There are many career paths available in the world today. Sociology is one path that offers ways to work towards improving society. Additionally, there are a wide range of fields (domestically and internationally) in which sociologists work.

1.5.1 Sociology and a Better Society

Many sociologists are driven by the scholarly desire to contribute knowledge to their field, while others see it as a way not only to study society but also to improve it. Sociology has played a crucial role in social reform, including the desegregation of schools in the 1950s. Sociology has also contributed to other important societal shifts, such as equal opportunity for women in the workplace, improved treatment for individuals with mental illnesses or learning disabilities, increased accessibility and accommodation for people with physical disabilities, the right of Indigenous populations to preserve their land and culture, and prison system reforms.

1.5.2 To Understand Everyday Experiences

American sociologist Peter L. Berger describes a sociologist as “someone concerned with understanding society in a disciplined way.” He asserts that sociologists have a natural interest in the monumental moments of people’s lives, as well as a fascination with everyday occurrences. Berger also describes the “aha” moment when a sociological theory becomes applicable and understood:

[T]here is a deceptive simplicity and obviousness about some sociological investigations. One reads them, nods at the familiar scene, remarks that one has heard all this before and don’t people have better things to do than to waste their time on truisms—until one is suddenly brought up against an insight that radically questions everything one had previously assumed about this familiar scene. This is the point at which one begins to sense the excitement of sociology. (Berger 1963)

1.5.3 To Connect Our Differences

Sociology can be exciting because it teaches us how we fit into the world and how others perceive us. Looking at ourselves and society from a sociological perspective helps us see where we connect to different groups based on the many different ways we classify ourselves and how society classifies us in turn. It raises awareness of how those classifications—such as economic and status levels, education, ethnicity, or sexual orientation—affect how we are perceived.

Sociology teaches us to reject easy explanations. It teaches us how to organize our thinking, ask better questions, and formulate better answers. It reveals how others think differently from us. It increases our willingness and ability to try to see the world from other people’s perspectives, preparing us to live and work in an increasingly diverse and integrated world.

1.5.4 To Prepare for the Workplace

Employers seek people with transferable skills. This means they want to hire people whose knowledge and education can be applied in a variety of settings and whose skills will contribute to various tasks.

Studying sociology can provide a broad knowledge base and a skill set that can contribute to many workplaces, including:

• an understanding of social systems and large bureaucracies
• the ability to devise and carry out research projects to assess whether a program or policy is working
• the ability to collect, read, and analyze statistical information from polls or surveys
• the ability to recognize important differences in people’s social, cultural, and economic backgrounds
• the capacity for critical thinking about social issues and problems that confront modern society. (Department of Sociology, University of Alabama-Huntsville)

Sociology can help prepare you for a wide variety of careers. Many students with a Bachelor of Arts in sociology pursue graduate work to become a professor, researcher, social worker, or even lawyer. With an undergraduate degree, you will be prepared for entry level positions in business, social services, and government. The perspectives you learn also prepare you for careers in journalism, politics, public relations, or public administration. For more ideas, see Careers in Sociology [PDF], published by the American Sociological Association.

For societies in relative stability, sociologists are hired by government agencies and corporations in fields such as social services, counseling (e.g., family planning, career, substance abuse), community planning, health and welfare services, education, marketing, market research, and human resources. Some sociologists find work as independent consultants, working in workplace equity, for example. While others pursue careers as social researchers working for survey and polling organizations, as case workers, community organizers, public policy researchers, and data analysts. Even a small amount of training in sociology can be an asset in careers like sales, public relations, journalism, teaching, law, and criminal justice.