What can you do with an MA or PhD degree in sociology?  With advanced degrees, it is more likely that a job will have the title sociologist, but many other opportunities exist – the diversity of sociological careers ranges much further than what you might find under “S” in the Sunday newspaper employment ads.  Many jobs outside of academia do not necessarily carry the specific title of sociologist.  Sociologists may enter the Academia by teaching in high schools, colleges, and universities.  While in education, sociologists can advise students, conducts research, and publish their work.  Sociology courses are offered in over 3000 colleges.

In the corporate, non-profit, and government worlds sociologists are needed as directors of research, policy analysts, consultants, human resource managers, and program managers.  Practicing sociologists with advanced degrees may be called research analysts, survey researchers, gerontologists, statisticians, urban planners, community developers, criminologists, or demographers.  In the clinical setting, some MA and PhD sociologists with specialized training become counselors, therapists, or program directors in social service agencies.

Many Providence College sociology majors choose to pursue an advanced degree in sociology after graduation.  The sociology department has sent graduates for Master’s and Doctorate degrees to many esteemed institutions, such as: University of Connecticut, Rutgers University, Cambridge University, New York University, Brown University, University of Massachusetts (Amherst), University of Massachusetts (Boston), Notre Dame University, and Tufts University.

Today, sociologists embark upon literally hundreds of career paths.  Although teaching and conducting research remains the dominant activity among the thousands of professional sociologists today, other forms of employment are growing both in number and significance.  In some sectors, sociologists work closely with economists, political scientists, anthropologists, psychologists, social workers, and others, reflecting a growing appreciation of sociology’s contributions to interdisciplinary analysis and action.