Put simply, "sociology examines the social aspect of humanity including what people do in politics, economics, culture, and scientific studies. Sociology looks at the social causes and consequences of human behavior. It takes a somewhat narrower look than anthropology, which is related but broader in scope. There also tends to be a large focus in sociology on the structure of social groups, and since all human beings are inherently social, every relationship falls under this category, from the loving family to the strangers meeting on the street to the angry mob." ( www.gradschools.com )

Find Sociology Programs

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• Rural Sociology
• Criminology
• Cultural Studies
• Area Studies
• Child Development
• Cognitive Sciences
• Communication Studies
• Community Counseling
• Peace Studies
• Social Work

Types Of Associate, Undergraduate & Graduate Programs Available
Because of the wide-ranging applicability of the work of sociologists, there are a number of different degrees you can pursue. An Associate' s degree generally prepares you for further academic work, but is nonetheless a good way to be introduced to the discipline. A Bachelor's degree can either prepare you for graduate school or for work in a number of fields, including positions in the public sphere and in research. And graduate degrees are perfect if the academic aspects of the field appeal to you most.

Typical Admissions Requirements
A strong interest in the field of sociology is necessary for the successful completion of any program, no matter what the level or what degree is being pursued. As far as getting into the program, however, you should either have a strong background in a related field of study , or consider enrolling in an Associate's degree program in order to gain that background. For graduate study, it is important to have a strong academic record. Work experience in the field can only improve your chances of getting into the program of your choice.

Careers In This Field
Because of the wide variety of specializations in the field of sociology, there are many options when it comes to looking for a career. And because of the nature of sociology itself, you may be rather surprised by the sheer variety of options available. That having been noted, it is important to search for a complete list of the careers available, as the one here is not complete, though it is, of course, indicative of the choices you'll have.

• International Relations
• Health Care
• Business Consultation
• Urban Social Work
• Criminal Justice
• Seminar and Workshop Consultations
• Education - Administration
• State Agencies
• Evaluation Research
• Law

Salary Ranges In This Field
As you might expect, the amount of money you earn in your career in sociology is related to two things: What degree you attain and what aspect of the field you choose to pursue. Really, however, the former is generally less indicative than the latter unless you have already chosen a specific area of the field on which to focus. So a more accurate metric than the degree you have attained is the field of sociology you have chosen to pursue and where you would like to work. According to the College of Charleston,

"Earnings vary from job to job [for government work]. At the state level, the starting salary can be as low as $15,000 and as high as $40, 000+. The local level has about the same range of salaries. At the federal level, the starting salary is much higher and can start at $44, 000 and can be well over $100,000.

Earnings vary, [for non-profit work], according to organization position and educational levels. Average earnings can vary from $15,000 to $ 40,000+

Earnings [in private organizations] vary according to organizational position and educational levels. Average income can vary from $15,000 to $40,000+" ( www.cofc.edu )

Future Outlook
Because of the wide range of careers available in the field of sociology, the Bureau of Labor Statistics groups them all together under the heading Social Sciences. As a result, the job outlook for Sociology itself is not available. However, the government's best efforts at looking at the field as a whole have led to the following outlook:

"Overall employment of social scientists is expected to grow more slowly than average for all occupations through 2014. However, projected growth rates vary by specialty. Anthropologists and archaeologists will experience average employment growth. Employment of geographers, historians, political scientists, and sociologists will grow more slowly than average, mainly because these workers enjoy fewer opportunities outside of government and academic settings.

Competition will remain keen for social science positions. Many jobs in policy, research, or marketing for which social scientists qualify are not advertised exclusively as social scientist positions. Because of the wide range of skills and knowledge possessed by the social scientists discussed in this Handbook statement, many compete for jobs with other workers, such as market and survey researchers, psychologists, engineers, urban and regional planners, and statisticians.

A few social scientists will find opportunities as university faculty, although competition for these jobs also will remain keen. Usually, there are more graduates than available faculty positions, although retirements among faculty are expected to rise in the next few years. The growing importance and popularity of social science subjects in secondary schools is strengthening the demand for social science teachers at that level." ( www.bls.gov )

Resources

1. www.asanet.org (The American Sociological Association)
2. www.altrue.net (The Association for Humanist Sociology)
3. www.ucm.es (The International Sociological Association)