Banner
Quick Links Spacer
Spacer

CareerKnight

On-campus interviewing, career days and job postings

Login: Students/Alumni | Employers

Top Sponsors Spacer
Sponsors
Spacer

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

Admissions Counselor Human Resources Admin. Psychologist
Advertising Manager 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 & Non-profit Organizations
Adoption and Child Care Agencies Labor Unions Radio and TV Stations
Advertising Agencies Management Consulting Firms Real Estate Agencies
Banks Market Research Firms Religious Organizations
Correctional Institutions Mental Health Institutions Resort Hotels
Educational Institutions Newspapers, Magazines Retail Stores
Financial Service Companies Personnel Agencies Social Service Agencies
Hospitals  Publishing Companies  Substance Abuse Clinics

Government Agencies
Civil Rights Commission Federal Bureau of Prisons Labor Department
Consumer Affairs Office Federal Communications Commission National Science Foundation
County Probation Department Foreign Service Peace Corps/VISTA 
Division of Youth & Family Services  Health and Human Services  Veterans Administration



Jobs Obtained by Rutgers Graduates

First 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, MetLife Insurance
Director of Welfare, Mt. Olive Township Sales Representative, New Jersey Bell
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.)
Dir. of Psychological Srvcs., 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.) Special Agent, FBI
Internal Revenue Agent, IRS (MA Psych.)  Sr. Research Analyst, Prudential (MA Appl. Res. Meth.)
Librarian, Middlesex County College (MLS)  



Graduate Schools Attended

American University, JD, Law Rutgers University, MLS, Library Science
Argosy University, MS, Forensic Sciences Rutgers University, MPA, Public Administration
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, M.Ed, Elementary Education University of Minnesota, PhD, Psychology
Rutgers University, MA, Labor & Employment Relations University of Pennsylvania, PhD, Sociology
Rutgers University, MA, Sociology Wilmington College, M.Ed, Educational Admin.
Rutgers University, MBA, Marketing  



Additionally, you may:




Find us...Follow us!

 

Still Have Questions? Ask the Director.


For questions or comments about this site, contact cswebpg@rci.rutgers.edu.
© 2008 Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. All rights reserved.

Last Updated: 04/24/2009

Search Rutgers New Brunswick Newark Camden