What Can You Do With a Sociology Degree?

With a sociology degree, you may be prepared to pursue work across all sectors — public, private and nonprofit in a wide range of industries — from social services to education and beyond.¹ A degree in sociology can prepare you to examine dynamic societal relationships and influences. In your coursework, you will dive into social theory, social structures and social psychology. The skills you’re taught can be put to work to better the lives of the people around you.

What can you do with a sociology degree, specifically? First, you’ll want to take a closer look at what sociology is before exploring potential careers in sociology.

In This Article:

• What Is Sociology?
• What Will I Study in a Sociology Program?
• Sociology Career Options
• Exploring the Need for Sociology Careers
• Apply to GCU’s Human Services Degree Program Today

What Is Sociology?

Sociology is a complex and multidisciplinary exploration of social life, social organizations and social change, as well as how human behavior is influenced by and, in turn, influences society. Human behavior and interactions are complex and can be affected by social, religious, legal, racial, gender and class frameworks.

What do sociologists do? A sociologist will study human behavior and how organizational structure causes humans to maintain certain behaviors or change them. Specifically, they will analyze such things as class, social status, social movements, religion, the family, criminal deviance and social change. 

What Will I Study in a Sociology Program?

In Grand Canyon University’s sociology degree program, you will examine advanced theories and principles related to society and human interaction. In addition, you will have the opportunity to build a foundation of knowledge and skills, including critical thinking, servant leadership, investigative research and analytical and collaborative abilities.

You will also analyze the dynamics of social hierarchies, wealth and prestige within social systems and minority groups in the U.S. and their significance in history and the current culture. Finally, you will be prompted to reflect upon the effects of social forces and social change in society.

Some of the topics covered in the degree program include:

• Sociological research methodologies
• Social stratification and inequality within diverse societies, including inequalities pertaining to race, ethnicity, gender and class
• Contemporary social problems, such as drug abuse and poverty, and their causes
• The role of social work within society

Sociology Career Options

Sociology degree programs can teach highly transferable skills that are applicable to a wide range of career pathways. Some of the soft skills you may be taught include:¹

• Critical thinking and problem-solving
• Social awareness and advocacy
• Cultural competence
• Communication
• Research and data analysis
• Public engagement

Continue reading to understand the potential careers in sociology you might want to pursue.

Social Work

If you enjoy the thought of pursuing a career field dedicated to the service of others, you might consider social work. A bachelor’s degree in sociology can provide a good foundation for pursuing the advanced credentials typically required of social workers.²

Social workers focus on empowering disadvantaged individuals, such as neglected or abused children, bullied youths and those suffering from domestic violence, mental health disorders, poverty, discrimination and substance use disorders. They provide counseling services and help individuals access community resources. 

Human Resources (HR)

Other sociology careers are found in human resources. HR can align well with the soft skills taught in a sociology degree program, such as communication skills and interpersonal skills.² Human resources professionals are responsible for managing the internal operations of a company, such as its recruitment, hiring, training, benefits and compensation. They also handle workplace conflict resolution and internal policy development. 

Law Enforcement

Not all law enforcement employees have criminal justice degrees. With a BS in Sociology, there are many doors open to you in the legal field.³ For example, you might pursue a career in local or state law enforcement, or you might look into joining a federal law enforcement agency.³ Keep in mind you’ll need to meet the career qualifications of any given law enforcement job. 

Human Rights

You may feel called to a career path that allows you to help those who are in need, and there are a variety of careers that are involved with protecting and promoting human rights. With a sociology degree, you might apply to law school with the intent of becoming a human rights lawyer.⁴ In this capacity, your mission in life would be to advocate for victims of civil rights violations, abuse and persecution. Human rights lawyers work at all levels: local, state, national and global.

Another possibility is to pursue work as a policy analyst.⁵ Within the human rights sphere, policy analysts may evaluate current policies and influence policy changes that will better serve at-risk populations. They conduct research and develop recommendations that can address specific human rights issues, ranging from economic policies to education and beyond. 

Here are some other possibilities related to the protection of human rights:⁵

• Nonprofit administrator
• Diversity and inclusion specialist
• Labor relations specialist
• Community outreach coordinator

Marketing Research

Graduates of sociology degree programs may choose to go into the corporate world. There are many possibilities, but one common choice is marketing research.² Marketing research analysts evaluate data to identify and analyze consumer trends, such as which products people want to buy and how much they would be willing to pay for them.

Exploring the Need for Sociology Careers

Since sociology degree programs teach so many versatile and transferable skills, it’s possible for sociology majors to work across a wide range of sectors, industries and careers. Some of those careers may be growing more than others.

For example, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimates job growth for social workers to be 7% from 2023 through 2033, faster than average, indicating a need for about 54,700 new social workers during this time period.⁶ Similarly, the BLS estimates job growth for market research analysts to be 8% during that time period, indicating a need for about 74,900 new professionals.⁷

Apply to GCU’s Human Services Degree Program Today

At GCU, we are proud of our traditions of academic excellence, servant leadership and Christian values. We invite prospective students to explore our diverse selection of service-focused degree programs, including the Bachelor of Science in Sociology. Fill out the form on this page to speak with a university counselor about your future at GCU.