Careers in Sociology

Helping and Human Services

The careers below are common with those who have a Sociology degree:

• Counseling
• Case Management
• Advocacy
• Mental Health Services
• Programming
• Administration

You might consider looking at jobs with the following employers:

• Community service agencies
• Advocacy groups
• Federal, state, and local government
• Nursing homes and retirement communities
• Hospitals and wellness centers
• Halfway houses
• Private foundations
• United Way agencies

You might consider engaging in the following activities while at CSUF in preparation for entering this career pathway:

• Gain experience and develop helping skills through volunteer positions.
• Spend summers working at camps, YMCA's or other social service agencies.
• Learn to work well with diverse populations.
• Develop excellent communication skills.
• Concentrate course work in area of interest such as youth, gerontology or poverty.
• Learn a second language to interact with non-native speakers of English - particularly helpful in certain parts of the country.
• Take advantage of opportunities to serve as a peer mentors, resident assistants, or other student leader positions.
• Earn a master's degree in social work, counseling or other related fields to increase employment opportunities.

Criminal Justice

The careers below are common with those who have a Sociology degree:

• Corrections
• Rehabilitation
• Law Enforcement
• Judiciary

You might consider looking at jobs with the following employers:

• Correctional Institutions
• Court systems Federal, state and local government, especially law enforcement agencies

You might consider engaging in the following activities while at CSUF in preparation for entering this career pathway:

• Gain essential practical experience via part-time or summer jobs, internships, or volunteer work.
• Volunteer to work with troubled youth.
• Develop a desire to work with and help all types of people.
• Obtain a graduate degree for advancement.
• Obtain experience in a branch of the military.

Education

The careers below are common with those who have a Sociology degree:

• Teaching
• Research

You might consider looking at jobs with the following employers:

• Public and private schools
• Colleges and universities

You might consider engaging in the following activities while at CSUF in preparation for entering this career pathway:

• Obtain certification/licensure to teach grades K-12.
• Earn dual certification to increase job opportunities.
• Earn a graduate degree to teach in post-secondary institutions; master's degree required for two-year colleges and a doctoral degree for four-year Institutions.
• Assist a professor with research.
• Take extra courses in research and statistics.
• Develop exceptional communication skills.
• Volunteer as a tutor.
• Secure strong personal recommendations, particularly from professors.

Government

The careers below are common with those who have a Sociology degree:

• Social Statistics
• Demography
• Public Administration
• Policy Analysis
• Research Program Development
• Human Services
• City Planning
• Law Enforcement

You might consider looking at jobs with the following employers:

• Federal departments and agencies including but not limited to:
  • Agriculture
  • Education
  • Interior Health and Human Services
  • Drug Enforcement Administration
  • Environmental Protection Agency
  • Housing and Urban Development   
  • Veteran's Administration
  • National Institutes of Health
  • National Institute of Aging
  • State and local government

You might consider engaging in the following activities while at CSUF in preparation for entering this career pathway:

• Take additional courses in statistics and social research.
• Develop exceptional computer skills.
• Gain work experience via government Internships or summer work.
• Acquire skills In research and evaluation
• Develop a specialty in fields such as aging, family, criminal justice, etc.
• Learn the federal application process.
• Obtain a graduate degree for advanced positions.
• Consider joining the military to jump-start a career with the government.

Social Justice Research

The careers below are common with those who have a Sociology degree:

• Research
• Data Analysis
• Demography
• Market Research
• Information Sourcing

You might consider looking at jobs with the following employers:

• Universities
• Government agencies
• Research institutes
• Non-profit agencies
• Community organizations
• Private industry
• Advertising and marketing firms
• Consulting organizations
• Information brokers
• Newspapers, magazines, news agencies
• Public opinion research polls

You might consider engaging in the following activities while at CSUF in preparation for entering this career pathway:

• Develop exceptional quantitative, statistical, and writing skills.
• Learn to use statistics software packages as well as database, spreadsheet, and desktop publishing programs.
• Volunteer to help a professor with a research project.
• Obtain an advanced degree in sociology for research administration.
• Earn certification in applied social research by The American Sociological Association.

Environment and Society

You might consider looking at jobs with the following employers:

• Waste management firms
• Health agencies
• Local planning agencies
• Environmental advocacy groups
• Environmental periodicals
• Federal government
• Regional, state, and local agencies
• Consulting firms Private Industry

You might consider engaging in the following activities while at CSUF in preparation for entering this career pathway:

• Enhance curriculum with courses in ecology, environmental science, and statistics.
• Join environment-related student organizations.
• Volunteer to work on environmental clean-up projects.
• Find a related Internship.
• Obtain a graduate degree for advancement.

Business

The careers below are common with those who have a Sociology degree:

• Human Resources
• Training and Development
• Recruiting Management
• Sales Marketing
• Public Relations
• Office Administration

You might consider looking at jobs with the following employers:

• Business and industry including:
  • Insurance firms
  • Retail stores
  • Banks   
  • Staffing Agencies
  • Manufacturing companies
  • Service industry
  • Non-profit organizations
  • Healthcare organizations

You might consider engaging in the following activities while at CSUF in preparation for entering this career pathway:

• Earn a minor in business or take basic business classes such as accounting and finance.
• Gain business experience through part-time jobs, summer work, and internships.
• Develop excellent computer skills.
• Learn to use software applications such as spreadsheets, databases, and word
• Hone written and oral communication skills.
• Join related professional associations.
• Seek leadership roles in student organizations.