BA Degree in Sociology: General Sociology Concentration
Checksheet
Sociology seeks to increase awareness and understanding about human life and the causes and consequences of human behavior. Its focus is on human relationships in various kinds of groups and social settings. Sociology's subject matter ranges from the intimate family to the hostile mob, from crime to religion, from the divisions of race and social class to the shared beliefs of a common culture. The broad scope and relevance of sociology makes it unique when compared to other social sciences.
While there are no specific "traits" that will guarantee success in this major, some personal characteristics are of particular benefit to the student pursing a degree in this field: A willingness to challenge preconceived ideas and attitudes, an ability to investigate and analyze social phenomena, a deep interest in human behavior, and respect for human diversity, a desire to improve the human condition.
Skills acquired by sociology majors that can be transferred to other fields of endeavor: research methods, statistical skills, a better knowledge of people and an understanding of human relationships, writing and speaking skills, the ability to think critically.
Here is a sampling of some of the actual entry-level jobs obtained by our sociology graduates: case worker, community corrections specialist, police officer, teacher, substance abuse counselor, human resource supervisor, public health advisor, mental health worker, juvenile court counselor, day care director, personnel supervisor, parole officer, patient representative, vocational industrial relations manager, group home worker, camp counselor, family counselor. Sociology majors have a variety of job options, including the wide range normally available to liberal arts majors. The B.A. degree in Sociology provides excellent preparation for graduate or professional study. The B.S. degree in Sociology, with a concentration in such areas as corrections or gerontology, can lead to a job in these areas.
Sociology offers valuable preparation for other types of careers. It is a popular major for students planning futures in such professions as law, business, education, and even medicine--not to mention social work, politics, and public administration. Sociology provides many distinctive ways of looking at the world so as to generate new ideas and assess the old. In addition, sociology offers a range of research techniques which can be applied in many different areas--whether one's concern is with crime and criminal justice, client satisfaction in a business firm, the provision of medical care, problems of poverty and welfare, etc.
There are some jobs and careers for which a Master's degree is desirable--for example, teaching at the secondary school or two-year college level, and for work with public agencies and private business. On the other hand a Ph.D. degree is usually required for teaching and research at the university level and for high-level employment in non-academic research institutes, private industry, and government agencies. There are now more than 130 universities in the U.S. which offer the Ph.D. in Sociology (most of these also offer M.A. or M.S.); there are about 150 additional schools which offer only a Master's degree. Clearly, the prospective graduate student has ample room for choice. In fact, the choice is particularly important because even those schools which offer the same formal degrees will differ greatly in their strengths and weaknesses, the nature of their curriculum, and various special programs and opportunities.
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