Many students choose to major in Sociology because they are interested in the subject matter covered in their classes and/or are inspired by one or more of their professors. However, a common question asked by Sociology majors (or, students who are thinking of changing their major to Sociology) is "What can I do with a degree in Sociology?" The overall objective of career advising in the Sociology Department at Clemson University is to work with students to devise a strategy that would capitalize on their course work and also allow them to work in a field which is of interest to them. We believe that Sociology majors receive training in the very skills that give them an edge in the job search, including critical thinking and writing, organizational analysis, evaluation and research skills, and the ability to understand cultural diversity.
The Career Advisor's role is to work with students to identify career opportunities, either in academia (pursuing graduate school) or in applied settings. The Career Advisor:
(1) helps students to identify their main sociological interests and skills.
(2) recommends the courses that would best meet the student's career goals
(3) discusses graduate school options with students
(4) identifies resources that can be used to locate internship opportunities
(5) determines how a minor in Sociology can be combined with majors in other fields
The Department is also in the process of creating a career resource center which will include information about careers in sociology, information about graduate schools, and general information about searching for and landing a job (e.g, cover letters, information letters, resumes, etc.)
Some sociology career links:
Metropolitan State College of Denver Career web site
Careers in Sociology by W. Richard Stephens, Jr.
American Sociological Association's "Careers in Sociology"
Bradley University Sociology Career Resources
If you have any questions about careers in Sociology, contact:
864-656-3815, camoble@clemson.edu.