What is Sociology?
Sociology is the study of social life, social change, and the
social causes and consequences of human behavior. Sociologists
investigate the structure of groups, organizations, and societies,
and how people interact within these contexts. Since all behavior
is social, the subject matter of sociology ranges from the family
to the hostile; from organized crime to religious cults; from the
divisions of race, gender and social class to the shared beliefs of
a common culture; and from the sociology of work to the sociology
of sports. Today, persons with sociological backgrounds are
increasingly being called upon to analyze and address tough public
policy issues from health care reform to international crime. In
fact, few disciplines prepare their students with as many relevant
theoretical and practical skills for dealing with real-life issues
as does sociology. Even if you have decided on a different major at
this point in your college career, a solid minor in sociology will
provide you a decisive competitive edge in almost any job market.
Moreover, students planning on a career in law will be hard pressed
to find a more appropriate preparation for the types of skills
required of law students and attorneys than sociology.
What Can I do With A Bachelors Degree In
Sociology?
A Bachelor's (B.A./B.S.) degree in sociology provides you with
an excellent liberal arts foundation for embarking upon a wide
range of career paths. Your undergraduate training in sociology can
open a variety of doors in business and the human services.
Sociology majors who enter the business world work in sales,
marketing, customer relations, and human resources. Those who enter
human services work with youths at risk, the elderly, or people
experiencing problems related to poverty, substance abuse, or the
justice system. Sociologists are also employed in Urban Planning,
Demography, Ecology, police work, CIA, FBI and various other
governmental agencies.
A Bachelors degree in sociology from St. John's University will
give you a competitive advantage in today's ever changing
information society. The solid base you will receive in hands-on
research, statistics, and hi-tech computer software coupled with
sociological concepts will enable you to stand out on the job
market for support positions in research, policy analysis, program
evaluation, and other social science endeavors. An advanced degree
(M.A./M.S. or Ph.D.) will qualify you to compete for teaching
and/or research positions in colleges and universities. And for a
variety of policy related and applied sociology positions in the
private and public sectors.
Do I Know Any Sociologists?
You can find sociologists in a number of exciting arenas. Many
distinguished national political leaders are sociologists. For
example, Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan (D-NY) has a doctorate in
sociology and civil rights leaders Jesse Jackson and Ralph
Abernathy earned B.A.s in sociology.
How Can I Learn More About
Sociology?
Contact the Department of Sociology and Anthropology, St. John's
Hall 444D, x6296 or x5667. Also, go on-line to The American
Sociological Association homepage: http://www.asanet.org