Sociology Degrees
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Salaries For Degrees in Sociology.
People with a degree in Sociology can be employed in a variety of occupations. It is impossible to say what you personally will do with a degree in Sociology, our survey panel picked the following jobs as likely options:
- Social science research assistants
- Social and community service managers
- Mental health and substance abuse social workers
- Child, family, and school social workers
- Medical and public health social workers
- Public relations specialists (Best salary!)
The median salary for people with a degree in Sociology is $38,619.72. The lifetime value of this degree is approximately $890,158.00.
Salaries are highly dependent on how skilled one is at negotiation, experience, your employer, location, and a host of other factors. The estimates we show on these pages are just that: estimates. Your individual experience will likely vary.
Where does this come from?
The Bureau of Labor Statistics, a unit of the US government, classifies all workers into some 800-odd occupational categories. We paid a team of freelancers to get their view on what type of degree a holder of each type of job would likely have majored in. For pairs which had a high degree of consensus, we created a link between the degree and the job.
From this, we calculated the average salary for Sociology degrees and converted it into a lifetime value. We then compared it against other degrees at the same level of schooling (such as associate's, bachelor's, or master's), so that you can make informed educational and employment decisions.
What Can a Sociology Student Expect to Learn?
In studying sociology, a student can expect to learn a variety of methods and skills. Crucial to the study of sociology is the ability to think critically about social environments and trends and to eliminate preconceptions about them.
The study of sociology revolves around the central question of whether social structures like race, gender, or class create human behavior or if humans have agency (choice) in the structures they create or participate in. Since this central question entails considerable contemplation of what structures do influence human behavior, the element of critical thinking is absolutely crucial. As sociology is largely not focused on studying on the individual level, it is important that students in the field have the ability to think in macrocosm, not microcosm.
Along with this comes the ability to absorb and process various theories that have contributed to the history and study of sociology. As in most fields, sociology has a variety of theories associated with it, theories that have defined the discipline and made ample contributions towards its expansion. These theories include positivism, anti-positivism, functionalism, and conflict theory.
Another important skill used in most sub-disciplines within sociology is statistical analysis and research methods. Knowledge in sociology is gained by the gathering and analysis of statistical data through such items as laboratory research, surveys, weighing and collating of previously collected data, and sampling. The ability to engage in study of this nature requires math skills that may be different from those normally utilized. However, such skills are not hard to obtain.
About Sociology
Sociology is the study of human societies and groups. It studies such facets of human life such as class, religion, race, sex, and gender and concepts such as deviance, law, culture, and the media. The scope of sociology encompasses virtually every aspect of human social life and does so through a variety of analytical, statistical, and critical methods.
The study of sociology is very broad and offers ample opportunity for specialization; most students studying sociology pick a particular topic or subset of topics that they wish to focus their research on and use the framework and methods of sociology to study them
Most importantly, it is crucial to remember that sociology is a science that uses empirical and critical methods to divine explanations and theories about human conduct and how that conduct is influenced, created, and defined by social structures and concepts.
As such, students can expect to learn about the scientific method and how it applies to the study of human social structures. The scientific method is at the heart of most branches of sociology and is what defines it as a social science.
Online Schools Offering Accredited Sociology Degree Programs
There are a variety of schools that offer on-line degrees in sociology. Among them are the University of Maryland, Arizona State University, Ashford University, Union Institute and University, Fort Hays State University, and the University of Massachusetts. Please note that these schools offer sociology degrees covering different specializations and topics. If a student is deciding to pursue their degree on-line at one of these institutions, it is important to keep that fact in mind in the decision process.
Top Colleges & Universities Offering Campus-based Sociology Degrees
Several schools have well-known and regarded sociology programs that any student serious about pursuing a career in sociology should consider. These schools include:
- Princeton University
- University of California at Berkley
- Stanford University
- University of Chicago
- University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
- University of Indiana at Bloomington
- Columbia University
- Harvard University
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Students applying to schools for sociology should bear in mind that, while these schools are well-known for their sociology programs, each may differ in their aptitude for a particular branch of sociology. For example, one school may be better for those wishing to pursue a concentration in gender while another could be better for a concentration in culture. Prospective sociology students should make sure to study a school’s faculty and reputation in your chosen field of study before choosing a school.
Famous People in Sociology
In addition to those who have made a career of sociology, there are many well-known people who have used their sociology degree to achieve distinction in other fields.
Among these people are the (pictured right) Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., President Ronald Reagan, author Saul Bellow, actor and comedian Robin Williams, First Lady Michelle Obama, the Rev. Jesse Jackson, Congressman Tim Holden, and Congresswoman Maxine Waters.
In their own ways, all of these people of note have utilized their education in sociology in their respective career paths and gained distinction in their field as a result.
