Sociology
Major
What is Sociology?
The study of the structure of society
and its enduring patterns of social relations is sociology's
primary mission. Sociology studies human conduct from
the perspective of the history and the anatomy or structure
of the groups. It focuses on how people coordinate their
activities to reach individual and collective goals through
the development of roles, meanings, and norms that make
behavior reciprocally predictable and organized. Sociology
investigates questions such as how such patterns of interdependent
activity originate and what sustains them, why they take
one shape instead of another, how some societies change
more rapidly than others, how groups are related to each
other, and how people justify and explain what they are
doing. The patterns are learned as customary behavior
and institutional practices. The sociological perspective
is closely linked to comparative historical and cross-cultural
studies of social institutions and to psychological studies
of human interaction in a wide range of social, economic,
educational, religious, familial, and political settings.
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What Kinds of Students Major
in Sociology?
This major is of interest to the individual
who is observant of other people?s actions when they interact
with each other and who is looking for patterns and consistencies
in their interaction. This is the primary field of choice.
Sociology is the study of this as well as many other aspects
of human interaction taking into account things like race,
gender, setting, upbringing, etc. The individual who is
curious about this will learn many things in this field,
and will be trained to use the knowledge gained advantageously.
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What Courses Do Sociology Majors
Take?
The required and elective courses you
would take for majors vary considerably among institutions.
Courses are listed here that are illustrative of the breadth
of topics you are likely to experience were you to major
in this field.
Introduction
to Sociology |
Personality
and Social Systems |
Economic
Sociology |
Organizations,
Stratification, and Race |
Race
and Ethnicity |
Social
Stratification and Class |
Social
Movements |
Sociology
of Religion |
Research
Methods |
Political
Sociology |
Sociology
of Culture |
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What Types of Positions do
Sociology Majors Take After College?
These professions and professional organizations
illustrate the types of positions you might qualify for
if you complete this major. Some majors are more directly
related to employment than others, however. You should
consider the likelihood of employment after graduation
carefully, if you do not plan to go on for graduate work
in a field. Even with the completion of graduate work
in some fields, however, employment is difficult, so you
should determine what the prospects are for this or any
major. Employment possibilities are often enhanced by
the selecting employment-related courses and by the enrollment
in second major or in a minor.
Teaching |
Demographer/Planner |
Political
Research |
Applied
Sociologist |
Business |
Counseling |
Social
Service |
Journalism |
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Are you interested in detailed information
about the forecasted demand for a particular profession?
Are you interested in the estimated salaries such positions
are likely to pay? This government Web site allows you
to search on a particular job, whether listed here or
not, to give you this information.
Bureau
of Labor Statistics
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Related Links
If you are interested in learning more
about what professionals in this field do and what kinds
of activities they engage in, you might want to begin
with the following web sites. Also check the departmental
web sites of colleges and universities, which offer this
major.
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University Departments to Consider
The following institutions are the featured
institutions on MyMajors because they support MyMajors
and you in your search for the best major available. They
offer excellent curriculums in well-rounded programs for
you to consider.
Other fine institutions offering this
major offer excellent programs to consider.
For information on options available
to campuses wishing to see their majors listed
on MyMajors, contact: admin@mymajors.com for details. |
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Two-Year College Curriculums
to Consider
Suggest to your two-year college
advisor that their institution's majors be included
to show you their course requirements and unique
resources. Two-year college representatives should
contact admin@mymajors.com for details. |
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Want
More Information? Look at major descriptions prepared
by university academic advisement staffs.
Sociology Major
