Graduates of a sociology degree program can put their expertise to work in a number of sociology careers, and there are, in fact, a number of unusual places that sociology majors work that go beyond the norm. Since the 1800s, sociologists have studied the behaviors and interactions of people in groups — from ethnic groups and major corporations to small friendship circles and married relationships. The topics they study are also broad and range from religion and crime to the state, the family, and divisions of social class and race. Their work environments are just as diverse, which is good news if you’re thinking about pursuing a sociology degree. Here are several out-of-the-box positions that will expand the way you think about the career.
Homeland Security and the Federal Bureau of Investigations
Students who hold a degree in sociology could be one step away from defending the U.S. against threats. For instance, experienced sociology graduates who work at the Department of Homeland Security strive to understand terrorist behavior and motivation. They are tasked with jobs such as identifying hostile intent, understanding the roles of organizations and communities in moving people away from or toward radicalization, and helping communities respond to and prepare for devastating events. These professionals also stay up-to-date on the latest research that can help bring about new, effective, and publicly acceptable technologies. Within the FBI, sociology majors work as criminal profilers and study crimes to not only reconstruct what might have happened in a case but to also develop an idea about what might happen in the future.
Political Campaign Trail
Did you know that Martin Luther King and Jesse Jackson were both sociology majors? Some people may be surprised to find out that lots of national leaders and politicians have sociology backgrounds. Working for politicians on the campaign trail, sociologists aim to identify key issues for their candidate, voting trends in previously identified target areas and critical neighborhoods. Sociologists could prepare a report that details the district’s characteristics as well as past election trends. They may also research the best ways to transport voters to the polls when it comes time to vote as well as how likely voters are to use certain modes of transportation.
Human Resources Department
Although there are degrees devoted specifically to human resources, sociology students also take a deep, comprehensive look into the way people of different backgrounds and skills interact as well as how culture, gender, and race come into play in work environments. Knowing how all of this works together is crucial for developing policies and programs that directly affect employees throughout the company and is crucial for handling issues between groups of employees and individual workers. As a human resources manager, sociologists could use their knowledge of group behavior to help organizations through difficult times, including labor disputes, product recalls, natural disasters, or layoffs.
Sociology graduates are well-versed in the behaviors and interactions of people from all different backgrounds and cultures. This knowledge is vital to the function and operation of different types of organizations at the local, state, and federal levels. Although there are “traditional” environments in which sociologists commonly find employment, there are also a number of unusual places that sociology majors work such as in the federal government, on the campaign trail, or in a company’s human resources department.
Related Resource:
Best Top 10 Online Sociology Degree Programs
