Career Opportunities for Majors in Sociology


Introduction

Sociology is the study of social life and focuses on the interaction between human groups and institutions and their influences on each other. Sociology ranges from the study of relationships in family units in the most primitive cultures to the research of large bureaucratic institutions in major industrialized nations. Among the specialties within sociology are criminology, demography, cultural traditions, family relations, gerontology, social welfare, race relations, social status, and social change.

Sociology majors find jobs in social service agencies, non-profit organizations, government agencies, educational institutions, hospitals, rehabilitation centers, and correctional institutions. They also find jobs in business and industry in market research, public relations, customer service, management, advertising, human resources, and sales.

While many sociology graduates work in a related occupation and obtain an advanced degree, others choose another direction. Many careers do not require a specific major but rather a wide range of demonstrated skills and accomplishments. Regardless of your career choices, increase your marketability through internships, responsible work experience, good grades, and involvement in college activities.


A Sample of Related Occupations

Advertising Manager Human Resources Admin. Psychologist
Admissions Counselor Labor Relations Specialist Public Relations Manager
Career Counselor Market Research Analyst Rehabilitation Counselor
Child Welfare Worker Marriage Counselor Sales Representative
Comm. Serv. Agency Dir. Mental Health Worker Social Worker
Customer Service Director Nursing Home Administrator Sociologist
Gerontologist Personnel Manager Speech Pathologist
Guidance Counselor Probation/Parole Officer Substance Abuse Counselor
Hospital Administrator Psychiatrist Youth Counselor
 

Types of Employers

 

Private and Non-Profit Organizations

Adoption and Child Care Agencies

Newspapers, Magazines

Advertising Agencies

Personnel Agencies

Banks

Publishing Companies 

Correctional Institutions

Radio and TV Stations

Educational Institutions

Real Estate Agencies

Financial Service Companies

Religious Organizations

Hospitals 

Resort Hotels

Labor Unions

Retail Stores

Management Consulting Firms

Substance Abuse Clinics

Market Research Firms

Social Service Agencies

Mental Health Institutions

 
 
 
Government Agencies

Civil Rights Commission

Foreign Service

Consumer Affairs Office

Health and Human Services 

County Probation Department

Labor Department

Division of Youth & Family Services 

National Science Foundation

Federal Bureau of Prisons

Peace Corps/VISTA 

Federal Communications Commission

Veterans Administration
 

Jobs Obtained by Rutgers Graduates

 
Jobs of Recent Graduates
Accountant, First Fidelity Bank Lead Telemarketer, NJ Blood Services
Administrative Assistant, World Health Comm. Mutual Funds Processing Agent, Merrill Lynch
Bank Teller, United Jersey Bank Personnel Administrator, Johnson & Johnson
Child Care Worker, Catholic Charities Public Affairs/Media Research Associate, Opworld
Coordinator of Social Services, United Auto Workers Recruitment Specialist, Spencer Gifts, Inc.
Customer Service Manager, Empire Blue Cross/Blue Shield Retail Manager, Battleview Orchard, Inc.
Department Investigator, Middlesex Cty. Probation Sales Representative, New Jersey Bell
Director of Welfare, Mt. Olive Township Sales Representative, MetLife Insurance
Group Teacher, Douglass Psych. Child Study Substance Counselor, Rutgers University
Human Resources Coordinator, Easter Seals of New Jersey Teacher, Helping Hands School
Income Maintenance Tech., Union Cty. Human Services Webmaster/Reporter, Otsuka Oiaa Co., Ltd.
Juror Clerk, DC Superior Court 
 
 

 
Jobs of Experienced Alumni
Assistant Chief of Staff, Office of NJ Governor (MS Planning & Policy) Manager, Human Resources, American Express (MS Human Resources)
Assistant Director Foster Care/Adoption, Lutheran Community Services (MSW) Marketing Manager, AT&T Network Systems (MBA)
Associate, J.P. Morgan Marketing Research Executive, Pfizer Inc.
Director of Activities, Morris Hills Multicare Center News Reporter, CBS Inc.
Director of Development, St. Mary's Church Pricing Analyst/Conference Rep., Maersk (MA Org. Comm. & Pub. Admin.)
Director of Psychological Services, Dept. of Corrections (PsyD Clinical Psych.) Psychiatric Social Worker, Child Guidance Clinic (MSW)
Hearing Officer, Family Court of Philadelphia Senior Consultant, Peat Marwick (MS Applied Psych.)
Human Factors Scientist, IBM (MS Psych.) Sr. Research Analyst, Prudential (MA Appl. Res. Meth.)
Internal Revenue Agent, IRS (MA Psych.)  Special Agent, FBI
Librarian, Middlesex County College (MLS)


 
Graduate Schools Attended
American University, JD, Law Rutgers University, MBA, Marketing
Argosy University, MS, Forensic Sciences Rutgers University, MLS, Library Science
Boston University, MA, Public Health Rutgers University, PhD, Sociology
Fordham University, MSW, Social Work SUNY Oswego, MA, Guidance & Counseling
John Jay College of Criminal Justice, MA, Criminal Justice University of Georgia, M.Ed, Education/Counseling & Guidance
NJ Dental School, DDS, Dentistry University of Maryland, MA, IT Management
Rutgers University, MA, Labor & Employment Relations University of Minnesota, PhD, Psychology
Rutgers University, M.Ed, Elementary Education University of Pennsylvania, PhD, Sociology
Rutgers University, MPA, Public Administration Wilmington College, M.Ed, Educational Admin.
Rutgers University, MA, Sociology



 

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Updated 12/6/06

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