Advocacy | Agencies | Business and Industry | Communications | Criminal Justice | Education | Government | Research and Planning | FBI
What can I do with a degree in Sociology or Criminal Justice?
The short answer: A LOT! Both degrees offer a wide range of career opportunities.
Today the hundreds of students who have graduated from Shepherd University with a B.S. in Sociology or a B.A. in Criminal Justice (or who have one of our minors) have found jobs as:
- college professors
- social work analysts
- probation and parole officers
- police officers
- law enforcement personnel
- high school and college counselors
- social work personnel
- arbitrators
- directors of juvenile detention centers
- journalists
- public relations directors
- marketing analysts
- nursing home directors
- gerontology specialists
- medical center personnel
- communication analysts
- child-care specialists
- staff workers with mentally and emotionally disturbed children
- staff workers with the handicapped
- state local, and federal government workers
- Peace Corps participants
- self-employed workers
The sociology faculty has helped students acquire graduate assistantships, scholarships, fellowship grants, and admittance to a variety of graduate schools. You can find a more comprehensive list and discussion of careers with our degrees in our Reference Guide. However, below we have provided an overview of the most popular career paths.
Advocacy
Sociologists often advocate for issues such as environmental issues and child welfare. They also help develop national policies. Sociologists work in fields that provide information about victim’s right and labor rights. As advocates, sociologists may also be employed as consultants, developmental coordinators for social services, a drug court coordinators, or family court investigators. Sociologists also work as lobbyists or as advocates in positions as outreach coordinators, program coordinators for community organizations. Sociologists are advocates for education as tutors, counselors, peer support advocates, and youth advocates.
Agencies
Sociologists work at several agencies including social services, youth services, and mental health offices. They work in childcare and adoption agencies and provide development and disability services. Sociologists are employed as case managers, caseworkers, childcare workers, and child development technicians. They also work in the community as aides, organizers, and environmental organizers. Sociologists are family planners, fundraising directors, and assistant managers. They are employed as group home workers and homeless/housing workers. Sociologists serve as hospital administrators, housing coordinators, and medical records workers. They also encourage professional development at agencies as occupation or career counselors. Sociologists service the public as administration assistants, public assistance workers, and public health supervisors. They also support youth development as recreation workers. Sociologists work as rehabilitation program workers, resident planning aides, substance abuse counselors, and youth outreach workers to support persons with addictions.
Business and Industry
Sociologists are employed in business and industry at non-profit organizations and in human resources departments. They are sales representatives, managers, and recruiters. They work in advertising industries. Sociologists also conduct consumer and market research. They are leadership coaches, trainers, and human development staff. Sociologist are employed as advertising and publishing staff. They are also computer analysts, consumer relations workers, and control engineers. Sociologists are insurance agents, real estate agents, and telemarketers. Sociologists are also employed as data entry, human resources, and issues managers. They work as labor relations staff, market analysts, and merchandisers. Sociologists are planning assistants, production managers, project managers, and public relations staff. Sociologists also serve as quality control managers and trainers.
Communications
Sociologists attain technical writing, reporting and public relations skills and knowledge for work in the area of communications. They are sometimes employed as 911 information and referral specialists, marketing promotion coordinators, and mutual funds processing agents. They also work as newspaper and magazine reporters.
Criminal Justice
Sociologists often work in corrections, law enforcement, or in the justice system. They work as police department staff and officers and special agents or state troopers. They also serve as rehabilitation workers or work in and with probation and parole systems. Sociologists work as juvenile court workers, correctional counselors, and corrections officers. They are criminal investigators and criminology assistants. Sociologists are also employed as parole officers and rehabilitation counselors.
Education
Sociologists are employed at public and private schools, colleges, and universities. They also work in administration and in alumni relations. Some sociologists work in placement offices but often times, they are employed as educational researchers. Sociologists hold positions such as admissions counselors and alumni relations workers. Some work in student support offices as affirmative action assistants or public health educators. In some cases, sociologists are student personnel workers, teachers, or professors.
Government
Sociologists are employed in government positions as social science analysts and government administrators. In addition, sociologists are personnel coordinators, program supervisors, and special agents. Some work at the United States Census Bureau, Homeland Security offices, and at other federal agencies. Some sociologists hold positions as employee specialists, Foreign Service officers, and international workers. Others are human rights officers or Peace Corps volunteers. Sociologists may also work as information officers or urban planners which examines the relationship between space and individual action.
Research and Planning
Sociologists are known to conduct research at research firms. They conduct evaluation research and public opinion research. Sociologists are employed as interviewers, statisticians, and survey research technicians. They also accept positions as census researchers, demographer assistants, social research assistants, and data analysts. They work as consumer researchers and market researchers.