SOCIOLOGY What can I do with this degree? AREAS
EMPLOYERS
STRATEGIES
HUMAN SERVICES Counseling Case Management Advocacy Mental Health Services Programming Administration
Community service agencies Advocacy groups Federal, state and local government United Way agencies/local branches of national non-profit organizations Religiously-affiliated service organizations Private foundations Adoption and child care agencies Nursing homes and retirement communities Hospitals and wellness centers Halfway houses Vocational services Educational information services
Gain experience and develop helping skills through volunteer positions. Spend summers working at camps, YMCA’s or other social service agencies. Learn to work well with diverse populations. Develop excellent communication skills. Concentrate course work in area of interest such as youth, gerontology or poverty. Learn a second language to interact with non-native speakers of English - particularly helpful in certain parts of the country. Take advantage of opportunities to serve as peer mentors, resident assistants, or other student leader positions. Earn a master’s degree in social work, counseling or other related fields to increase employment opportunities. Most states require licensure or certification for professional counseling-oriented positions.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE Corrections Rehabilitation Law Enforcement Judiciary
Correctional institutions Court systems Federal, state and local government, especially law enforcement agencies
Gain essential practical experience via part-time or summer jobs, internships, or volunteer work. Volunteer to work with troubled youth. Develop a desire to work with and help all types of people. Obtain a graduate degree for advancement. Obtain experience in a branch of the military. Obtain certification/licensure to teach grades K-12. Earn dual certification to increase job opportunities. Earn a graduate degree to teach in post-secondary institutions; master’s degree required for two-year colleges and a doctoral degree for four-year institutions. Assist a professor with research. Take extra courses in research and statistics. Develop exceptional communication skills. Volunteer as a tutor. Secure strong personal recommendations, particularly from professors.
EDUCATION Teaching Research
Public and private schools Colleges and universities
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AREAS
EMPLOYERS
STRATEGIES
GOVERNMENT Social Statistics Demography Public Administration Policy Analysis Research Program Development Human Services City Planning Law Enforcement
Federal departments and agencies including but not limited to: Departments of Agriculture; Education; Interior Health and Human Services Drug Enforcement Administration Environmental Protection Agency Housing and Urban Development Veteran’s Administration National Institutes of Health National Institute of Aging State and local government
Take additional courses in statistics and social research. Develop exceptional computer skills. Gain work experience via government internships or summer work. Acquire skills in research and evaluation; develop a specialty in fields such as aging,family, criminal justice, etc. Learn the federal application process. Obtain a graduate degree for advanced positions. Consider joining the military to jump-start a career with the government.
SOCIAL SCIENCE RESEARCH Research Data Analysis Demography Market Research Information Sourcing
Universities Government agencies Research institutes Non-profit agencies Community organizations Private industry Advertising and marketing firms Consulting organizations Information brokers Newspapers, magazines, news agencies Public opinion research polls
Develop exceptional quantitative, statistical, and writing skills. Learn to use statistics software packages as well as database, spreadsheet, and desktop publishing programs. Volunteer to help a professor with a research project. Obtain an advanced degree in sociology for research administration. Earn certification in applied social research by The American Sociological Association.
ENVIRONMENT AND SOCIETY
Waste management firms Health agencies Local planning agencies Environmental advocacy groups Environmental periodicals Federal government Regional, state, and local agencies Consulting firms Private industry
Enhance curriculum with courses in ecology, environmental science, and statistics. Join environment-related student organizations. Volunteer to work on environmental clean-up projects. Find a related internship. Obtain a graduate degree for advancement.
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AREAS BUSINESS Human Resources Training and Development Recruiting Management Sales Marketing Public Relations Office Administration
EMPLOYERS Business and industry including: Insurance firms Retail stores Banks Staffing agencies Manufacturing companies Service industry Non-profit organizations Healthcare organizations
STRATEGIES Earn a minor in business or take basic business classes such as accounting and finance. Gain business experience through part-time jobs, summer work, and internships. Develop excellent computer skills. Learn to use software applications such as spreadsheets, databases, and word processing. Hone written and oral communication skills. Join related professional associations. Seek leadership roles in student organizations.
Prepared by the Career Planning staff of Career Services at The University of Tennessee, Knoxville. (1994, Revised 2002) UTK is an EEO/AA/Title VI/Title IX/Section 504/ADA/ADEA Employer