answer different types of research questions. Third, as a discipline, we are organized around improving the human condition - we are good for the world.
—Dr. Matt Rafalow, UCI Sociology Alumni and Senior Staff Researcher, Google
Think Sociology.
The skills you will gain throughout your time as a Sociology Major are easily transferable to most career fields. Some of the soft skills you can expect to learn or hone include:
Interpersonal skills
Cultivate an understanding of social dynamics
Broadening your understanding of diversity
Communication skills, both written and verbal
Researching
Gathering data
Analyzing data
Develop an awareness of ethical issues
Problem solving on a micro and macro level
See the “big picture”
Critical thinking
Cultural competence
Social awareness and advocacy
Read the full, in-depth article from The Muse discussing this topic with Sociologists.
The American Sociological Association also has information on what skills you will acquire while majoring in Sociology.
The UC ClioMetric History Project shows the outcomes of alumni of UC, Irvine from 1965 to 2018. This project shows life cycle wages earned, employment industries, and employment turnover rates - allowing you to filter for Sociology majors and adjust variables such as gender and ethnicity.
The benefit of majoring in sociology is gaining versatile skills to work in different career fields including non-profits, educational, and research spaces.
—Brianna Ashley Gonzalez, Volunteers of America Upward Bound Leuzinger and Lawndale High School – Project Advisor
Building a Career with a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology Webinar
How does a sociology degree help you navigate the career world after you graduate? The guests in this webinar give you their first hand account of their experiences. Showing how sociology helped them and how it can help you!
As a first-generation college student, I was initially unsure which major to pursue during my undergraduate career….Soon I realized how the sociology major at UCI could open the door for me to learn how to study different social issues and possible methods to support the populations I wanted to work with. Based on my four years at UCI, I was able to apply the sociological theories I learned in class to educational settings and empower marginalized student populations.
—Brianna Ashley Gonzalez, Volunteers of America Upward Bound Leuzinger and Lawndale High School – Project Advisor
Considering A Graduate Degree?
“...experts say an advanced degree provides a return on that investment both professionally
and personally. A graduate degree can open the door to higher-paying jobs or a faster
track to management and executive roles. It can also provide valuable opportunities
for professional networking and personal growth.”
Read the full article from U.S. News & World Report
But I felt like a doctoral program in sociology and in a department and at a university that supported my evolving interests in youth culture, gender, racial and intersectionality, and digital technology was the right next step. And so I took that step, and never looked back.
—Dr. Matt Rafalow, UCI Sociology Alumni and Senior Staff Researcher, Google
Many people share a misconception that graduate professional schools require that applicants have majored in a particular subject such as politics for law school, or economics for business school. In fact, professional schools value and admit students from a wide variety of backgrounds. Many of our recent sociology graduates have gone on to law, medical, and business schools. The critical social awareness and research and analytical skills gained through a sociology major also provide a solid foundation for students planning careers in architecture, urban planning, public health, or education. Of course, the sociology major prepares interested undergraduates for graduate studies in sociology, should they choose to continue in the field to become researchers or teachers in either high schools, two-year colleges, four-year colleges, or research universities. Students interested in receiving general advising about graduate school in the sciences, humanities, social sciences and some professional arenas may use the Pre-Graduate Education Advising Program. More information can be found at Pre-Graduate Advising.
Should You Pursue a Sociology Ph.D.?
“People with a doctorate in sociology can apply their skills in a variety of jobs,
inside and outside academia. The traditional career path for sociology PhDs involves
a position on the faculty of a college or university, with a focus on research or
teaching or both. But today, more and more sociologists are working in non-faculty
jobs in university settings, in non-profit organizations and think tanks, in government
agencies, and in industries (technology, corporate consulting, and more).”
Check out the American Sociological Association’s page for more details.
At UCI, you are surrounded with professors who are the leaders in their areas of study. They are conducting cutting-edge research that has profound impacts on Californians and the general population. Students should leverage their connections with faculty to enrich their internships, research projects, and community engagement.
—Vanessa Delgado, UCI Sociology Alumni and Assistant Professor of Sociology, Washington State University
Or Perhaps an Interdisciplinary Approach to Graduate School is Best For You?
Another benefit of majoring in Sociology is that its wide scope of subject matter
can allow you to attend and flourish in many different graduate programs. Some examples
of how a B.A. in Sociology can help you in graduate school include:
Law School: Studying human behavior and social interactions can help you understand the variety of social influences that shape it.
Master of Business Administration (MBA): Sociology teaches you to investigate human and group behavior, focus on solutions to social problems, and see the whole picture.
Political Science: Combine the knowledge of social systems that you will gain from majoring in sociology with knowledge of political systems.
Master of Education (M.Ed.): Go into this program with an understanding of how class, race, gender, inequality, and social mobility impact the education system.
It’s okay not to know what you’re going to do right when you graduate. And it’s okay to follow a non-linear path. Be open to unexpected opportunities – you’ll find that a degree in sociology is useful in more settings than you might imagine at first glance.
—Canton Winer, UCI Sociology Alumni and Assistant Professor, Sociology & Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at Northern Illinois University
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