Studying Sociology

Sociology is one of the popular liberal arts programs, and around 37,700 degrees are awarded annually. Around 3.83 million people from this field of study are in the workforce. The locations with the highest number of sociology degrees being awarded are Los Angeles and New York. Candidates generally take a bachelor's degree in the field, focusing on one of the different specializations. Those who take a master’s degree in the field often also take a doctoral degree and move forward with research.

Candidates who take this program will be able to specialize in different subfields of sociology. Since plenty of universities often offer stellar programs in this field of study, most candidates prefer choosing universities based on their specializations. They will also be able to select specific cities they want to be in before choosing the best program offered for sociology in the city.

Benefits of Studying Sociology

Since sociology is an interdisciplinary study focusing on different perspectives, candidates often do well in this field if they travel for the same. Understanding global perspectives, cultures, and even languages can contribute to achieving excellent results in the field. Studying sociology in the US will allow students to mingle with international students, their viewpoints, and their cultures, which will benefit them all. A few other benefits to consider:

• Candidates who have completed a sociology degree can take up professions that offer an average salary range of $46,000 to $93,000. This annual salary can even go as high as $105,000 based on the candidate's qualifications, expertise, and educational level.
• Candidates will be able to work as sociologists, social scientists, and even professors who research in specific fields under sociology.
• There is a projected increment in the employment rate of 5% for the profession of a sociologist between the years 2021 and 2031, which is considered as fast as the average for most occupations. Around 300 openings are available for sociologists every year.
• Candidates in this field will be able to do interdisciplinary research in fields like economics, psychology, and survey research.

Eligibility Requirements for Sociology Programs

The eligibility requirements for sociology programs are not considered to be as unattainable when compared to professional degrees. Candidates will have to check the eligibility requirements for their particular university since it depends on the university itself and even on the degree level one is planning to take. A few of the general requirements that one will have to meet for all sociology programs are-

• Educational Transcripts
• Statement of Purpose
• Letters of Recommendation
• GPA of 2.00 to 3.00
• SAT/ACT, at Bachelor’s level
• GRE, if required, at Master’s level

Fee for Programs in Sociology

The fee for sociology programs depends on the type of institution the candidate is attending and the program level they have applied for. The tuition at a public institution will be comparatively lower than that of a private university, with fee differences for in-state and out-of-state candidates. Candidates who are state residents will have to pay a lower tuition fee than non-residents. The fee at private institutions will be the same for all candidates.

The median in-state tuition fee at public institutions is around $7,000, and the median out-of-state tuition at private institutions is around $37,500. While the tuition at private institutions has increased by an estimated 4.73%, the fee for in-state candidates at public institutions has remained the same for a while.

Duration for Programs in Sociology

The duration of sociology programs depends on the level of education one has applied for. An associate’s degree in the field will last two years, whereas a bachelor’s degree in the subject will last four years. A master’s program will last two years, and a doctoral program, depending on the institution, will last 3 to 5 years.

Program	Duration	Credits
Associate Degree	2 years	60 Credits
Bachelor’s Degree	4 years	120 Credits
Master’s Degree	2 years	30-60 Credits
Doctoral Degree	3-5 years	120 Credits

Types of Sociology Degrees

Candidates can take four different degrees in this field at different levels. The most popular program in the field is the bachelor’s degree, which lasts four years. However, candidates who do not have the time to invest in a 4-year program opt for an associate’s degree, which can be completed in 2 years. The details regarding the different degrees are as follows-

Associate’s Degree in Sociology

An associate’s degree in sociology is one of the lowest degrees one can take in the field, lasting only two years. It comprises 60 credits in all, and candidates will study the fundamental concepts of the subject. These fundamental concepts include culture, inequality, social stratification, etc.

Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology

A bachelor’s degree in the field will last four years, and depending on the university one has enrolled at, candidates will be able to pursue different specializations in the field, based on which they will be able to follow up their education by taking a master’s. This program will have a credit requirement of 120 credits.

Master’s Degree in Sociology

A master’s degree in the subject will last two years, and candidates will have the option of specializing in fields like environmental sociology, criminal studies in sociology, globalization, historical sociology, etc. The credit requirement will be 30-60 credits, depending on the institution.

Doctoral Degree in Sociology

Candidates who have completed their Master’s degree can pursue further research by taking a doctoral program. A doctoral program requires 120 credits, including core subjects and thesis submission. The duration of the program will depend on the candidate and their ability to submit their thesis and defense on time. Course completion can take anywhere between 3 and 5 years.

Specializations in Sociology

While the core subjects in this field will include sociological theory, social problems, social movements, etc. Most programs will also require candidates to take up internships and concentrations in the field based on their interests. A few of the popular specializations include-

Economic Sociology

This specialization deals with the consequences of economic exchanges worldwide, including the social interactions they aid or avoid. According to this field, social processes can be produced and reproduced based on material conditions.

Gender and Sexuality

Through this specialization, candidates will examine classical and contemporary sociology theories from the perspective of gender and sexuality and learn about the impact of gender and sexuality on societies around the globe.

Globalization

This is one of the most popular and commonly chosen specializations in sociology. Candidates deal with micro-, meso- ---, and macro-level processes that interact and transform social structures. This subfield can be placed in contexts like financial systems, democratization, education, biotech, etc.

Historical Sociology

This specialization deals with the history of sociology and the historical perspectives of social and political processes. Candidates will study aspects like state formation, religion, politics, culture, law, etc. through historical and ethnographic perspectives.

Political Sociology

Political sociology deals mainly with topics like power and authority. Candidates learn about different power structures and systems, including those in states and civil societies. With this knowledge, they learn to read about different political phenomena.

Race, Ethnicity, & Migration

When offered in institutions in the US, this specialization will deal with racial and ethnic issues relating to stratification and discrimination. This study will include the problems immigrants face and their family systems when assimilating into the country.

Top Universities for Sociology

A few of the best universities for taking a sociology degree are-

Institution	Location
University of California, Berkeley	Berkeley, CA
Harvard University	Cambridge, MA
Princeton University	Princeton, NJ
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor	Ann Arbor, MI
Stanford University	Stanford, CA
University of California, Los Angeles	Los Angeles, CA
Northwestern University	Evanston, IL
University of Chicago	Chicago, IL
University of North Carolina- Chapel Hill	Chapel Hill, NC
University of Wisconsin, Madison	Madison, WI

Career Options for Sociology Graduates

Candidates who have completed their education in sociology can pursue their careers in community organizations, universities, the public sector, etc. The most common occupations in the field are lawyers, judges, & magistrates, other judicial workers, school teachers, college professors, etc. The average wage in the workforce is estimated to be around $99,000 per year with a variation of +/-$1,500.

Since it is a liberal arts degree, candidates often take up this field at an undergraduate level before moving on to specialized fields like law, medicine, etc. This increases their career potential within their eventual fields since they gain basic work skills from studying sociology

• Sociologists- This profession is part of the research field, with candidates having to study society and social behavior. They will also test theories about social issues and conduct surveys on various aspects.
  Median Salary- $93,000 per year
• Sociology Teacher- Candidates will be able to teach students at a postsecondary level based on their educational qualifications.
  Median Salary- $62,000 per year
• Sociology Professor- Candidates will be able to take up teaching positions at a college level and partly engage in research with this profession.
  Median Salary- $78,000 per year
• Social Scientist- They deal with research on the government, economy, and other social institutions along with societal and human behavior.
  Median Salary- $84,500 per year