FASTFACTS

  • Students can enter paper and poster competitions in the Carolina Undergraduate Social Science Symposium.
  • Recent sociology major Eilis Gehle interned with Yellowstone National Park.
  • Earning a sociology degree can help you to better understand individuals from different backgrounds.
  • Students are encouraged to build a professional network of contacts by talking with professionals working in areas of interest.

What You’ll Study as a Sociology Major

As a sociology major at PC, you’ll experience learning at all levels – from your introductory classes to advanced research. During your first two years at PC, you fulfill your general education requirements. These serve as the basis of your liberal arts education. Courses include natural science, history, and mathematics.

As you move into your junior and senior years, most or all of your courses will be specific to your sociology major. Expect to take such courses as Sociological Theory and Social Policy, Research Methods, and Data Analysis.

When you major in sociology, you can take a course in criminology. In the class, you learn about crime, criminal behavior patterns, and criminological theories of behavior.  You can also take Medical Sociology, a course that covers the field of medicine. In this class, you examine the healthcare system in the United States and compare it with similar systems across the world, while also studying how the social impacts physical and mental health.

As a sociology major, you complete a paper portfolio containing three graded papers. At least one of the papers must be a research paper with data analysis. Another one should present different viewpoints on various issues.  The third paper must apply sociological theories to a topic chosen by the student.

MORE INFORMATION

  • CO = Co-requisite
  • CO = Co-requisite
  • POI = Permissions of Instructor
  • PR = Pre-requisite
  • RE = Recommended
  • XL = Cross-listed

Careers for Sociology Majors

A degree in sociology can lead to a variety of careers. PC students often double major in sociology and psychology and then study counseling in graduate school. Others have gone into clinical psychology, adoption services, law enforcement, business, banking and finance, human resources, education, and the ministry. According to PayScale, a bachelor of arts in sociology can earn students a $58,000 salary. PC sociology graduates have been hired in various public and private sector jobs. The major provides many transferable skills such as analytical, organizational, research, interpersonal, computer, leadership, and teamwork. The skills of oral and written communication are associated with earning a degree in sociology.
Gaining experience through internships, part-time jobs, summer jobs, or volunteer opportunities is critical to reaching career goals. Students should research fields of interest and gain the right skills, and experiences, and work toward any necessary advanced degrees. An undergraduate degree is sufficient for many entry-level positions in non-profit organizations, business, and government.

CAREER PROFESSIONS

  • Social worker
  • HR Coordinator
  • Paralegal
  • Urban planner
  • Community health worker
  • Market research analyst
  • Public relations specialist
  • Diversity manager
  • Guidance counselor
  • Learning and development specialist
  • Probation or parole officer
  • Research associate
  • Demographer
  • Public health consultant
  • Teacher (middle/secondary)

FACULTY

Dr. Carla Alphonso

Professor of Sociology

View Bio