What it’s about:

Sociology is the study of social and social behaviour. By studying how individuals act in small and large groups, as well as how such groups are formed and function, you explore social problems and public policy. You investigate a range of topics. Including the intimacies of family relationship; the demographics of urban and rural spaces; and the consequences of race, gender, and class divisions across societies.

What the study of this major is like:

Courses work ranges from case studies of the relationships among individuals in particular social setting to scrutiny of governments and economics systems across time. Intro courses ask questions such as “How are rules of normality established? How do these rules change? How do social institutions (such as the family) influences our choices, our perceptions of reality, and our plans for the future? To answer these question, you may explore the issues from several perspectives (often drawn from disciplines such as history, economics, and political science) as you make progress in your studies.

Sociology is taught mostly through lectures, supplemented by presentations, films, guest speakers, and independent research. Required courses usually include introductory sociology, research methods, theory, and statistics. Probably you’ll take courses in such related areas as geography, political science, religion, and economics, many courses deal with social policy. For example, a course on social stratification (that is how societies are divided up) may include discussion of policies designed to reduce inequality.

Most programs require you to learn the theories and research methods that prepare you for independent projects. You’ll gain practise in using academics journals, computerized databases, and materials available at most college libraries; or you might gather and analyse data yourself, through surveys, interview, and observations. In many programs, you will have the opportunity to do an internship at a social service agency, where you can apply what you have learned in the classroom.

There are some challenges. First, the fiend is so wide that you may have difficult narrowing your interests to special research topic. Second, the scientific methods of conducting research , especially the emphasis on statistical analysis, can cause trouble for some students. But students who master data analysis are usually rewarded. Statistics makes their research work much more efficient, and many jobs that majors take after graduation require data analysis. Finally, there is a fair amount of reading, writing, studying terminology, and theories that are sometimes difficult. The independent research projects that some colleges require takes time, initiative, patience, and often, creativity. Despite the academic demands of this major, though, students rarely complain that the readings are uninteresting.

Programs may vary in the number of courses required for the major. Across colleges, concentration may also vary according to faculty members’ expertise, and areas of concentration may change as new topics emerge. You can get a feel for the differences among programs by comparing courses required and concentrations offered and by looking at the types research the professors are doing.

Career options and trends:

The sociology major can lead to courses in marketing consumer research, advertising, insurance, human resources, teaching non-profit organizations, community development agencies environmental group, criminal justice (probation or parole officers agencies), law, urban planning, Foreign service, and industrial sociology. Advanced degrees are required for work as college professors, lawyers, demographers, policy analysis, and research institute managers.

Source: CollegeBoard 2012 Book of Majors