Frequently, I'm asked by students about their career options if they decide to major in sociology. I get the sense that these students find the discipline (or at least some of the areas within it) interesting and worthy of further exploration, but they fear that a degree in sociology might be a handicap in today's job market. There are a number of reasons why this is not the case. A sociology degree not only provides a great foundation for a wide range of graduate studies, but also prepares students for a number of careers which are directly related to the discipline.

I'm not sure that a BA in sociology is the best choice if you want to pursue a career in medicine or computer programing; although I've heard of sociologists who are now making very good money writing code; and apparently medical schools are increasingly receptive to (if not actively seeking) applicant from fields other than the traditional premed biology. Be that a it may, the fact of the matter is that most sociology students have an interest in careers that are more closely related to the 'stuff' of sociology. And yet, given that sociology reflects such a large and diverse number of interests, there are many areas in which students can find work. These areas range from law and law enforcement, to education at all levels, to social work and work in the non-profit sector, all the way to marketing and research. So, while sociology may not directly prepare a student to enter medical school and become a surgeon, it does give her an important knowledge of how the institution of medicine and health organizations work, and it does prepare her for many types of jobs in that field.

What's more, in today's workplace, where (for better or for worse) the value of a college degree has depreciated somewhat, two things make the "type" of degree that one has less significant. First, graduating students are increasingly expected to go on to graduate school, and most programs (even MBA programs) are very receptive to candidates coming from various field as long as they have a good G.P.A. from a respectable institution. Second, many employers, like graduate schools, nowadays focus on the quality of the student and of the institution he or she attended, as well as on the extracurricular and work-relevant experience (i.e.: internships, field experience, organizational involvement, etc.) that the prospective candidate brings to the job with him or her.

I still haven't really answered the question of 'what to do with a sociology degree'. Instead of repeating what others have said (more eloquently and in much more detail than I can), I suggest that you visit two web pages that contain information on the subject: The first one is located at the American Sociological Association web site, and is an ASA guide to careers in sociology. This page will link you to several other pages in the ASA site which will answer most of your questions. Secondly, Allyn and Bacon Publishers has an online version of W. Richard Stephens, Jr.'s book, Careers in Sociology. This book describes several real-life (?) examples of people who have gone into a variety of fields equipped with a sociology degree.