Is Sociology a Good Major? [2024 Guide]
By Joy Miller
Edited by Briana Sukert
Updated on September 25, 2024
Is sociology a good major? If you are curious about people, cultures, and human behavior, sociology may be a major worth considering.
A bachelors degree in sociology will address relevant issues like inequality, family dynamics, and community development. These topics influence behavior and decision-making in both personal and public spheres, so you may find many applications for the lessons learned in this program.
With a sociology degree, you may have a strong foundation for work in human services, business, teaching, research, and other intriguing fields.
Editorial Listing ShortCode:
Yes, sociology is a good major for many undergraduate students. The Bureau of Labor Statistics is projecting 5% job growth in life, physical, and social science occupations over the next 10 years.
Common sociology careers in this field include sociologist, social worker, public relations specialist, correctional treatment specialist, and social and community services manager.
A degree in sociology can help equip you to understand culture and relationships. With that knowledge, you may be a suitable candidate for a wide variety of jobs in many different fields. You may choose to pursue work in business, government, criminal justice, education, social services, or another sector.
Studying sociology won’t limit you to any one field, so you can use your time in college to explore the many different career paths that this degree can open for you. Along the way, you may find that you’re most interested in working directly with people or behind the scenes to carry out research and learn more about human interactions.
No matter where you end up, you can fall back on the lessons learned in this program about human relationships and behavior time and again.
The requirements for a bachelors in sociology usually include a core set of social science classes as well as the opportunity to enroll in a number of electives that correspond to your areas of interest. Your school’s sociology curriculum may include options like:
Earning a bachelor’s degree usually requires students to complete 120 credit hours of college classes. That will include not only your sociology core and electives but also an assortment of general education classes.
Sociology is a diverse field since human interactions touch nearly every sphere of life. Some of the top sociology careers involve conducting research or working with the public.
Sociologists are researchers who gather data about human behavior and society, analyze their findings, and compile reports that may influence policies or practices.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics lists an average annual salary of $86,110 for sociologists, making this a top-paying job for sociology graduates. Most sociologists need a graduate degree, but those with a bachelor’s may work as research assistants.
If you’re passionate about helping people in need, you may consider a social work career. You may help children, parents, seniors, or people with health challenges find solutions to their problems.
Becoming a licensed clinical social worker requires a masters degree, but some entry-level social work positions are open to those with a bachelors degree.
After gaining experience in social work or human services, you might be ready to oversee programs or head up organizations that improve people’s lives.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, choosing this line of work could offer promising job security. The number of positions for social and community service managers is growing at a 17% rate.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, sociologists earn an average annual salary of $86,110, and most sociologists’ salaries fall between $52,640 and $143,020.
Sociology majors may also want to consider a variety of other career options, such as those in the table below.
| Careers | Annual Median Salary |
| Sociologist | $86,110 |
| Social and Community Service Manager | $69,600 |
| Market Research Analyst | $65,810 |
| Human Resources Specialist | $63,490 |
| Public Relations Specialist | $62,810 |
| Survey Researcher | $59,870 |
| Health Education Specialist | $56,500 |
| Probation Officers or Correctional Treatment Specialist | $55,690 |
| Social Worker | $51,760 |
| Social Science Research Assistant | $49,210 |
With a bachelors degree, you may enter some of these career tracks as an assistant or a junior associate. Other roles, such as sociologist, may require a certification program or a masters degree. While many graduate programs require the GRE for admission decisions, a growing number offer sociology graduate programs that don’t require GRE scores.
If you’re passionate about finding solutions to social problems, then a sociology degree may be right for you. You’ll be introduced to new perspectives, and you’ll gain tools for evaluating issues and contributing to solutions.
It’s beneficial to have critical thinking skills as you take a good look at the world and try to come up with ideas for improving your community. In general, sociology majors believe that there is room in the world for positive change, and they want to be a part of making that happen.
The study of societies, institutions, and the ways that people relate to one another is known as sociology.
It’s a broad discipline that includes topics like social justice, religion, criminology, and family dynamics. Sociologists study people’s personal relationships, the dynamics at play in communities, and trends that affect the world on a global scale.
The field of sociology emphasizes critical thinking, statistical analysis, and behavioral science. Typically, students in this field not only want to understand why people and communities do the things they do but also want to explore ways to make the world a better place.
A sociology program is likely to challenge your assumptions and encourage you to see the world from a different perspective.
If you’re not open to that idea, you might find classes like race inequality and human rights rather unsettling. On the other hand, if you’re up for the challenge, you may find the coursework invigorating.
Sociology studies don’t usually place a heavy emphasis on mathematics and the natural sciences, so this field might be especially appealing if those aren’t your strong suits. Even still, sociology programs do usually include classes like statistical analysis, so mathematics aren’t ruled out entirely.
If you want to work directly with people, you may consider applying for positions in social or human service agencies. After gaining experience, you might eventually land a management position.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics states that social and community service managers who work in local government agencies earn an average salary of $87,720 per year. You may also join a sociology research team as an assistant. You may work for a government agency, a nonprofit organization, or even a research and development firm.
The experience you gain by polling respondents, compiling data, or filing reports could prepare you for graduate studies in this field.
If you’re interested in upward mobility and high earnings, you may consider using your sociology degree in the business world.
Public relations and human resources departments could benefit from your sociology background. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, those who get promoted to managerial positions make, on average, over six figures annually. A sociology bachelors degree could also prepare you for masters studies.
With a graduate degree, you could pursue a career as a sociologist, a school counselor, or a licensed clinical social worker. Advancing to those roles would grant you greater responsibilities and might include salary increases as well.
Programs for a Bachelor of Science in Sociology usually place greater emphasis on the statistical and scientific research aspects of this field.
If you have your sights set on a graduate degree in sociology and a career in social science research, this might be the program to choose. Schools with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology usually offer more opportunities for students to study liberal arts subjects and take elective courses.
If you want to pair this major with another area of study—such as counseling, education, or business—a BA program may give you greater flexibility to do so.
Both psychology and sociology are social sciences that address human thought and behavior.
In psychology, the emphasis is on individuals, such as what goes on inside a person’s head and how those thoughts lead to various choices. Although psychology students do discuss group dynamics, the scope is generally limited to relatively small groups of people.
In sociology, the focus is on larger groups and the ways that societies and cultures change, develop, or interact. Sociology students explore social issues, look for patterns and trends, and consider possible solutions to the problems that communities or populations face.
Yes, a sociology degree is worth it for many students. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 5% job growth in life, physical, and social science occupations for the next 10 years, faster than the average for all occupations. Common sociology careers in this field include probation officer, survey researcher, human resources specialist, market analyst, and research assistant.
If you have a passion for changing the world, whether by investigating social dynamics or providing services for individuals, a sociology degree may be a great way to start. You’ll gain foundational skills that can help equip you to make a difference.
A sociology degree could lead to a career in government, business, social work, or human services. It might also be the start of a job in counseling, education, or criminal justice.
By earning your bachelors degree in sociology online, you don’t have to wait for the perfect moment to start school. You can learn about social dynamics and justice issues as it suits your schedule. Also, if you would like to earn your degree more quickly, you can explore the accelerated sociology online degree programs that some universities offer.
Getting an accredited bachelors degree may be the beginning of your sociology career. If you’re ready to make a positive contribution to the world around you, you may consider taking a look at online bachelors degrees in sociology.
See how the right degree can shape your future—click “Find My Program.”
Take our quiz and we'll do the homework for you! Compare your school matches and apply to your top choice today.
