Career Options for Sociology

Sociology Graduates in the Workforce

Education, family, culture, social class and gender impact so much of our social experience and world view. A Sociology degree explains how these personal experiences interact with the organizational context of society.

Common Occupations for Sociology Graduates

Here are some of the most frequently-reported career categories for Sociology graduates in Canada and at McMaster, according to census data and alumni outcomes:

Social and Community Service Workers

Human Resources Professionals

Elementary School Teachers

Police Officers

Public Relations, Advertising, & Marketing Professionals

Administrative Officers

Social Workers

Administrative Assistants

Human Resources and Recruitment Officers

Employment Insurance and Revenue Officers

Social Policy Researchers & Program Officers

Probation and Parole Officers

Executive Assistants and Political Staffers

Paralegals and Legal Occupations

Therapists in Counselling and Related Specialties

Educational Counsellors

Legal Assistants

Health Policy Researchers, Consultants and Program Officers

Early Childhood Educators and Assistants

Patient Service Associates

Financial Advisors

Business Management Consultants

Secondary School Teachers

Lawyers

Sociologists in the workforce can apply their expertise on:

Relationships between individuals (e.g. friendships or intimate relationships)
Relations between groups (e.g. tensions between workers and owners)
Processes such as socialization (e.g. how children learn within their cultural setting or institution)
The role of institutions in society (e.g. education, families, the mass media and government)

Employers seek out the skills acquired by Sociology graduates, such as:

Understanding questions associated with social issues
Solving problems using critical, reasoned thought
Communication skills gained through verbal presentations, discussions and debates
Knowledge of social research, quantitative methods, research ethics and fieldwork
Experience writing descriptive reports and analytical papers
Ability to analyze root causes of social problems, and work towards solutions with diverse groups of people