Degrees and Careers

A Sociology Degree is one of the more common degrees out there.  If you’re wondering what a Sociology Degree is and what kind of careers a Sociology Degree can get you then you’ve come to the right place!  I want to address each topic separately so feel free to skip around to the section or sections that you’re most interested in.

What Is a Sociology Degree?

Generally speaking, a Sociology Degree is about the bigger picture.  Social science is about integrating psychology, history, economics, and political science and viewing the world through multiple fields of study rather than through just one.  So if you’re a Sociologist you could be involved in business (studying how organizations work), politics (studying the effects of law and social movements), or figuring out things like how to create equal opportunities for everyone.

What Can You Do with a Sociology Degree?

A Sociology Degree can give you a lot of options.  It can be a great base to build upon if you’re thinking of going into a graduate program such as for law, business, education, social work, psychology, counseling or health.

Meaning, you could get an undergraduate degree in Sociology and then go on to pursue something like an MBA or Masters in Psychology.  It’s common for someone who graduates with a Sociology degree to go onto medical school or law school.

Even if you’re not planning on graduate school anytime soon, I Sociology Degree will still provide value.  There are a lot of entry level jobs you could apply for in fields such as sales, social work, education, human resources, administration, and work with non-profits.

What Kind of Careers Can You Get with a Sociology Degree?

Of course, this is the big question.  If you’re going to spend all this time and money on a Sociology Degree will it be worth it?  Will be you be able to make more money and get a better career then if you didn’t have one?  Honestly, it depends on what you’re thinking of doing.

Here’s a list of possible careers that someone with a Sociology Degree could apply for:

- Sales and Marketing Manager
- Social Worker
- Human Resources Administrator
- Planner for a Non-Profit Organization
- Immigration Specialist
- Production Coordinator
- Policy Analyst
- Communications Technician

Should You Get a Sociology Degree?

I think it really depends on the person.  For instance, if you’re in a situation where you don’t really care what kind of degree you get but you just want a degree that’s fairly easy and will have a wide variety of application then this degree might be a good option.  But a Business degree would also be a good consideration.

I would say it comes down to what you’re more interested in.  If you gravitate more towards concepts related to people and communities and what impacts the two then Sociology is probably the better choice.  If you’re drawn more towards concepts like making money, finance, organization, sales or marketing then a business degree would probably be better.  If you’re just looking for the degree that will be the easiest between the two then Sociology is generally easier for most.  Business degrees include more math and financial concepts which generally speaking are trickier to learn.

Also, think about what kind of career you want to go into.  For instance, if you’re interested in working at a non-profit it may be less about what your degree is and more about who you know there at the organization.  If they like you and you have the skill sets they need you may be fine without a degree.

You will want to factor in the cost of your education.  If you’re looking at a 4 year program that will cost you $40,000 for your education and living expenses that may or may not be worth it.  On average, someone with a Sociology Degree will probably earn around $30,000 a year.  The reality is that many of the position you are eligible for with a Sociology Degree you could also apply for with just an Associates Degree.

Basically, I want you to be careful about spending a bunch of money on something that may not be a great return on investment.

As an example, lets say you get your Associates Degree for $10,000, then you go get a job that pays you $30,000 year.  Let’s say you’re able to save $10,000 year each year while working.  So in 4 years time (the time it would take to get a Bachelor’s Degree) you would have completed your Associated Degree, paid off the cost of the program (after your first year of working) and then saved an additional $10,000 by the end of the fourth year.  By the end of the fourth year you would also have 2 years of experience under your belt and be possibly eligible for a small promotion or to apply for a different position with a different company that could be a step up.

In our second scenario, let’s say you attend a 4-year school to get your Sociology Degree.  You’ve spend $40,000 and now are ready to go look for work.  Let’s say you start with a $30,000 job as well.  Let’s say you’re able to do the same thing and save $10,000 a year.  So now after 8 years you will have your schooling paid off as opposed to the other scenario where after 4 years you have school paid off and $10,000 in the bank.

Now scenario number two may actually be the better step if you know you want to go onto graduate school.  Or if you know you want to apply for a job that requires a Bachelor’s Degree (some do).  But as you can see, the two scenarios paint a different picture.  Basically, I want you to take the time and think about what you want to do.  A lot of people go the route of scenario two because of pressure from society of parents and the reality is they would be better off with scenario one.

If you’re not sure if a Sociology Degree is important for what you want to do I would call a handful of places that hire for what you’re looking to do. Ask them what kind of degree they look for (if any).  Find out what’s important to them as they will be the ones doing the hiring and ultimately their opinion is what truly matters.

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