A major in sociology brings many career

© Joan Ferrante, for instructional use

works at PNC Bank as a . She decided to major in sociology after taking two elective courses in social psychology and marriage and the family. She realized that the sociological perspective intertwined with her work at PNC and could assist her in reaching her ultimate goal of working in the field of , particularly consulting with minority entrepreneurs looking to start their own businesses and gain financial independence. While most of her colleagues have some sort of businessor finance-related degree, Megan believes that a degree in sociology allows her to stand apart. At the end of the day if the financial services officer understands the diverse needs, situations and aspirations of her customers then she is in a position to form a constructive working

is a sociology major with a concentration in organizational leadership. She is already on a path to a good career as she currently works as a in the technology division of U.S. Bank. Tee believes that developing a sociological perspective is important to success in her job. As a business analyst she is the bridge between IT and the bank employees who use software systems to do their jobs and to meet customer’s financial needs. Sociology offers a framework for factoring in the human element and for anticipating employee and customer reactions (expected and unexpected) to new and existing software systems.

is a sociology major with areas of concentration in psychology and criminal justice. Shannon has worked for over 10 years at Meritor, a global leader in the commercial vehicle and industrial market. She is a member of the Quality Assurance Team, and was recently promoted to . Shannon enjoys working with people who come from diverse backgrounds. Shannon believes that sociological forces are everywhere and shape everything we do. The world is diverse. We all have a life story shaped by time, society and experiences. She believes we benefit by embracing diversity because it cultivates broader understanding and new perspectives that will lead to innovations and an improved society.

is a sociology major with a minor in exercise science. She believes this combination will best prepare her for a career as an . For one thing the American Physical Therapy Association recommends those pursing a career in physical therapy take sociology courses because therapists must understand the diverse situations and needs of clients. They must also understand the complex health care system of which they are apart and sociology provides the tools for understanding and negotiating that system. Currently Amber works part-time as a hospital room assistant. This job is particularly relevant to her career goals because she aspires to work in a hospital setting. Amber also plans to apply a graduate school program in occupational therapy.

declared a major in sociology when he saw the potential of that degree to help him realize his goal of becoming a high . School counselors help students develop social and academic skills to succeed in school, assist them in making career decisions, and coach them about career options and programs of study. Michael plans to apply to a graduate program in counseling. He believes that sociology will help him to stand out among applicants for this reason: Sociology offers a framework that allows him to grasp the larger social context in which high school students’ lives are embedded and that presents them with challenges and opportunities.

is a sociology major with concentrations in history and communication studies. Shawn, who plays Division I soccer, works at the Ohio Elite Soccer Academy where he coaches boys under age-12. In his role as a youth coach Shawn has opportunities to travel to South America in the summers 2013 and 2014 to coach and to learn from established South American coaches. Shawn believes that sociology helps him to understand and appreciate team dynamics and to interact with adults and children of culturally diverse backgrounds who are part of the global sport of soccer. He also believes sociology will give him an added advantage in realizing his dreams to play pro soccer and eventually become the .

believes a major in sociology is perfect for helping him to realize his career goal of working in . Currently he is employed as a sworn deputy jailer and has earned 12 co-op credit hours for working at a jail. Cameron believes that he has an advantage over other college graduates who only have degree and no experience working with populations that are involved with criminal justice system. Cameron had learned from those working in the field that the sociology major gives him a distinct advantage in the job market because of its focus on diversity and the social context underlying activities considered criminal.

a sociology major, realized she chose the correct career path when she met sociology professors who were passionate about what they taught and who encouraged students to make a difference in their communities. Kelley plans to , federal programs that offer people of all ages an opportunity to apply their skills toward serving others and addressing critical needs in communities across the United States. She eventually hopes to counsel youth living in urban environments. Kelley finds that the study of sociology is best suited to her because of the high value she places on taking risks and engaging in innovative activities and programs.

, a double major in sociology and political science, plans to pursue a career in public service as a preferably with the National Park Service, the Forest Service or a state fish and game department. He believes his academic background relates well to these careers. In addition Nathan has first-hand experiences with public affairs and the legislative process as an intern with the Frankfort Legislative Internship Program (2007), as a community organizer for Working America (summer 2008) and as a field organizer for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee in the 8th Congressional district of Tennessee to help elect Roy Herron (2010).

is a sociology major with an area of concentration in criminal justice. After completing his degree Clinton plans to apply to with the Navy or Air Force. A degree in sociology offers a valuable perspective for understanding the relationship between military and other institutions including the family and community from which service members come. Sociology also provides Clinton a framework for relating to people from diverse socio-economic and cultural backgrounds and for appreciating the ways the military environment cultivates selflessness and strong ties among its personnel . One day Clinton hopes to work for the

is sociology major with minors in Spanish and honors. She is a student worker in the Office of Latino Affairs and is active in Latino and other campus-related activities. Mayra believes that a degree in sociology will help her realize her career goal of

(e.g., Latinos, women, veterans). The sociological perspective gives her concepts for thinking about the role of culture and organizational structures in shaping experiences and interactions. Sociology also cultivates sympathetic understanding for all parties involved in any setting.

is sociology major with concentrations in professional writing and communication studies. When Laura began looking for internship opportunities she noticed that many announcements made no mention of sociology as a degree of interest. But Laura decided to submit her resume anyway because she realized she possessed the asked for skills. Today she is a with the Kroger Co. In her job interview Laura explained that sociology is a discipline that cultivates an appreciation for diversity, emphasizes how the workplace can empower or alienate employees and that places importance on employee demographics. In reflecting on the interview process Laura believes that this answer was important to her success in landing the job.

decision to major in sociology can be traced to a life-changing mission trip to Nicaragua where she experienced first hand the difficulties faced by the people of Nicaragua. Brittany has also traveled to Amsterdam and Paris. These trips offered an interesting contrast to the Nicaragua trip and helped her to see that inequality and poverty cannot be explained simply by pointing to a person’s lack of effort. Brittany plans to apply to a graduate program in social work. Ultimately she wants to work with low-income families offering that will increase opportunities for social mobility. She believes sociology relates well to her career goals because it provides her with an analytical tool for placing prospective clients’ lives in a broader context and for devising collaborative strategies that will bring positive change to their lives.

is a sociology major with a concentration in criminal justice. Currently she works as a support provider for mentally and developmentally challenged populations. She hopes to eventually . Sociology has helped Diamond to place the “individual in trouble with the law” in a larger social context allowing her to think strategically about the obstacles and opportunities each client faces. Diamond believes that she holds an advantage in the job market because she has experience working with and motivating people who are cognitively challenged. Thus she has the academic background and practical experience working with those who are misunderstood and have difficulty communicating effectively with others.

, a sociology major, aspires to work for a not-for-profit organization that serves vulnerable populations (jobless, homeless, troubled teens, disabled, and elderly individuals etc). He has volunteer experience working at a senior center and has worked as a clerk processor at Goodwill. He believes that sociology has equipped him with qualitative and quantitative perspectives on social inequalities experienced by poor, near poor, and working classes. Kenny believes that his academic studies, in combination with his field experiences, offer him the best preparation for .

chose to double major in sociology and criminal justice. Her goal is to be a for children and young teens. She believes that a sociology major is key to becoming an effective advocate because it helps her to think about childhood socialization and the ways family dynamics affect children’s social and psychological well-being. A sociological perspective will also help her identify and address the medical, mental health, education and policy needs of children and teens. Devinne’s academic and career goals have been shaped by volunteer work with the Children’s Law Center where she assisted attorneys with billing, filing case work, entering closed cases into the database and working with other interns to make calls and do miscellaneous paperwork.

is a sociology major with a concentration in women and gender studies. Chryssy has worked as a resident assistant (RA) in the campus dorms receiving co-op credit for that work which involved cultivating social bonds among residents and addressing issues related to dorm life. She has also interned for co-op credit as a pantry aid at Churches Active in Northside (CAIN), a not-for-profit food pantry. Chryssy plans to apply to a . She views her work as an RA and pantry aid as providing her the opportunity to engage in applied sociology and participant observation research, skills that will prepare her for graduate schools as she considers to which program to apply.

is a sociology major with a concentration in social work. In spring 2012 Whitney studied abroad in South Africa on an Honors International Teaching Fellowship. She is attracted to sociology because it gives her a perspective for thinking abut social movements especially those taking place in South Africa. Whitney plans to apply to a joint degree program in at Ohio State University. Ultimately she hopes to ) dedicated to addressing poverty and inequality around the world but specifically in South Africa.

John Wooden

Research Methods  Statistics  Demography  Other career-related sociology courses 

Sociology of Aging – working with older populations and elderly  Sociology of Medicine – working in health care  Sociology of Education – working in field of education  Sociology of Environment – working in field of environmental education 

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Gain first-hand experience in the field

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Gain first-hand experience with foreign culture

“Socially Responsible Investing”

“Imagining Marx, Weber and Durkheim as High School Counselors: What Advice Would They Give?”

“Inmate to Student: Conversations with 5 Students Who Made the Transition”

. International Studies  Exercise Science  Criminal Justice  Management  Sports Marketing  Geography  Organizational Leadership 

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Volunteer at a nonprofit (church, school, etc)  Serving

disadvantaged  Mentoring student defined as at high-risk  Running errands for homebound residents

Pick up information about organizations that are hiring  Bring copies of resume to distribute 

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Articulate how the job you hold relates to the one to which you are you are applying

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Deals with customers who demand quick and efficient service Handles multiple tables of customers making requests at the same time Makes food recommendations Converses with customers from diverse backgrounds

to identify population trends related to births, deaths, migration, age-sex composition;  to appreciate and articulate diverse viewpoints;  to anticipate intended and unintended consequences that accompany change; 

to gather information via interviews, questionnaires, observations, case studies, secondary data analysis, content analysis, and to analyze the results;  to avoid using superficial knowledge or personal bias as a basis for making decisions that affect others;  to appreciate how culture and society shape people’s choices and responses 