Sociology is a social science that aids in understanding how society functions. Sociologists are skilled at comprehending and analyzing societal problems and coming up with potential fixes and changes, maybe by addressing social injustices caused by things like class, gender, race, and poverty.

Sociologists examine the vast spans of human society — past and present — to obtain understanding of how civilizations grow and are structured. Depending on your interests, a sociology degree might cover a huge variety of subjects. Students of sociology will discover the social roots and effects of typical human experiences and problems. Then, this information can be applied in a variety of fields, including politics and social welfare.

Due to sociology's broad scope, students frequently get to pick the path their degree program follows, especially if they may concentrate in a particular area of interest after the first year of study.

Your sociology degree specializations will not only help you narrow your focus, but they may also increase your employability in specialized fields. With a focus on crime and punishment, sociology professions in rehabilitation, for instance, may be simpler to pursue.

Which Sociology Degrees Are Available?

Numerous career options in sociology are available, each requiring a different level of schooling. The sections that follow provide details on the courses, program lengths, and career options related to each level of sociology degree.

• Sociology Associate's Degree

Fundamental ideas in the area, such as social stratification, culture, inequality, and globalization, are examined in a sociology associate degree program. The normal length of these programs is two years of full-time study and 60 credits. Social psychology, law and society, race and ethnic relations, and other related topics may be covered in courses. Graduates can find employment in paraprofessional positions, human service agencies, and prisons.

• Sociology Bachelor's Degree

A bachelor's degree program in sociology has prerequisites for general education, electives, and the major. Students can enroll in courses on family and interpersonal connections, sociological individual study, and societal research. These programs might also provide specializations in areas including urban sociology, sociology of law, economic sociology, and global development. Normally, it takes four years of full-time study to finish this degree with 120 credits, while some programs allow for faster completion times. Graduates with this highly interdisciplinary degree are qualified for a variety of positions in many industries.

• Sociology Master's Degree

Programs for master's degrees in sociology offer advanced knowledge and abilities, placing a strong emphasis on quantitative methods, ethnographic research, and global perspectives. Understanding race and ethnicity in American society, algorithm politics, the evolving American city, and social demographics may all be covered in courses. Through specializations in subjects like gender and sexuality, class and stratifications, or social movements and social change, students can frequently tailor their degrees. In addition to coursework, students frequently have to perform fieldwork or a thesis. The normal length of these programs is two years of full-time study and 60 credits.

• Doctoral Degree in Sociology

A doctorate in sociology, the highest level of education available, equips graduates for careers in research, teaching, and leadership. Students often concentrate their study on a certain topic, such as criminology and deviance or gender, racial, or ethnic disparities. Students in these programs must conduct research, write, and successfully defend a dissertation over the course of three to five years.

What can you do with a sociology degree?

• Sociology careers in the community and youth work

Many sociologists work in the common but crucial subjects of community and youth development. On both a local and a national level, social welfare of young and vulnerable people as well as the larger community is the main emphasis of this article. These positions frequently include social politics closely, especially when it comes to social care, education, community involvement, poverty, rehabilitation, and healthcare.

• Sociology careers in counseling and therapy

Studying sociology may provide doors to employment in counseling and therapy if you'd like to serve your community in a more direct role. Counselors and therapists can come from a variety of backgrounds, even though a psychology degree is the more common entry point for jobs in professional psychology. Strong interpersonal, communication, and critical thinking abilities, as well as the capacity for empathy without bias, are the primary qualities necessary.

• Sociology careers in education

A sociology degree could provide you with pertinent knowledge of education in society, child development, and even playground rules for professions in elementary and secondary school. Although a degree in sociology offers a strong foundation for employment in education, these positions frequently call for a professional teaching qualification that typically requires one year to achieve. Postgraduate degrees are sometimes a need for professions in higher education; you'll likely need at least a master's degree and frequently a PhD.

• Sociology careers in public service

Public service careers frequently concentrate on issues that are dealt with in community development positions. Jobs in social and welfare services, public health, the nonprofit sector, criminal justice, probation and prison services, rehabilitation and housing services are among the potential public service careers for sociology graduates.

• Careers in politics, activism and the charity sector

In order to challenge the status quo in society on issues like race, class, and gender equality, sociologists' understanding of society, social interaction patterns, and everyday culture is crucial. Consider professions in local and national politics, the nonprofit sector, or as a political activist if you want to use your degree-related skills and knowledge to improve society.